UFC 191 was live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena last night (Septembet 5th, 2015) an 11-fight card, producing a night of solid action. With the event now in our rear-view, let’s take a look ahead at potential match-ups featuring some of the competitors from the evening… John Lineker vs Cody Garbrandt This is a potential bantamweight pairing that I would really love to see, as both of these 135-pounders look to be on the rise in the division. Lineker would be a step up in competition for Garbrandt, and Garbrandt would also be a step up in competition for Lineker. This potential scrap makes a ton of sense to me, and I think it would be a ‘Fight of the Night’ bonus worthy fight, regardless of the fight card it is booked on. Speaking of which, I would love to see this bout booked for the main card of November’s UFC Fight Night 77 in Brazil, which will be headlined by a rubber-match between veterans Dan “Hendo” Henderson and Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort. Ross Pearson vs Jim Miller Pearson is coming off a close split decision win over Paul Felder, and Miller is coming off a close split decision win over Danny Castillo. I think this is a good time to pit these two veteran lightweights inside the Octagon together and watch them produce a war. This potential match-up is one bout no fight fan would miss, as these veterans are both known to give it their all every time they step foot inside the Octagon. I think this fight should be on the main card for December’s UFC Fight Night 80 in Las Vegas, for which there have yet been no fights announced. It will be the first time the UFC does a show from The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan Hotel and Casino. Paul Felder vs Ramsey Nijem Felder came up short in a split decision against the aforementioned Ross Pearson and is now on a two fight skid. Nijem recently dropped a split decision of his own and is also on a two fight losing streak. I think this would be a good match-up to make in the UFC’s lightweight division, with both 155-pounders being in dire need of a win. While I’m not overly excited about it, this potential lightweight bout does make sense to me. I think this potential lightweight scrap would make for a good fit on the preliminary card on the aforementioned UFC Fight Night 80, which will live from Las Vegas on the 10th of December. Anthony Johnson vs Rampage Jackson It feels like the right time to make this fight. Rumble vs Rampage is a fight that would definitely sell. Johnson returned to the win column with a second round knockout of Jimi Manuwa and he looks to make it two in a row in his next outing, as he has his hopes set on earning another shot at the UFC light heavyweight title. In a razor-thin division short on contenders, I think Rampage is the right opponent to pair him up with for his next outing. Taking on a recent title challenger and defeating him would be a big deal for Rampage, as it would immediately catapult him right into the 205-pound title picture. I would like to see this fight as the co-main event for January’s UFC 195, which will be headlined by a welterweight title fight between defending Champion “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler and challenger “The Natural Born Killer” Carlos Condit.
