UFC Fight Night 78 came and went, leaving us with a pair of new TUF: Latin America winners and some exciting action. The night of scraps is now behind us, so let’s take a look at some potential match-ups featuring a few of the contender’s from the evening in Monterrey… Ricardo Lamas vs Max Holloway/Jeremy Stephens Winner Lamas greeted veteran Diego Sanchez in his featherweight debut and defeated him via unanimous decision on the judges’ scorecards following three rounds of action. It was an impressive performance by Lamas, and a great way for him to return to the win column following a first round TKO loss to fellow top ranked featherweight Chad Mendes. I think it would make the most sense for Lamas to take on the winner of UFC 194’s Max Holloway vs Jeremy Stephens bout, which will be decided in a few short weeks. The potential Lamas vs Holloway/Stephens bout would be a great fit for the main card of UFC 198 in April, which is currently planned for New York City. Andre Fili vs Arnold Allen “Touchy” was losing the battle on the feet against Gabriel Benitez, but changed everything around with one head-kick, knocking the Mexican out and getting himself back into the win column with the highlight reel finish. Fili fights out of Team Alpha Male in Sacramento, CA, and is a highly touted prospect in the UFC’s featherweight division. For his next bout, I would like to see him take on someone who fits a similar bill, and that’s where Arnold Allen enters the picture. He was impressive in his promotional debut earlier this year, scoring a come from behind third round guillotine choke submission win over Alan Omer. After securing his first win with the promotion, I would like to see him take a step up in competition, and I think a match-up with Fili makes great sense. I think this potential scrap would be a definite ‘Fight of the Night’ contender, regardless of the card it would be placed on. Speaking of which, I think this fight would make for a perfect fit as the headliner of the preliminary card for January 30th’s UFC on FOX 18, which will be headlined by a light heavyweight contest between Ryan “Darth” Bader and Anthony “Rumble” Johnson. Jussier Formiga vs Ali Bagautinov I think this would be an excellent match to make in the UFC’s flyweight division. It’s a fight that makes a ton of sense to me and I could really see UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby making this one happen. I would not at all be surprised to see this fight booked for a future card. Formiga just dropped a unanimous decision to Henry Cejudo in an unofficial number one contender bout, and Bagautinov recently came short on the judges’ scorecards against two-time flyweight title challenger Joseph Benavidez. That loss for the Dagestani fighter came after his own personal bid for the title, where he also came up short on the judges’ scorecards, losing a unanimous decision. In this potential 125-pound bout, Bagautinov would have his back against the wall, as he is on a two-fight skid, and he would try to save his job by ultimately putting Formiga on a two fight skid; the position which he is currently in. A win over the Brazilian would be a great way for him to return to the win column, and for Formiga, he can be right back in the mix of things with an impressive victory over Bagautinov. I think this fight would be a good fit for the main card of March’s UFC 197 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where Formiga would be enjoying a hometown advantage. Kelvin Gastelum vs Brandon Thatch Gastelum just came up short in a controversial split decision loss to Neil Magny after five competitive rounds of action and is now 0-2 in his last two bouts in the welterweight division, with a win at middleweight sandwiched between the losses. For his next outing inside the Octagon, I would like to see him take on Magny’s training partner Brandon Thatch, who is on a two fight losing streak with a pair or rear naked choke submission defeats against Benson Henderson and Gunnar Nelson, respectively. I think Gastelum vs Thatch is another guaranteed ‘Fight of the Night’ candidate, regardless of what card it is on. For however long this fight lasts, whether two minutes or all 15, I think it will be very entertaining. I would like to see this potential welterweight barn burner on the main card for February’s UFC 196 in Las Vegas, as I think it would be a good fit for that fight card.
