Entering the fourth month of 2016, and the UFC’s calendar year continues to fill up. Here are my thoughts on some recently booked match-ups… Fight: John Lineker vs Rob Font Card: UFC 198 Where: Curitiba, Brazil When: May 14 Thoughts: I think this is a real barn burner in the UFC’s bantamweight division and is a scrap I am very much looking forward to. Considering how incredibly stacked the UFC 198 card is, I think this bout will likely be on the preliminary card of the evening. I believe Lineker and Font are both stiff tests for one another, so I am interested in seeing how they fare when finally squaring off against each other inside the Octagon. Fight: Jorge Masvidal vs Lorenz Larkin Card: UFC Fight Night 88 Where: Las Vegas, NV When: May 28 Thoughts: I am a big fan of both of these fighters and I am really looking forward to their welterweight showdown. Larkin has been impressive since dropping to 170-pounds from middleweight, and Masvidal has looked good himself since moving up to the welterweight division from lightweight. They are both talented strikers who are fun to watch and I expect them to go to battle when they are pitted against each other inside the Octagon. This is a fight where I don’t really want to see either fighter lose, so I just hope that they put on one helluva show. Fight: Dustin Poirier vs Bobby Green Card: UFC 199 Where: Los Angeles, CA When: June 4 Thoughts: This is a match-up I’m not exactly thrilled about, but I am expecting a good fight, and with so many of the ranked fighters either booked or injured, I suppose this lightweight scrap does make some sense. It is indeed an important fight for both 155-pounders, as they need a victory to remain relevant in the stacked lightweight division. Fight: Donald Cerrone vs Patrick Cote Card: UFC Fight Night 89 Where: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada When: June 18 Thoughts: This welterweight bout will serve as the co-main event for the card and it is certainly an interesting bout. Cerrone, a former title challenger at 155-pounds is taking on Cote, who is a former title challenger at 185-pounds. Size advantage will certainly be in favor of the French-Canadian, but “Cowboy” will enjoy the advantage in speed. This is a fight I don’t really care too much for, as it does not make too much sense to me. I suppose Cote needs a name opponent for the evening’s co-headliner and Cerrone fits the bill. Fight: Gegard Mousasi vs Derek Brunson Card: UFC 200 Where: Las Vegas, NV When: July 9 Thoughts: This was the second bout officially announced for the UFC 200 card and it could end up on the preliminary card but I think it could very well serve as a main card contest. Mousasi and Brunson are amongst the elite of the division and I see this as a big fight. I am a fan of both of theirs, so this is another situation where I would really hate to see either fighter take a loss, so I at least hope the fight is a great one. Both 185-pounders have looked very impressive in their most recent outings, and while I don’t particularly love the match-up, I think it is one that makes a ton of sense, and I am happy to see them both as part of the big UFC 200 fight card in July.
