UFC 313 just went down, and there is a lot to talk about. UFC doesn’t do matchmaking on the fight day, so I decided to cover up for Mick Maynard today. This is the next step for every single UFC 313 winner.
Magomed Ankalaev
Pressure and takedown threat did wonders for Magomed Ankalaev, as he took the belt away from Alex Pereira and became the undisputed light heavyweight world champion. It was a close fight, and both fighters surprised me: Pereira defended every takedown attempt, while Ankalaev wobbled and almost dropped Alex in the second round.
Next step: Pereira rematch
Alex was the most active champion on the roster and got three title defenses before losing a competitive fight to Ankalaev. I don’t see Jiri Prochazka or the winner of Blachowicz vs Ulberg getting the shot before Pereira.
Justin Geathje
The Highlight gets his second win over Rafael Fiziev without any questions about the decision this time around. He overcame the early storm from excited Fiziev and drowned him for the next two rounds.
Next step: Dan Hooker
Not much to say here. I still want to see the absolute war we were all sold on. Geathje vs Hooker for five rounds is the way to go as soon as Hangman is healthy again.
Ignacio Bahamondes
Ignacio Bahamondes just smoked Jailin Turner in the very first round. A slick triangle choke from the back gets Bahamondes in the lightweight rankings. No lightweight has been able to do that to Turner. Jailin made a decision to retire that night.
Next step: Rafael Fiziev
Having lost to Geathje in the co-main event, Fiziev is on a three-fight skid. Why not book Bahamondes vs Fiziev, as both are great kickboxers, with “La Jaula” showing he is even more than that tonight?
Rafael has experience at the very top of the lightweight division, where he hasn’t had the most luck. This is exactly the type of fight that separates contender from pretender.
Amanda Lemos
Amanda Lemos dominated her younger counterpart on the ground over the course of three rounds. She saved her place in the top 5 and bounced back from a loss to Jandirobain in July last year.
Next step: Tatiana Suarez
Suarez is coming off a defeat to Zhang Weili, something every top fighter of this division has gone through. No. 2 strawweight Suarez after a loss vs No. 5 Lemos after a win seems reasonable.
Mauricio Ruffy
The Fighting Nerds hype train keeps going! Ruffy just took King Green out with one of the most beautiful spinning heel kicks since Edson Barboza vs Terry Etim.
Next step: Renato Moicano
I know Ruffy called out Dariush, but I don’t like this matchup very much. I’d much rather see Dariush vs Dawson and Moicano vs Ruffy. Moicano against Mauricio would be an awesome headliner for a Fight Night card in Brazil.
For Moicano, going from challenging for the belt to fighting unranked competition the fight after might be a little rough, but the right amount of money should seal the deal in this case.
Joshua Van
Another nasty performance by Myanmar’s Joshua Van. He battered Rei Tsuruya for three rounds and showed him levels. Being only one year older than Tsuruya, Van is clearly more polished in his technique.
Next step: Asu Almabayev
Asu got beat by Manel Kape in last week’s main event. The fight was weird, as both fouled each other throughout the fight, although Kape was more vicious with the eypokes.
An interesting clash, as both are top 15 new-wave flyweights with tons of potential each. Van’s anti-wrestling and boxing are elite, while Almabayev is a well-rounded type who is never ashamed to mix things up with a takedown.
Bruno Ferreira
Bruno Ferreira gets a submission victory over Arman Petrosyan in the second round. After overcoming two groin kicks in the first, Bruno decides to mix it up at the end of the second and makes Petrosyan panic tap with only a few seconds left on the clock.
Next step: Paul Craig
This matchup might end up becoming either the highlight of Ferreira’s career or his biggest downfall if he wants to prove the legitimacy of his BJJ and Judo black belts against Craig.
What can I say? Anyone can get caught by Bearjew, ask Magomed Ankalaev.
Carlos Leal
Leal got the first finish of the card, tearing Morono’s body and TKO’ing him against the fence. Arguably his second promotional victory, as many think he was robbed at UFC 308.
Next step: Neil Magny
Recently out of the rankings for the first time in years, Magny is undoubtedly at the tail end of his career. Everyone Neil has lost to in the past few years is considered a potential contender. In the most respectful way possible, Magny is a proper gatekeeper, and Leal is an up-and-comer hungry to get up the ranks.
Mairon Santos
Mairon Santos won a controversial split decision over Francis Marshall. Santos claimed he was not sure he won because of the sketchy judging, not realising his opponent was the one hurt by the officials.
Next step: Westin Wilson
You may have forgotten that Westin Willson is coming off a win – the first one in his UFC career, for that matter. Having only lost to very solid Joanderson Brito and Jean Silva, Willson got a submission victory as soon as the competition stopped being so stiff. After such a controversial outing, you can’t really give Santos anything too big.
Ozzy Diaz
Ozzy Diaz gets a win in a barn-burner against Dana White’s Contender Series alumni Djoeden Santos. The fight was incredibly close, but Ozzy dominated the third round, wobbling his tired opponent on multiple occasions. Great way to get rid of a sour aftertaste from his loss to Zhang Mingyang in November last year.
Next step: Josh Fremd
Facing Josh Fremd would be a natural progression, coming off a win over a UFC debutant. In Ozzy’s position, as this was his first victory inside the Octagon, Fremd is a fitting opponent to see where he truly stands in the 185-pound division.
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