The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) went to Croatia for the first time in promotional history, producing a night of solid action, and with the entertaining night of scraps in our rear-view, let’s take a look at a few potential match-ups featuring some of the winning fighters from the evening… Junior Dos Santos vs Josh Barnett This would be a rare “winner vs loser” match-up in the UFC’s heavyweight division and it would be a match-up I would very much like to see. Dos Santos bounced back into the win column yesterday with a unanimous decision win over Ben Rothwell, who defeated Barnett in his latest Octagon outing just a few months ago. I’m sure Dos Santos vs Barnett is a fight both heavyweights have been wanting, especially Barnett, considering Dos Santos held the championship gold when he returned to the promotion for his second stint following the Strikeforce merger. I think this potential heavyweight showdown woul be a good fit as either the main or co-main event for July’s UFC on FOX 20 in Chicago. Derrick Lewis vs Roy Nelson Lewis scored a first round knockout of Gabriel Gonzaga on the main card of yesterday’s UFC Fight Night 86 in Croatia, while Nelson took a unanimous decision win over Jared Rosholt just a few months ago. This is a match-up both heavyweights have been wanting and I believe it will now be booked, likely for a fight card in July. This is a scrap any fight fan could get up for and I hope to see it is booked sooner than later. I think it would make for a solid fit as the main event for July’s UFC Fight Night 90 in Las Vegas, which will be two nights before UFC 200. Jan Blachowicz vs Ed Herman I think this would be a fun match-up in the UFC’s light heavyweight division, with Blachowicz coming off a unanimous decision victory over Igor Pokrajac on the main card of yesterday’s UFC Fight Night 86 in Croatia, and Herman scoring a first round T/KO of Tim Boetsch in his return to the light heavyweight division in his latest outing inside the Octagon. I see Blachowicz vs Herman being an exciting scrap, regardless of whether it lasts two minutes or goes all three rounds. I think this potential light heavyweight scrap would make for a good fit on the main card for July’s The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale fight card. Francis Ngannou vs Jared Cannonier Ngannou and Cannonier were each successfull in their match-ups at yesterday’s UFC Fight Night 86 in Croatia, both earning TKO victories, and I think it would make sense to pit them against each other inside of the Octagon for their next outing. I think the two will produce a real barn-burner in the UFC’s heavyweight division; Ngannou vs Cannonier would be a heavyweight striking battle I would not want to miss, and would especially be surprised if it makes it past the opening round. I think this is another fun fight to add to the aforementioned UFC Fight Night 90 card in Las Vegas this July, whether on the main card or the prelims.
