A lot of predictable match ups last night mixed in with some amazing upsets. UFC 173 was a solid card overall. So many divisionally relevant matchups last night got me thinking. Whats next for winners and losers on the main broadcast? T.J Dillashaw VS Rapheal Assuncao- Makes too much sense. There first fight was extremely close and Assuncao is the rightful number one contender. Renan Barao VS Dominick Cruz- Who would have thought footwork would be Barao's undoing? Fans wanted this fight and with Barao coming of a loss opposite Cruz's layoff this fight makes sense. Daniel Cormier VS LHW Title holder or Anthony Johnson VS Lil Nog Winner- Cormier might wait for his shot but if not Rumble and Nog are right up there with him. Dan Henderson VS Retirement- Hats off to the 43 year old veteran. He conquered every challenge this sport can offer and had a great career. Robbie Lawler VS Matt Brown- Violence. Jake Ellenberger VS John Hathaway or maybe Yoshohiro Akiyama (if healthy)- Hard place to be for Ellenberger. Two name guys and neither of which are ranked. Sounds like a huge step backwards but Ellenberger needs to retool his game. Takeya Mizugaki VS Johnny Eduardo or Mitch Gagnon- What to do with Mizugaki? He's most likely not going to get a tittle shot so why not put him in with another fighter with a strong streak? Francisco Rivera VS Michael Mcdonald- A fun showcase for both fighters elevated their status and get the winner back in the mix. James Krause VS Tony Ferguson- An interesting contrast in styles and it has FIGHT OF THE NIGHT written all over it. Jamie Varner VS Erik Koch or Maybe Matt Wiman (if healthy)- Kind of a crossroads for each fighter. Varner is a stud and will probably have a long career in the octagon but he needs prove hes more than an action fighter. Thoughts and suggestions?
Mizugaki vs Cruz for the next titleshot after Assuncao. I think Barao will take a long time off. Ellenberger vs Erick Silva. Do you guys think Lawler would fight Brown in the main event of Fox 12 despite the quick turnaround?
I think Ellenberger will be job shopping at Bellator or WSOF soon ....he was warned after his last fight ....he fell into the same pattern during his fight with Lawler ...
People are over reacting. It's not like he's some top level stiffling grappler like Okami\Sheilds\Fitch. He'll come back against some middle of the division fighter. P.s- I'd... Stop... with... the... Ellipses...
I'd say the path is obvious. Dan Henderson vs. Cain Velasquez Robbie Lawler vs. Erick Silva (prelims) TJ Dillashaw vs Renan Barao (immediate rematch, erase the controversy)
Dillashaw vs Assuncao II Barao vs Mizugaki Cormier vs Jones/Gus Hendo vs Wand III Lawler vs Brown Ellenberger vs Silva I missed the other fights to it's hard to comment. Ferguson vs Noons seems like it would be fun.
Yup but you forgot to mention Akiyama vs winner of Machida vs Weidman even though none of them fought yesterday.
Cormier should fight again,if you go off his lhw accomplishments he doesn't deserve a shot,add in the fact Jones vs gus is end of the year he wouldn't compete again till the middle of next year.And we have seen it before he sits out a year then gets injured in the lead up to the fight and has to take anthor few fights on his return,he should just stay active. Lawler vs brown for the next shot makes a lot of sense,as people want to see lawler whoop Hendricks and brown needs a top 5 opponent now. Ellenberger vs safferdine makes a lot of sense.
And do what ? Be the best of the middle ? He will fold like this again against another top ten . If that's the best he can do he may as well accept his walking papers . Would you like fries with that ?................. ........... ............
Some solid matchups. Here's what I would do with some I don't agree with. TJ Dillashaw vs. Raphael Assuncao Daniel Cormier vs. Glover Teixeira - I don't think Cormier should wait. Jake Ellenberger vs. Josh Koscheck - Since I believe Koscheck wants to finish his contract James Krauss vs. Takanori Gomi Michael Chiesa vs. Ramsey Nijem Tony Ferguson vs. Joe Lauzon Chris Holdsworth vs. Mitch Gagnon Mitch Clarke vs. Alan Patrick Vinc Pichel vs. Michel Prazeres Sam Sicilia vs. Alex White Li Jingliang vs. Kiichi Kunimoto
Your suggesting he'll never improve. Guys like Matt Brown had to hit rock bottom before hitting a career resurgence. Same with guys like Robbie Lawler and Jeremy Stephens. Sometimes you have to fall down to get back up.
I think there's hope for Vitor honestly. However his next fight pending it does end to quickly will be the telling.
Dillishaw - Assuncao Barao - Eduardo Cormier - if Gus/Jones happens in August and the winner comes out health he gets the title shot; if not Rumble/Lil Nog winner Hendo - Wandy III Lawler - Brown (unless Rory/Woodley is a stinkbomb like Rory/Ellenberger then give him the title shot) Ellenberger - Saffedine Mizugaki - Cruz Krause - Ferguson or Cruickshank/Masvidal winner
TJ Dillashaw vs. Raphael Assuncao II Renan Barao vs. Dominick Cruz Daniel Cormier vs. Rashad Evans Dan Henderson vs. Glover Teixeira Robbie Lawler vs. Matt Brown Jake Ellenberger vs. Erick Silva Takeya Mizugaki vs. Johnny Eduardo Francisco Rivera vs. Jabouin/Easton loser James Krause vs. KJ Noons Jamie Varner vs. Damm/Magomedov loser PRELIMS Michael Chiesa vs. Mark Bocek Francisco Trinaldo vs. Garrett Whiteley Tony Ferguson vs. Yui Chul Nam Katsunori Kikuno vs. Sam Stout Chris Holdsworth vs. Mitch Gagnon Chico Camus - cut to flyweight, Tim Elliott Mitch Clarke vs. Ramsey Nijem Al Iaquinta vs. Beneil Dariush Vinc Pichel vs. Joe Proctor Anthony Njokuani vs. Trujillo/Jury loser Sam Sicilia vs. Alex White Aaron Philips - cut to bantamweight, Nam Phan Jinlian Li vs. George Sullivan David Michaud - cut to lightweight, Mike dela Torre
