We are past the midway point of 2016, and the UFC’s calendar continues to fill up. Here are my thoughts on some recently booked match-ups… Fight: Dennis Bermudez vs Ronny Jason Card: UFC Fight Night 92 Where: Salt Lake City, UT When: August 6, 2016 Thoughts: This is a fun match-up in the UFC’s featherweight division and I very much look forward to seeing these 145-pounders go to war inside the Octagon. They are both well-rounded mixed martial artist who are generally involved in entertaining fights, so this could be a contender come time for the evening’s ‘Fight of the Night’ honors. Fight: Sean Strickland vs Tim Means Card: UFC 202 Where: Las Vegas, NV When: August 20, 2016 Thoughts: This is a very interesting match-up in the UFC’s welterweight division between a pair of talented strikers. I am a fan of both 170-pounders, so while I won’t be happy seeing either of them take a loss, this is a fight I look forward to. I expect it to be part of the preliminary card for the very stacked UFC 202 fight card that will be headlined by a rematch between Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor. This would also be a rare “winner vs loser” amtch-up in the UFC’s 170-pound division, with Strickland riding a red-hot winning streak and Means coming off a first round guillotine choke submission loss against Matt Brown in his latest outing inside the Octagon. Fight: Paige VanZant vs Bec Rawlings Card: UFC on FOX 21 Where: Vancouver, B.C. When: August 27, 2016 Thoughts: “PVZ” returns to action following her first UFC loss against Rose Namajunas, which came via fifth round rear naked choke submission. In this rare “winner vs loser” match-up in the UFC’s women’s strawweight division, she will be taking on Rawlings, who is coming off a decision victory over Seo Hee Ham. Both fighters are generally fun to watch, so I think there’s a good chance they will produce an exciting fight when they square off in late August. This would be a very important fight for both ladies, so I would expect them to leave it all inside the Octagon when they battle it out. Fight: Francisco Trinaldo vs Paul Felder Card: UFC Fight Night 94 Where: Brasilia, Brazil When: September 24, 2016 Thoughts: Trinaldo will be looking to extend his winning streak to seven in a row in this contest with a win over Felder, who is on a two fight winning streak of his own. I think this is a great fight and that with a win over Felder, Trinaldo should earn a title eliminator bout for his next outing inside the Octagon. This potential win would put him at seven straight, and a win over a Tony Ferguson or Khabib Nurmagomedov in a title eliminator would make him 8-0 and at that point he could not be denied a title shot. It would be a very tough task for him to get past such opposition, but that is a position he could realistically get to, as I think Felder is an opponent he could realistically beat, especially in his own backyard. This is a great fight between two entertaining fighters to always deliver when stepping foot in the cage. I expect both 155-pounders to have their moments and ultimately leave it all inside the Octagon, as this is a big fight for both. Needless to say, I think this fight has a great chance of being a candidate for the evening’s ‘Fight of the Night’ honors, regardless of whatever fights end get booked for this UFC Fight Night 94 fight card.
