We have nearly completed 2016, and the UFC’s calendar continues to fill up. Here are my thoughts on some recently booked match-ups… Fight: Dan Hooker vs Jason Knight Card: UFC Fight Night 101 Where: Melbourne, Australia When: November 27, 2016 Thoughts: I think this will be a very fun fight in the UFC’s featherweight division, as both fighters are well rounded and aim to leave it all inside the Octagon every time out. Hooker is coming off a first round guillotie choke victory over Mark Eddiva and is hopeful of making it two in a row against Knight, who is coming off a unanimos decision win over Jim Alers and will be looking to do the same. I expect this scrap to be a real barn burner and I think it could very well be a sleepr come for the evening’s ‘Fight of the Night’ honors. Fight: Cub Swanson vs Doo Ho Choi Card: UFC 206 Where: Toronto, Ontario, Canada When: December 10, 2016 Thoughts: Choi gets another step up i competition and faces his biggest test in the form of Cub Swanson, who currently rides a two fight winning streak heading into this featherweight affair. Choi owns a three fight winning streak, having finished all three of his opponents by knockout inside of the opeing stanza. This is a real barn-burner between a pair of talented strikes, and while I would hate to see either of them lose, this is a bout I very much look forward to. Fight: Paige VanZant vs Michelle Waterson Card: UFC on FOX 22 Where: Sacramento, CA When: December 17, 2016 Thoughts: This bout will serve as the five round main event for UFC on FOX 22 in Sacramento. VanZant will be headlining for the second time in the UFC; the first of which she came up short in a fifth round rear naked submission loss to Rose Namajunas. It will serve as Waterson’s first main event slot and she will be looking to remain undefeated inside the Octagon. I think this will be an exciting fight in the UFC’s women’s strawweight division and should wrap up the UFC on FOX 22 card on a high note. I personally don’t believe it is worthy of a main event slot; I am not sure if it is worthy of a co-main event slot, but it should be an exciting match-up, nontheless. Fight: Amanda Nunes vs Ronda Rousey Card: UFC 207 Where: Las Vegas, CA When: December 30, 2016 Thoughts: Rousey is finally back! Many believed she was done for good, but it does not look like it. She started the year with a loss, giving up her title, and she will be looking to end it with a win, gaining her title back. The opponent may be different, but the goal is just the same. This should be an incredibly exciting match-up in the UFC’s women’s bantamweight division and I can’t wait to see it.
