The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was in Buffalo, NY for the second time in promotional history and the first time in nearly 22 years with UFC 210: Cormier vs. Johnson II. The night of scraps is now in our rear view, so let’s take a look at some potential matchups featuring a few of the less fortunate competitors from the evening…
Shane Burgos vs. Renan Barao
Burgos is coming off a third-round TKO win over American Top Team product Charles Rosa and currently enjoys a two-fight winning streak inside the Octagon while being undefeated as a pro at 9-0. For his next outing, I would like to see him take on former UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao, who has not seen action since a unanimous-decision win over Philippe Nover last September. I think Burgos versus Barao would be an excellent matchup in the UFC’s featherweight division. I see both fighters being stiff tests for each other, and this matchup would more than likely produce fireworks. I think this potential 145-pound scrap would be a great fit to kick off the main card for either UFC on FOX 25 on July 22nd on Long Island, NY, or UFC 214 the following weekend on July 29th in Anaheim, CA.
Charles Rosa vs. Makwan Amirkhani
Rosa suffered a third-round TKO at the hands of Burgos and will be eager to return to the win column his next time out, and a matchup that I think makes a lot of sense for him is one against Finland’s Amirkhani, who is coming off a split-decision loss to Arnold Allen just a few weeks ago. Not only does this matchup make sense, but I think Rosa versus Amirkhani would produce some serious fireworks as well and be a sure-fire contender for the evening’s “Fight of the Night” honors, regardless of the fight card it is booked on. Speaking of which, I think it would be an excellent fit for the main card of July 16th’s UFC Fight Night in Glasgow, which would give Amirkhani somewhat of a home advantage, as he trains out of the SBG Gym in Ireland.
Katlyn Chookagian vs. Bethe Correia
Chookagian took a split-decision win over Irene Aldana this past weekend and finds herself back in the win column after tasting her first pro MMA career defeat at UFC 205 last November, where she dropped a split decision to former UFC women’s bantamweight title challenger Liz Carmouche. For her next outing inside the Octagon, I would like to see Chookagian take on Correia, who is coming off a split draw against Marion Reneau. I think Chookagian versus Correia would be quite a fun scrap in the women’s 135-pound division, and it is one matchup you could sign me up for. I think this potential bout would be a solid fit for the FOX Sports 1 prelims to July 29th’s UFC 214 in Anaheim, CA.
