Matchmaking Predictions for UFC Fight Night 86’s Winning Fighters

Jan BlachowiczThe 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.

Written by Gabe Killian

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