Steve Garcia vs Bill Algeo -
Wow... What a performance by Steve Garcia. He is now on a 3 fight winning streak, all of them being by TKO. For someone who was 0-3 at lightweight and on the verge of being cut, him making the cut to Featherweight ultimately saved his career. I think a fight with veteran Bill Algeo would be a very fun matchup for hardcore fans and for a crowd. Bill Algeo has won 4 out of his last 5, including a win over Joanderson Brito which has aged very well. The winner of this could be looking at fight near the rankings or possible fight someone who is ranked.
| Park Hyun-sung vs Bruno Silva - |
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Great performance by Park Hyun-sung, although he was given bottom of the barrel 0-3 Shannon Ross, he followed through and finished him. He is now 2-0 in the UFC, both by finish and is an interesting prospect, he just turned 28 and if I was the UFC, I would try and test him a bit more seeing he's a bit older than the other prospects at flyweight. A fight with veteran Bruno Silva would be a perfect test for him and a great fight for Bruno Silva to come back to, who is on a 3 fight winning streak, finishing Tyson Nam in March by submission. Bruno Silva has lost twice in the UFC, to Tagir Ulanbekov and David Dvorak, who are both ranked. He's been out for close to a year now and I could only assume it's an injury. At 33, I think this is a perfect fight for Bruno and a great test for Park Hyun-Sung to see if he's legit.
| Kevin Jousset vs Jake Matthews - |
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Jake Matthews seems to have been given the task to test the up and comers of the Welterweight division, although at 29, still has a possible upbringing in the future. Kevin Jousset just came off a very 1 sided performance vs Song Kennan where he landed a numerous number of leg kicks to Song Keenan. It seems City Kickboxing may of got another one in their hands. I would love to see this fight considering they are on pretty similar schedules and see if Kevin Jousset can keep rising through the Welterweight division or can Jake Matthews stop a possible rising prospect?
| Melquizael Costa vs TJ Brown - |
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I almost feel like this one just is perfect, Costa is 1-2 in the UFC with his only win coming over Austin Lingo and TJ Brown is on a 2 fight losing streak to Elkins and Algeo and is in need for a win. Brown is 3-5 in the UFC with those 3 wins not being very impressive, like at all. Those wins include Erik Silva, who has not been seen in a year, Charles Rosa and Kai Kamaka who have both been cut from the UFC. Costa took a short notice fight vs Thiago Moises at 155 on about a weeks notice if I am not mistaken. He lost then went down and fought Austin Lingo in a pretty dominant performance and looked like a possible future up and comer, then got finished pretty badly by Steve Garcia... so much so that he started going in on a double leg on the Ref when he called the fight. I think a fight between these 2 can boost someone back into the win column, the loser could be looking being released.
| Song Keenan vs Trey Waters - |
Keenan falls to 5-4 in the UFC now, still positive but clearly the UFC see's him as a test for the younger prospects in the Welterweight division, don't believe me? Listen to these opponents for 2023, Ian Garry, Rolando Bedoya and Kevin Jousset. There's not to much to say about this matchup other than Waters is 6'5 with a 77 inch reach. This is just a simple matchup to see if Waters is ready for the "next level" of the 170 division.
| Carlos Hernandez vs Jake Hadley - |
Carlos had a pretty rough showing vs the up and comer, Tatsuro Taira. To be fair though, many have had trouble with the young prospect. Jake Hadley just came off a decision loss to Cody Durden, which is nothing to be ashamed off seeing Durden is currently ranked #15, and considering he also almost submitted him. I think this is a pretty fair matchup, more so for the UFC to get Hadley back on track with a possible win here.
| Andre Muniz vs Michel Pereira - |
Wow... what a grappling performance by Muniz... it was great to watch. Although his striking does need some work, I think a fight with Michel Pereira could do wonders for both men. Muniz was recently ranked and is probably ranked #16 in all honesty, he is probably the number 1 guy right outside the rankings. Pereira was ranked right outside the top 10 at 170 and had to move up due to weight issues. He fought Petroski who was on a 5 fight win streak and then finished him just over a minute. Will Muniz be able to get Pereira to the ground quick and get a possible submission? Or will Pereira look for an early finish on the feet? The winner will definitely be looking for a fight inside the rankings at 185.
| Andre Petroski vs Park Jun-yong - |
The Iron Turtle couldn't seem to leave the grip of Muniz whatsoever tonight and it was not a good look for him whatsoever. For someone who was on a 4 fight winning streak and people calling for him to get a ranked opponent, he finally got his test, (Muniz was ranked #15 when the fight was booked) and it did not go in his favor as he lost a split decision, although in my opinion Muniz was the pretty clear winner. He now drops to 7-3 while Petroski was 5-0 in the UFC, just lost by KO to Pereira, both men are in the same position outside the rankings. Both were on good winning streaks and both got their test and lost it, a win here from either men could boost them into the spot they were in before they lost their big test.
| #10 Tim Elliott vs #11 Steve Erceg - |
Tim Elliott steps in on 1 weeks notice and get's the submission in the first round, what a performance by Tim and on the post fight interview with Paul Felder, he said and I quote, "I feel like my title run is over and I'm just here to take fights and do what the UFC needs." With him saying that I feel like him vs Australian prospect Steve Erceg is a perfect matchup. Erceg stepped up on short notice vs a ranked opponent in his UFC debut vs David Dvorak and come up with the upset decision win, he then fought Alessandro Costa at UFC 295 and also picked up another decision win there. Considering Erceg, who is ranked #11, was going to face #8 Matt Schnell at UFC 295 before Schnell had to pullout and Costa had to step in, I feel like #10 Elliott is a perfect matchup for him, and even a good matchup for the veteran Elliott.
| #12 Su mudaerji vs Tatsuro Taira |
Well UFC... here is how you get Taira into the rankings. Sumaderji is now 3-3 in the UFC and is a fun fighter to watch, but lacks in the grappling department. His 16-6 overall record is very iffy, and it gets even worst when you realize all 6 of his losses come by submission, which if you know Taira, is a strong suit of his game, even at the age of 23. There is no reason to rush Taira if you are the UFC, although I would take your chance with getting him into the rankings with this perfect matchup for Taira who is now 5-0 in the UFC and is sitting at a very nice 15-0 record.
#4 Jan Błachowicz vs #8 Khalil Roundtree Jr. - |
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Roundtree is now on a 5 fight win streak with 4 of them coming by TKO/KO. With a very impressive win over veteran Anthony Smith, the road is only up from here for Roundtree, he called for a main event after his KO win earlier this year over Daukaus, although he didn't get it here, I feel like a main event of a fight night between him and Jan is a great fight to make. Jan recently had to pull out of a rematch fight with Rakic due to an injury, by the time he comes back, Rakic will probably have a fight lined up. Jan just fought current champion Alex Pereira at UFC 291 and lost by split decision, so he is still close to a title shot. 2 Heavy hitters in a fight night main event? Someone is bound to go to sleep.
| #9 Anthony Smith vs #12 Azamat Murzakanov - |
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Like most veterans with somewhat of name value, they are given to the up and comers of the division to keep the division moving when they are washed, now it is Anthony Smith's turn. After this pretty bad TKO lost, it's time to give him another fight where he most likely will lose. Not much to talk about here other than likely the end path for Smith's career.
| Nasrat Haqparast vs Grant Dawson - |
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Nasrat is on a 3 fight winning streak now and is a pretty impressive striker, although he isn't close to being ranked in my opinion, I think a fight between him and Grant Dawson could be interesting for both fighters. Grant Dawson just took a very bad KO loss against veteran Bobby Green and lost his ranking because of it. Nasrat hasn't really been the grappling type and Dawson has never been the striking type, who will be able to use their disadvantage to their advantage first?
| Jamie Mullarkey vs Guram Kutateladze - |
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Jamie Mullarkey is now 5-5 in the UFC and at only 29 years old, he is in a very weird spot. He hasn't been able to find his grove for a while now and looking at Guram who is currently 32 and was once said to be a very dangerous prospect who lost to Elves Brennar. Both fighters could certainly use a win right now, considering this fight was gonna happen earlier in 2023, I feel like it's only right to make the fight happen now seeing as both men lost their last fight by KO.
| Chris Gutierrez vs Adrian Yanez - |
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This has been a fight I always wanted to see. With Yanez pure boxing and Gutierrez interesting kicking attack, I would love to see how this plays out. With Yanez falling out the rankings after losing very badly by leg kicks to Jonathan Martinez and Gutierrez more than likely losing his #15 ranking by losing a decision that was single handily won by Song Yadong, I think this fight makes perfect sense for both fighters.
| #7 Song Yadong vs #5 Petr Yan - |
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What... a ... performance by Song Yadong. Just turning 26 and just entering his prime, he is truly a future champion in many people's eyes. This fight would fit perfectly on a PPV, I would love to see this fight in a 3 rounder, only because I know damn well the UFC would put this as a fight main event in the APEX, this fight deserves fans. Petr said he wants March of 2024 to return, and I see no reason why not to do it as Song Yadong also wants March. This on the main card of UFC 299 with O'Malley vs Chito Vera?? Sign me up.
