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Alexa Grasso vs Manon Fiorot – I give the title shot to Manon, who has beaten a higher level of competition than Erin Blanchfield in my eyes. Manon is a beast, and an all-European title fight is very appealing, particularly if booked for the next Paris show. Shevchenko needed to win this to make it a trilogy, and not only did she not win, I actually felt she lost. Grasso rolls.
Valentina Shevchenko vs Erin Blanchfield – Valentina did look great once again tonight, but she didn't win, and that's all I need to book her in a non-title fight next time out. She faces the best contender outside of Fiorot, and the winner inevitably gets a title shot.
Jack Della Maddalena vs Vicente Luque – Jack Della Maddalena squeaks past Kevin Holland, but looked better here than he did against Bassil Hafez. JDM is about as tough a striker as there is, but if you mix it up, is that his weakness? Luque can test that out in spades, not only is he a decent striker, he's a submission master to boot. If you beat Luque, there's no question you're legit, and I think this just makes sense for JDM's next test.
Kevin Holland vs Michael Morales – The UFC have certainly earmarked the unbeaten Morales as one of the top unranked fighters out there, so it makes sense he gets a chance like this sooner rather than later. Holland will always test a fighter, that's part of his unique charm, but if you're super legit, you simply have to beat him. Is Morales in that bracket? Let's find out...
Raul Rosas Jr vs Garrett Armfield – I won't accept anyone not coming off a UFC win for Rosas' next UFC fight, so that limits the field considerably. Garrett Armfield recently went out to Singapore and easily beat Kazama, but I'm not sure Kazama is really UFC level. Rosas is, in that he will feast on under-talented fighters and beat them in exciting ways, he's all out regardless of him being incomplete (he's 18, for goodness sake). Armfield will test Rosas without necessarily blowing him out of the water, and to be perfectly honest, another loss for Rosas isn't the end of the world as long as he keeps bouncing back and getting better every fight. I think this is the right fight to make.
Terrence Mitchell vs Caolan Loughran – Terrence, unfortunately, isn't UFC standard, so his only purpose now is to face off with someone that realistically the UFC might want to get a win. Caolan has that ridiculous attitude going on, and that's sure to appeal. This makes sense for Mitchell's last fight in the UFC.
Daniel Zellhuber vs Ludovit Klein – Ludovit holding a win over a similar(ish) fighter in Bahamondes makes this even more appealing to me, and makes sense for Zellhuber as a step up from Giagos. Giagos is tough, he's talented, he's better than his 6-6 record in the UFC suggests, so that's a really awesome win for the Mexican – but Slovakian stand out Ludovit is unbeaten in 4, and is no stranger to winning on foreign soil. Bring him to Mexico and see if he can pose those issues for Zellhuber.
Christos Giagos vs Jamie Mullarkey – Two veterans, two tough guys, two talented dudes with great engines, but also two guys loitering in the middle of the pack at 155. If this fight isn't entertaining, something's gone badly wrong, because both love to push a pretty mean pace. Giagos will land his share on the hittable Mullarkey, but Jamie rarely ever just goes gently into the good night. Should be a great range finder for both!
Kyle Nelson vs Pepe Mariscal – Kyle Nelson faced down promising newcomer Fernando Padilla, and despite Padilla wrecking Erosa in his UFC debut, Nelson showed not every UFC vet is the same. I'd like to see Nelson face Pepe Mariscal next, Mariscal is making the most of his intense pre-UFC résumé by using every trick in the book in wins over Trevor Peek and Jack Jenkins. Can he make it 3 in a row by halting Nelson's newly-found momentum?
Fernando Padilla vs Luis Saldana – Saldana was only a point deduction away from beating Sean Woodson in that high altitude horror show, but regardless, his UFC record is pretty damn impressive. Fernando Padilla looked just a little bit one-paced tonight, but he's still a lethal counter striker with tremendous boxing, but can he use that effectively against Saldana? In some ways, these two are super well matched with educated fists, so I'm inclined to think we get a good fight here that redeems Saldana in victory or defeat.
Loopy Godinez vs Tabatha Ricci – It's amazing how good Loopy looks in some wins, then just completely folds in other fights... I don't think it's even that she's a glass cannon or anything, she's just super talented but hasn't always been able to put it all together. After wins over Calvillo, Ducote and Reed, though, it's time for a ranked opponent. How about #14 Ricci, 'Baby Shark' is a grappling ace who would be a great stylistic question for Godinez to try and answer! Loopy's kryptonite, though, appears to have been striking, so can she win here and come out looking like a million dollars? I'd love to find out!
Elise Reed vs Yazmin Jauregui – Reed got dominated tonight, but she's still a really difficult test for rookie fighters, hence wins over Cory McKenna and Melissa Martinez. Jauregui debuted in the UFC with a couple of decent wins before running into Denise Gomes, can she bounce back against Reed, who is a well-rounded fighter with no particularly outstanding aspects to her game? I think it's a tough one to call, personally.
Roman Kopylov vs Michal Oleksiejczuk – You know someone who would stand and strike with Kopylov and stand a chance? Michal Oleksiejczuk. Winner of this fight has legit claims to being the best middleweight striker outside the top 15, and there's no way the victor doesn't get a shot here. What a great fight this could be!
(P.s, there were calls for a ranked opponent next, but I don't know... feels like he needs to be someone good first)
Josh Fremd vs Julian Marquez – Two guys with reasonable striking and good chokes going toe-to-toe could be a ton of fun. Neither fighter is perfectly well-rounded or polished, so there will be openings and mistakes, but you know what, that might just lead us towards a very fun scrap with a high chance of producing a neat finish!
Daniel Lacerda vs Edgar Chairez II – That was looking like a reasonable scrap until the error from Tognoni. Lacerda wasn't out, he didn't tap, and there was no winner in the end as a result. Run it back, it looks like a fair fight to me, and Lacerda's last chance in the UFC Octagon.
Edgar Chairez vs Daniel Lacerda II (see above)
Tracy Cortez vs Lauren Murphy – Cortez deserves the chance to fight up the rankings, and 40 year old Lauren Murphy surely has to be the fighter to shoot for. Murphy is tough as nails and really strong for the division, but also susceptible to being outclassed. If Cortez can impose her boxing game, she should be able to win here, but theory is often different to practice...
Jasmine Jasudavicius vs JJ Aldrich – JJ vs JJ. Is it crazy to anyone else that Aldrich is 3 years younger than Jasmine? It feels like Jasmine is the almost-ranked prospect climbing the rankings before bumping her head on a Tracy Cortez-shaped ceiling, while Aldrich is a more experienced UFC veteran with a series of wins at a similar level, but also losses at approximately the same level as Cortez. Winner moves back towards another ranked opponent.
Charlie Campbell vs Alex Munoz – After beating the 6-year absentee Alex Reyes, how about lining up another inactive Alex in Munoz? Going 0-2 across 2020/21, Munoz rebounded in 2023 with a win over Carl Deaton III, but he's still just 7-2 overall and is 33 years old. Munoz will likely wrestle, but can Campbell pick up another very respectable scalp with his solid striking in just his second UFC outing?
Alex Reyes – RETIRE/CUT! I hate doing this, but a six year absence and a second successive first round TKO defeat? I don't think Reyes is at the UFC level, but how could you expect him to be? Nothing but respect for him and his story, but let's not keep getting him decimated in the cage. If he's losing like this at entry-level, it can only get worse, and really, that's not fair...
Josefine Knutsson vs Sam Hughes – Sampage is a great next opponent for Knutsson, who was far too polished and skilled for Marnic Mann. Sam Hughes is 3-3 in the UFC, has fought some pretty impressive prospects at strawweight, and has worked to separate the legit contenders from the also-rans. Can Knutsson join Loma, Luana, and Piera with a win over the well-rounded Hughes? Or will Sampage find a hole in her game and exploit it?
Marnic Mann vs Shauna Bannon – Both these fighters got dominated in their UFC debuts, so they're going to need to step it down to the lowest rung of the strawweight ladder and look to work hard, improve, get their first UFC win, and go from there. It's a long way to the top, but you gotta start somewhere!
Valentina Shevchenko vs Erin Blanchfield – Valentina did look great once again tonight, but she didn't win, and that's all I need to book her in a non-title fight next time out. She faces the best contender outside of Fiorot, and the winner inevitably gets a title shot.
Jack Della Maddalena vs Vicente Luque – Jack Della Maddalena squeaks past Kevin Holland, but looked better here than he did against Bassil Hafez. JDM is about as tough a striker as there is, but if you mix it up, is that his weakness? Luque can test that out in spades, not only is he a decent striker, he's a submission master to boot. If you beat Luque, there's no question you're legit, and I think this just makes sense for JDM's next test.
Kevin Holland vs Michael Morales – The UFC have certainly earmarked the unbeaten Morales as one of the top unranked fighters out there, so it makes sense he gets a chance like this sooner rather than later. Holland will always test a fighter, that's part of his unique charm, but if you're super legit, you simply have to beat him. Is Morales in that bracket? Let's find out...
Raul Rosas Jr vs Garrett Armfield – I won't accept anyone not coming off a UFC win for Rosas' next UFC fight, so that limits the field considerably. Garrett Armfield recently went out to Singapore and easily beat Kazama, but I'm not sure Kazama is really UFC level. Rosas is, in that he will feast on under-talented fighters and beat them in exciting ways, he's all out regardless of him being incomplete (he's 18, for goodness sake). Armfield will test Rosas without necessarily blowing him out of the water, and to be perfectly honest, another loss for Rosas isn't the end of the world as long as he keeps bouncing back and getting better every fight. I think this is the right fight to make.
Terrence Mitchell vs Caolan Loughran – Terrence, unfortunately, isn't UFC standard, so his only purpose now is to face off with someone that realistically the UFC might want to get a win. Caolan has that ridiculous attitude going on, and that's sure to appeal. This makes sense for Mitchell's last fight in the UFC.
Daniel Zellhuber vs Ludovit Klein – Ludovit holding a win over a similar(ish) fighter in Bahamondes makes this even more appealing to me, and makes sense for Zellhuber as a step up from Giagos. Giagos is tough, he's talented, he's better than his 6-6 record in the UFC suggests, so that's a really awesome win for the Mexican – but Slovakian stand out Ludovit is unbeaten in 4, and is no stranger to winning on foreign soil. Bring him to Mexico and see if he can pose those issues for Zellhuber.
Christos Giagos vs Jamie Mullarkey – Two veterans, two tough guys, two talented dudes with great engines, but also two guys loitering in the middle of the pack at 155. If this fight isn't entertaining, something's gone badly wrong, because both love to push a pretty mean pace. Giagos will land his share on the hittable Mullarkey, but Jamie rarely ever just goes gently into the good night. Should be a great range finder for both!
Kyle Nelson vs Pepe Mariscal – Kyle Nelson faced down promising newcomer Fernando Padilla, and despite Padilla wrecking Erosa in his UFC debut, Nelson showed not every UFC vet is the same. I'd like to see Nelson face Pepe Mariscal next, Mariscal is making the most of his intense pre-UFC résumé by using every trick in the book in wins over Trevor Peek and Jack Jenkins. Can he make it 3 in a row by halting Nelson's newly-found momentum?
Fernando Padilla vs Luis Saldana – Saldana was only a point deduction away from beating Sean Woodson in that high altitude horror show, but regardless, his UFC record is pretty damn impressive. Fernando Padilla looked just a little bit one-paced tonight, but he's still a lethal counter striker with tremendous boxing, but can he use that effectively against Saldana? In some ways, these two are super well matched with educated fists, so I'm inclined to think we get a good fight here that redeems Saldana in victory or defeat.
Loopy Godinez vs Tabatha Ricci – It's amazing how good Loopy looks in some wins, then just completely folds in other fights... I don't think it's even that she's a glass cannon or anything, she's just super talented but hasn't always been able to put it all together. After wins over Calvillo, Ducote and Reed, though, it's time for a ranked opponent. How about #14 Ricci, 'Baby Shark' is a grappling ace who would be a great stylistic question for Godinez to try and answer! Loopy's kryptonite, though, appears to have been striking, so can she win here and come out looking like a million dollars? I'd love to find out!
Elise Reed vs Yazmin Jauregui – Reed got dominated tonight, but she's still a really difficult test for rookie fighters, hence wins over Cory McKenna and Melissa Martinez. Jauregui debuted in the UFC with a couple of decent wins before running into Denise Gomes, can she bounce back against Reed, who is a well-rounded fighter with no particularly outstanding aspects to her game? I think it's a tough one to call, personally.
Roman Kopylov vs Michal Oleksiejczuk – You know someone who would stand and strike with Kopylov and stand a chance? Michal Oleksiejczuk. Winner of this fight has legit claims to being the best middleweight striker outside the top 15, and there's no way the victor doesn't get a shot here. What a great fight this could be!
(P.s, there were calls for a ranked opponent next, but I don't know... feels like he needs to be someone good first)
Josh Fremd vs Julian Marquez – Two guys with reasonable striking and good chokes going toe-to-toe could be a ton of fun. Neither fighter is perfectly well-rounded or polished, so there will be openings and mistakes, but you know what, that might just lead us towards a very fun scrap with a high chance of producing a neat finish!
Daniel Lacerda vs Edgar Chairez II – That was looking like a reasonable scrap until the error from Tognoni. Lacerda wasn't out, he didn't tap, and there was no winner in the end as a result. Run it back, it looks like a fair fight to me, and Lacerda's last chance in the UFC Octagon.
Edgar Chairez vs Daniel Lacerda II (see above)
Tracy Cortez vs Lauren Murphy – Cortez deserves the chance to fight up the rankings, and 40 year old Lauren Murphy surely has to be the fighter to shoot for. Murphy is tough as nails and really strong for the division, but also susceptible to being outclassed. If Cortez can impose her boxing game, she should be able to win here, but theory is often different to practice...
Jasmine Jasudavicius vs JJ Aldrich – JJ vs JJ. Is it crazy to anyone else that Aldrich is 3 years younger than Jasmine? It feels like Jasmine is the almost-ranked prospect climbing the rankings before bumping her head on a Tracy Cortez-shaped ceiling, while Aldrich is a more experienced UFC veteran with a series of wins at a similar level, but also losses at approximately the same level as Cortez. Winner moves back towards another ranked opponent.
Charlie Campbell vs Alex Munoz – After beating the 6-year absentee Alex Reyes, how about lining up another inactive Alex in Munoz? Going 0-2 across 2020/21, Munoz rebounded in 2023 with a win over Carl Deaton III, but he's still just 7-2 overall and is 33 years old. Munoz will likely wrestle, but can Campbell pick up another very respectable scalp with his solid striking in just his second UFC outing?
Alex Reyes – RETIRE/CUT! I hate doing this, but a six year absence and a second successive first round TKO defeat? I don't think Reyes is at the UFC level, but how could you expect him to be? Nothing but respect for him and his story, but let's not keep getting him decimated in the cage. If he's losing like this at entry-level, it can only get worse, and really, that's not fair...
Josefine Knutsson vs Sam Hughes – Sampage is a great next opponent for Knutsson, who was far too polished and skilled for Marnic Mann. Sam Hughes is 3-3 in the UFC, has fought some pretty impressive prospects at strawweight, and has worked to separate the legit contenders from the also-rans. Can Knutsson join Loma, Luana, and Piera with a win over the well-rounded Hughes? Or will Sampage find a hole in her game and exploit it?
Marnic Mann vs Shauna Bannon – Both these fighters got dominated in their UFC debuts, so they're going to need to step it down to the lowest rung of the strawweight ladder and look to work hard, improve, get their first UFC win, and go from there. It's a long way to the top, but you gotta start somewhere!
