The biggest televised event in mixed martial arts history went out with a bang, as the UFC crowned a new heavyweight champion in Junior dos Santos at the UFC on Fox debut. As the sport tries to recover from the busy evening, here are some suggestions for fights to make next, to keep the fans enticed while changing up the contenders list.
Dustin Poirier vs. Ricardo Lamas
Poirier put on a great fight against Pablo Garza. Instead of playing into his opponent’s strengths and listening to the crowd, Poirier fought a smart battle which led to the submission victory, showing that even though he is just 22 years old, he has the potential to become a great fighter within the featherweight division.
Ricardo Lamas is another submission ace who has flown under the radar since his debut in the UFC. A winner of five out of six fights, Lamas has turned into a fringe contender who is a few more victories away from a shot at featherweight champion Jose Aldo. A dominant win for either fighter would go a long way towards that fighter staking his claim as the next big contender at 145 pounds.
Mike Pierce vs. Thiago Alves
Mike Pierce has proven just how tough he is over the last few years. With a 5-2 record that only includes losses to Jon Fitch and Johny Hendricks, Pierce has remained on the outside looking in on the top tier of the welterweight division. At the premiere of UFC on Fox, Pierce was able to defeat Paul Bradley by decision for the second time. Yet even in victory, Pierce is still a long way from being able to claim a spot among the elite in the 170-pound weight class. He needs a victory over a former contender, and Thiago Alves is a great measuring stick for anyone within the division.
Alves is coming off of his own re-emergent victory at UFC 138, when he defeated Papy Abedi by rear naked choke. Alves is one of those welterweights who, though highly-regarded, finds himself a long way off from a title shot. However, he is still in a position to provide a staunch test for anyone who is trying to move up the welterweight ranks.
Alex Caceres vs. Takeya Mizugaki
Alex Caceres is one individual who should be thankful for his time on the Ultimate Fighter. While it was apparent he had the personality to shine on reality television, some questioned his actual fighting abilities. Against former bantamweight champion Cole Escovedo however, Caceres gave everyone a glimpse into the potential that will hopefully continue to be tapped from here on out.
Mixing up his strikes with offensive and defensive grappling allowed Caceres to control the fight in every position. He was even able to answer the call when the fight hit the ground, an area that many believed Escovedo would be able to take control of in the fight. In the end, he outpointed the former champion, and proved that 135 pounds is exactly where he should be fighting.
He should be matched against Japanese star Takeya Mizugaki next. Mizugaki has been considered a tough fight for any bantamweight fighter for a while now. While 2-1 since moving from WEC to the UFC, he seems to be struggling slightly at this point in his career. And though he will not be challenging for the bantamweight title anytime soon, Mizugaki can be used by the UFC to provide a stiff challenge to the next fighter to grab the fans’ attention in the bantamweight division.
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I like Dustin Poirier vs. Ricardo Lamas though I did not realize Lamas was a submission ace.