One month remaining in the 2015 calendar year and the UFC’s 2016 schedule has already been filling up. Here are my thoughts on some recently booked match-ups… Fight: Diego Brandao vs Brian Ortega Card: UFC 195 Where: Las Vegas, NV When: January 2, 2016 Thoughts: I cannot wait to see this pairing of two Brazilian featherweights, as they are both finishers who are always very fun to watch in their exciting performances. This 145-pound scrap undoubtedly has “barn burner” written all over it and would be a contender for the evening’s ‘Fight of the Night’ honors, even with Robbie Lawler vs Carlos Condit slated for the main event. Both featherweights will be heading into this match-up looking to stay undefeated in three fights. Brandao would be making a big statement with a win over surging prospect Ortega, and for Ortega, a win over Brandao may be just what he needs to elevate himself to the next level at 145-pounds. Fight: Dennis Bermudez vs Maximo Blanco Card: UFC Fight Night 81 Where: Boston, MA When: January 17, 2016 Thoughts: Bermudez was knocked out by Jeremy Stephens in a very exciting fight at UFC 189 back in July that would have been a lock for the evening’s ‘Fight of the Night’ bonus, had we not witnessed the instant classic that was Lawler vs MacDonald II. Blanco rides a three-fight winning streak and comes off a first round finish of Mike De La Torre six months ago and looks to make it four in a row against Bermudez, while simultaneously scoring the biggest victory of his Octagon career. I think this is going to be a very fun scrap and am very much looking forward to it. Both of these featherweights are known to deliver every time they step foot inside the Octagon. Fight: Josh Barnett vs Ben Rothwell Card: UFC on FOX 18 Where: Newark, NJ When: January 30, 2016 Thoughts: I am a big fan of both of these heavyweight so I am sort of dreading this match-up because I would hate to see either of them suffer a loss, especially in devestating fashion. That said, this is a fight that will more than likely leave fight fans pleased. Fight: Alex Caceres vs Masio Fullen Card: UFC on FOX 18 Where: Newark, NJ When: January 30, 2016 Thoughts: Fan favorite “Bruce Leeroy” will look to snap a three fight losing skid against Fullen, who was submitted via rear naked choke in the first round of action in his most recent outing against Makwan Amirkhani. The Mexican is eager to return to the win column by taking out the veteran Caceres, who thought about making the move back up to the featherweight division but opted to stay at bantamweight and took this fight. This is a fight I am sort of looking for, as I am a fan of Caceres’, however, I personally couldn’t really care much for Fullen. “Bruce Leeroy” is certainly the only reason I will be tuning into this one and I will be rooting for him to get his hand raised. Fight: Michael Bisping vs Gegard Mousasi Card: UFC Fight Night 83 Where: London, England, UK When: February 27th, 2016 Thoughts: This middleweight match-up has been teased for a couple of years now and is now finally getting made. Like most middleweights, Bisping is a fight Mousasi has been wanting and he now finally gets him. Coming off the most brutal loss of his proffesional mixed martial arts career, which came against second round knockout by Uriah Hall after dominating him in the first round, Mousasi will head to enemy territory in London looking to upset the Brit and get back into the win column for another run at the UFC’s 185-pound gold. This is a rare “winner vs loser” match-up in the UFC’s middleweight division, with Mousasi coming off the aforementioned loss and Bisping riding a two fight winning streak with a unanimous decision over CB Dollaway and most recenly a split decision over Thales Leites. As a fight fan and a fan of both fighters, I am personally looking forward to this fight very much and cannot wait to see it. It has not yet been announced whether it will be the main or co-main event of the English evening, so it remains a question mark whether they will be scheduled for five rounds or three.
