Fights to Make After UFC Vegas 20

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Ciyrl Gane vs Alexander Volkov

(essentiallysports.com)

In my eyes, there are only 2 possible candidates for Ciyrl Gane’s next opponent. The two are the other two men to win Heavyweight Main Events in the month of February, Alexander Volkov and Derrick Lewis. I think after Lewis’s knockout, they will probably give him a better name and opponent, especially with his #2 ranking. Gane just defeated #4 Jairzinho Rozenstruik, so you’d assume he’d take his spot. Volkov makes a bit more sense as the #5 ranked Heavyweight. Volkov could also see himself move into the top 4 once the updated rankings are released. It would be an incredible striking matchup between two of the tallest and rangiest fighters in the division. It would most likely be a battle of the two best pure strikers in the division, and I’m all for it. Both men need one more win before having a real shot at the belt, and they should go after each other for it.

Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs Alistair Overeem 2

(Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC.)

I just stared at the Heavyweight Rankings for 10 minutes and couldn’t figure out a fight for Rozenstruik. He’s beaten too many good fighters to give him an up and comer, but he’s lost to everyone who's elite in the division. You can’t give a guy who was in the top 5 someone out of the top 15 after losing to #7, but nobody really makes sense for Jairzinho. The best fight of the bunch is the rematch with Alistair Overeem. These two squared off in December 2019 in Washington D.C. Overeem controlled most of the fight and was winning on all scorecards going into the 5th round. Jairzinho looked tentative, a lot like he did against Gane. But he woke up when it counted and finished Overeem in the last 10 seconds of the fight. He connected with a massive leaping right hand that almost ripped Overeem’s lip off his face. But many, including me, thought the stoppage was a bit early and had to fight gone on another 4 seconds, Overeem would’ve won. Before the fight with Gane, I would have said no to this matchup. Overeem did not look like himself against Alexander Volkov and really got beat up. But Jairzinho looked like a half-melted snowman against Gane. He did literally nothing. I say run this one back. The bottom half of the Heavyweight Rankings don’t really make sense anyways.

Magomed Ankalaev vs Volkan Oezdemir

(Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC.)

My man crush for Magomed Ankalaev lives on. After struggling in the first round, Ankalaev picked it up and controlled the final two, winning a unanimous decision over Nikita Krylov. Nikita was ranked #8 in the division, Ankalaev was #11. A gradual step up in competition would put him against #7 Volkan Oezdemir next. Volkan is a former title challenger who has been inconsistent as of late. He started off his UFC run with a bang, winning his first 3 fights and finishing 2 in under 30 seconds. Since he lost his title opportunity to Daniel Cormier, he is 2-3 against the elite of the division. I would actually argue he’s 1-4 and that he lost to Alexsandar Rakic, but we’ll continue. He is coming off a loss to flaming hot prospect Jiri Prochazka and was scheduled to fight Nikita Krylov before suffering a knee injury. This fight would be the biggest of Magomed’s career and his first chance at the top 10 of the division. It would also serve as a barometer to how good Volkan Oezdemir actually is.

Nikita Krylov vs Winner of Paul Craig vs Jamahal Hill @ UFC Vegas 22

(Esther Lin/MMA Fighting)

Nikita Krylov once against showed his inability to get the big win at 205 and remains in the gatekeeper role for his next fight. He did look good early, winning both the standup and grappling exchanges against Ankalaev. But he faded in the later rounds and wasn’t able to keep the pace throughout the full 15 minutes. He was ranked #8 before the fight, but lost to number #11. #14 Paul Craig and #15 Jamahal Hill are scheduled to fight in 3 weeks at UFC Vegas 22. Neither man has ever faced Krylov and would deserve the step up in the rankings after a win. Much of the lower half of the Light Heavyweight division has already beaten up on themselves, so it can be hard to find fresh matchups. This would be one of the few that is indeed fresh and would also make sense in moving the rankings forward. It’s also a fun fight no matter who wins at Vegas 22.

Montana De La Rosa AND Mayra Bueno Silva

(Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC.)

Kinda hard to match make after a draw. I thought De La Rosa won the fight, but the judges would’ve awarded it to Bueno Silva if she had not been deducted a point due to grabbing the cage. I say why not just run it back. The Flyweight division isn’t moving too drastically anytime soon if Valentina is the Champ.

Pedro Munhoz vs T.J. Dillashaw

(Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC.)

Pedro Munhoz called out the infamous former UFC Bantamweight Champion T.J. "Too Juiced" Dillashaw after his win over Jimmie Rivera on Saturday. The fight with Rivera turned out to be the best fight on the card and earned both men 50 Gs for Fight of the Night. Munhoz made his case to welcome the former champ back from his 2 year suspension for violating the UFC drug policy. Basically, T.J. was a little juicy going into his last fight. Don’t tell Brock, he can sniff it out. Anyways, I think Munhoz has earned his shot. T.J. would like someone in the top 5, which Munhoz should be after this win. Plus, Pedro has a knockout win over T.J’s rival Cody Garbrandt. I’m selling the fight for you Dana! It would also be an incredibly fun striking matchup between two of the fastest guys in the division. The UFC was rumored to be interested in Urijah Faber vs T.J. Dillashaw and that fight sucks. They mind as well have Chuck vs Tito 4 on the undercard. Munhoz vs Dillashaw, book it!

Jimmie Rivera vs Merab Dvalishvili

(bloodycanvas.net)

Merab is another guy that would probably make my man crush All-Star team. Since losing his first two UFC appearances, but actually only losing once cause judges are ass, he’s gone on a 5 fight winning streak. He’s beaten impressive names like Ultimate Fighter winner Brad Katona, Casey Kenney, and John Dodson. Casey Kenney is getting a high profile fight against Dominick Cruz, so why shouldn’t Merab get the same thing. Jimmie Rivera remained in relatively the same spot after Saturday. He was the #9 ranked fighter and lost to #8, but I don’t expect him to move down too far due to the exciting nature of the fight. A fight with #12 Dvailishvili makes sense for both. It would be Merab’s shot at the top 10 and Rivera could piggyback off of Merab’s hype to get himself back into the conversation. It’s a matchup of two stocky wrestlers who can also throw some hands. I’d be down to watch!

Alex Caceres vs Makwan Amirkhani

(Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC.)

A matchup between “Bruce Leeroy” and “Mr. Finland” would be a show. Both these men are UFC vets with over 10 fights in the promotion. They have both been near the rankings and Amirkhani has even cracked the top 15, but neither man has broken through to real success in the division. The timing makes sense for these two entertaining strikers to face off. Caceres has won 5 of his last 6 dating back to July 2018. He has been dispatching off up and coming contenders and looks as good as he ever has. Makwan made a run towards the top 15 of the division, but his last 3 losses are to ranked contenders. He has taken Ls from Arnold Allen, Shane Burgos, and Edson Barboza and is 3-3 in his last 6. This fight is one that could’ve happened a while ago, but is still fun and relevant now.

Kevin Croom vs A Striking Coach

(youtube.com/MojahedFudailat)

If I have to watch Kevin Croom shoot another sloppy, unsuccessful takedown I might check out. Until I see an Instagram video of him hitting pads like a mad man, I’m good on another fight.