After UFC Fight Night 30, there are a few match-ups I would like to see. Lineker vs Dodson would have been one of them, but Dodson just booked a date with Scott Jorgensen, as he stepped in for an injured Ian McCall. That leaves Lineker with no quality or available opponent to book, so there should be a top prospect at 125 who is sought after and offered a UFC contract. The first fight I would like to make a suggestion for is one that has already been recommended by multiple MMA media members: Jimi Manuwa vs Thiago Siva. This would make an incredible and exciting battle on the feet and would be a nice step up for the powerful Brit. Both fighters love to stand and trade, but it will be Silva who holds the advantage on the mat. If he is able to get a takedown on Manuwa, like other fights have been able to, then Manuwa may be in a world of trouble. We have seen him taken down by wrestlers, but not by a grappler who is well-versed in the submission game. This is the fight fans want to see, and it’s the fight that will determine if Manuwa has potential to be a top 10 light heavyweight. A featherweight fight I would like to see is between two fighters who competed this past weekend: Cole Miller vs Jimy Hettes. I think this will be an amazing match-up. Both are poor strikers who are incredibly talented on the mat, which is likely where the fight will take place, as both fighters would love nothing more than a submission victory over the other. There’s a ton of potential if this bout is made. There is a middleweight match-up I would like to see between two Brits on the London card in March: Brad Scott vs Luke Barnatt. Both fighters were successful this past Saturday, each securing submissin victories in the first half of the fight. I don’t usually like Brits fighting Brits (or Brazilians fighting Brazilians, etc.) but I would not at all mind seeing these two go at it. Barnatt will have the size and striking advantage, likely being a considerable favorite in the match-up, but it is an unknown how he would do against a very well-rounded grinder like Scott. There are a couple of bouts I would like to see in the lightweight division. Al Iaquinta vs Tony Ferguson is one of them. Norman Parke would be another great fight for Iaquinta, as would a match-up against John Makdessi. I don’t think anybody would argue that the Ferguson fight would be a really fun one; certainly one I would be glued to my TV (or laptop, rather) for. The other scrap at 155 I would like to see is the aforementioned Norman Parke vs Myles Jury. Jury will be a step-up in competition for the young Northern Irishman and he would for the first time in his UFC career be the underdog going into a match-up, but I think he has the tools to present problems for Jury. Both of these fighters will be a real test for each other, and the winner will rightfully move up the ladder in the lightweight division, putting himself the picture for the title.
