UFC Fight Night 53 was live from Sweden on Saturday (10/04/2014) with an 11-fight card and produced a night of exciting fights, including five finishes, with all of them coming in the first round of action. Now with the solid night of scraps behind us, let’s take a look at a few potential match-ups for some of the competitors of the evening… Rick “The Horror” Story vs Matt “The Immortal” Brown I believe this would be a phenomenal match-up in the UFC’s welterweight division, and certainly one every fight fan could get excited for. I get giddy thinking about the possibility of this fight. Both of these welterweights are hard-hitting scrappers who like to move forward and do damage. They have similar styles in that they both like to move forward and pressure their opponents. They both also possess very heavy hands, as well as a solid grappling game to complement their offense on the feet. This is a fight that could end at any minute, considering how powerful both men are, but it could also very well be a war that goes the distance. For that reason especially, I would prefer this fight be a five round main event, possibly for a February ‘Fight Night’ card that is yet to be announced. Story was successful at yesterday’s UFC Fight Night 53 in Sweden, outstriking Iceland’s undefeated welterweight prospect Gunnar Nelson for five rounds of action to pick up a decision victory on the judges’ scorecards. Brown last saw action at UFC on FOX 12 just over two months ago, dropping a unanimous decision to current number one contender Robbie Lawler, and ultimately having his impressive seven fight winning streak snapped. Though he is coming off a loss, I think a fight against someone coming off a win would make sense for him, especially if that someone is Rick Story. Nico Musoke vs Cathal Pendred This would be a match-up pairing two welterweights who were each successful at yesterday’s UFC Fight Night 53 in Sweden, with the Swede Musoki taking a unanimous decision victory over Russia’s Alexander Yakovlev and Irishman Cathal Pendred edging a split decision over another Russian in Gasan Umalatov. While no non-European fans will likely be excited for this match-up, I think it would be a solid fit for the UFC’s upcoming trip to London in February. That would give Ireland’s Pendred somewhat of a home advantage, as many neighboring Irishman will crowd London’s O2 Arena in support of their fellow Fighting Irish. Max “Blessed” Holloway vs “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung I have no doubt this would a ‘Fight of the Night’ contender, regardless of the card it is now. This fight has “fireworks” written all over it; a real featherweight barn-burner if there ever was one. Holloway scored a first round knockout over Sweden’s Akira Corassani in enemy territory at yesterday’s UFC Fight Night 53 in Sweden, and the win put the Hawaiian on an impressive four fight winning streak, with all four victories coming inside the distance; three T/KO’s and one submission. “The Korean Zombie” on the other hand has not seen action since an August 2013 loss to 145-pound champion Jose Aldo, as he has been sidelined by injuries. In fact, he was supposed to take on Corassani but had to withdraw from the bout due to another injury and was replaced by the eventual victor, Holloway. I think Holloway vs “The Korean Zombie” is a fight no fight fan could with a great imagination could picture being anything short of exciting. For however long it lasts, be in three minutes or all 15, I think fans across the world will be on their feet for this one, and for the sake of both their health’s, I would say this potential 145-pound scrap should definitely be a three round fight, and not a five rounder. I could see it getting made as a five rounder, especially on a future Asian card, but I would prefer it be three rounds, perhaps in Las Vegas. I think it would be the perfect fight to kick off January’s UFC 182, which will be headlined by a light heavyweight title fight between challenger Daniel Cormier and the champ Jon “Bones” Jones. The co-main event will be a Women’s bantamweight title bout between challenger Cat Zingano and champion “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey. I believe this potential featherweight bout would make for a solid addition to that Pay Per View main card. Krzysztof Jotko vs Tom “Kong” Watson I think this would be a solid match-up to make in the UFC’s middleweight division and think it is one that makes plenty of sense for both fighters. Jotko just took a dominant unanimous decision victory over the Swede Tor Troeng on enemy soil at yesterday’s UFC Fight Night 53 in Sweden, likely sending The Ultimate Fighter season 18 veteran back to the regional circuit. Watson last saw action less than two months ago, scoring a unanimous decision victory over promotional newcomer Sam Alvey. The Brit snapped a two fight losing streak and likely saved his job with the promotion with the win. Watson bounced back into the win column, saving his job; and Jotko also bounced back into the win column, following the first loss of his professional mixed martial arts career, which came against another Swede in Magnus Cedenblad. Both 185-pounders will now be looking to make it two wins in a row, and I think a battle between them makes sense, not only from a matchmaking perspective, but also stylistically, as I feel pitting these middleweights against one another will likely produce an exciting scrap. This is another fight I think would be a solid fit for the UFC’s upcoming trip to London in February.
