The Ultimate Fighting Championship was live from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada for the first time in promotional history with UFC 215: Nunes vs. Shevchenko II. It was a solid night of scraps that saw six out of 11 of them end inside the distance. The night of action is now in our rear view, so let’s take a look at some potential match-ups featuring a few of the less fortunate competitors from the evening…
Rafael Dos Anjos vs. Robbie Lawler
RDA scored a first round arm triangle submission win over Colorado-based Neil Magny to earn his second straight win since moving up to the UFC’s welterweight division. It was an impressive outing by the Brazilian, who has his sights set on 170 pound gold. To get there, I would like for him to take on Robbie Lawler, who is in a hunt to get his gold back. This would make for a title eliminator bout, and it is a potential matchup I would be interested in tuning in for. I think it would be a solid fit as either the main or co-main event for December’s UFC on FO 26 in Winnipeg, which would mark the promotion’s return to Canada following UFC 215.
Neil Magny vs. Jake Ellenberger
Magny was submitted by Rafael Dos Anjos via arm triangle choke in the opening round of their bout and will be looking to bounce back into the win column his next time out. I would be interested to see him take on Jake Ellenberger, who is coming off a second round knockout loss to Mike Perry. I think this would make for an interesting matchup in the UFC’s welterweight division and it’s one I wouldn’t miss. I would like to see it on the main card for December’s The Ultimate Fighter 26 Finale in Las Vegas.
Ketlen Vieira vs. Germaine de Randamie
Vieira earned a second round arm triangle choke victory over former 135 pound title challenger Sara McMann to pick up her third straight victory inside the Octagon and remain undefeated at 9-0. She will be planning to make it 10-0 her next time out, and I would like to see her attempt to do so by facing the biggest striking threat of her career in the form of Germaine de Randamie. The Dutchwoman has been part of much controversy lately, having been stripped of her 145-pound title for refusing to defend it and then pulling out of her 135-pound bout against Marion Reneau. I think GDR would be a great test for Vieira and the stiffest of her professional mixed martial arts career thus far. This is a matchup I would definitely love to see, and I would prefer it be on the main card for November’s UFC Fight Night in China, which would be neutral territory for both 135-pounders.
