We are more than halfway into the year, and the UFC’s 2017 calendar continues to fill up. Here are my thoughts on some recently booked matchups…
Fight: Ulka Sasaki vs. Jussier Formiga
Card: UFC Fight Night 117
Where: Saitama, Japan
When: September 23, 2017
Thoughts: Arguably the two best back-takers in the promotion will be competing against each other in this flyweight matchup, which I am very much looking forward to. I am a fan of both of these 125-pounders and look forward to seeing what will likely be a highly entertaining grappling contest, whether it lasts a couple of minutes or goes for all 15 minutes. This is a rare “winner versus loser” matchup in the UFC’s flyweight division, with Sasaki coming off a big upset second-round rear-naked choke submission win over Justin Scoggins and Formiga coming off a unanimous-decision loss to current UFC flyweight title challenger Ray Borg.
Fight: Paige VanZant vs. Jessica Eye
Card: UFC 216
Where: Las Vegas, NV
When: October 7, 2017
Thoughts: VanZant appears to be moving up to the UFC’s flyweight division for this matchup, though it is a question mark as to whether she plans to stay there. Eye will be moving down to 125 pounds from the bantamweight division, where she has been competing throughout her UFC tenure. She was a flyweight prior to signing with the UFC, so she will now be competing in her natural weight class. I think PVZ vs. Eye is an interesting matchup, and while I am not exactly thrilled to see it, I am intrigued by it and am curious to see how it plays out. This is likely a “do or die” fight or Eye, who is riding a four-fight losing streak heading into this contest.
Fight: Michael Bisping vs. Georges St. Pierre
Card: UFC 217
Where: New York City, NY
When: November 4, 2017
Thoughts: I have absolutely zero interest in watching this matchup. None. I hate the fact that it will be headlining the UFC 217 card at Madison Square Garden, because I was planning on attending that event, and I have now lost the desire to do so. I can only hope the rest of the card is mind-blowing. GSP has a good chance of winning this fight, but he is not likely to defend the title once, which makes the whole thing ridiculous. He should be challenging Tyron Woodley for the 170-pound title, but it is my guess that he believes Bisping is an easier matchup, and ultimately an easier payday, which is the bottom line here. Money. It’s a money-grab fight for both fighters. If a boycott for this matchup started to take place, I would join in. It’s a terrible matchup on a big card. I don’t care how good of a fight it ends up being, it should not be happening.
