As Joe Silva prepares to exit the matchmaking mechanisms of the UFC, there’s a feeling in the air that it’s time to shake things up a little. Sure the UFC may stick with the general guidelines that he’s laid out over the years - and probably should - but when there’s an opportunity for change on the fantasy fight booking end, then I’d be a fool not to take it.
To that goal, I’ve decided to move things in a new direction and give you, the reader, a chance to make your voice heard. For each UFC fight card I’ll be looking to host the potential next fight picks of a Bloody Elbow reader, alongside my own. I’ll be selecting potential participants from the comment sections of these “Fights to Make” articles, so you gotta read ‘em if you want to write ‘em, essentially.
The next event is almost a month away, but if you’d like to take a shot at the toughest fake job in MMA, write a comment below starting with: ‘Reebok is my favorite sportswear company because...’ I’ll pick one person out of whoever responds. This week it’s Chad Simpson, who gets to go first because he spurred me to this idea:
Hello fans, my name is Chad Simpson and I will be your guest matchmaker today. I'm a former high school wrestler and lifelong MMA fan since the day I saw Gary Goodridge demolish Paul Herrera with elbows. I suffered multiple knee injuries which made a career in MMA impossible so instead I've moved into the world of MMA journalism and have been gifted a wonderful opportunity thanks to Zane Simon to get my name out there. This will be my first major contribution and hopefully not my last. With that said let's get to making some matchups.
Michael Bisping:
Chad - He just survived a hell of a chess match with one of if not the greatest ko artist of all-time. His chin survived 2 massive H-Bomb's and several clean knees and elbows. This wasn't his best performance but it was the performance he needed. This is where it gets complicated. If Romero defeats Weidman, the winner of Rockhold/Jacare will get the title shot. If Weidman wins he gets first crack over Rockhold but I'd expect Jacare to get the shot if he wins in this scenario over Weidman. This a heck of a coinflip since most expect Weidman to win his fight. "Flips Coin" Michael Bisping vs Chris Weidman
Zane - The world is filled with contenders for Michael Bisping. Mousasi is on a 3-fight win streak, Jacare is fighting Rockhold, Weidman is fighting Romero, even - dare I say it - Rashad Evans is fighting Tim Kennedy, both of whom have a win over “The Count.” And I see the sense of putting a potential Weidman win at the front of the line, as he’s the combination of most likely while still compelling/deserving... Yet, I feel like there’s just a lot more pop built into the Jacare/Rockhold narrative. Rockhold needing redemption for a massive upset, and Jacare being the infinitely passed over challenger. So I’ll say the Jacare/Rockhold winner should get it.
Gegard Mousasi:
Chad - That is the Mousasi the UFC and the fans have been expecting for quite a long time. While Belfort is nowhere near the killer he was a decade ago he is still extremely dangerous. Gegard carved him up like turkey and put him down, likely for good. It appears the Uriah Hall loss has served to reawaken the killer inside of him. He called out Andreson Silva afterwards and I have no issue with that fight regardless of the outcome of a potential superfight happening. Gegard Mousasi vs. Anderson Silva
Zane - Should Mousasi be the guy to blaze all the old stars out of the top of the middleweight division? First chopping Belfort down and then, as requested, getting a shot at Anderson Silva? Maybe, but with Rashad down at middleweight now and with talk of a GSP/Anderson fight - that I still don’t really believe in - in the air, I feel like there are better “legends” uses of Anderson Silva than a fight against a very tough and motivated Gegard Mousasi. If I’m picking the winner of Rockhold/Jacare to get the next title shot, then I think the winner of Weidman/Romero should fight Mousasi next.
Vitor Belfort:
Chad - He's reportedly retiring and with how stacked with killers the division is that is probably the best decision for him. He has had an amazing career of 20 years and he would be getting out with some of his health. If he decides not to retire there is only 1 fight that makes any sense at all if rumors of his return vs Anderson Silva are true. Vitor Belfort vs. Georges St. Pierre
Zane - Vitor Belfort could just go ahead and retire now. Probably, maybe... maybe not... The idea of Belfort hanging up the gloves feels a bit like it came out of nowhere this week, even though he’s voiced his displeasure of the new Reebok fueled UFC for a while now. If he doesn’t want to keep going, he’s got many solid reasons not to. But if he finds himself getting called back into the cage then I would still love love love to see him fight Nick Diaz.
Jimi Manuwa:
Chad - As good as he looked I have a feeling this fight said more about OSP than it did about Jimi. Not to take away from the great things he did during this fight but he tried to give it away on multiple occasions early on. I don't think he should be shoved up the ladder but he needs to be tested with a relevant fight. They could give him the winner of Bader vs. Lil Nog or they could have him be a litmus test for the winner of Krylov vs Cirkunov. I think we need to see more of Manuwa before a big fight so. Jimi Manuwa vs Krylov/Cirkunov winner
Zane - I think the UFC absolutely has to get Manuwa into the mix at the top of the division more, in a way that a matchup like Krylov or Cirkunov just won’t do. He’s 36 and more than 8 years into the game, coming off the biggest win of his career. Put him in more name fights. If he doesn’t win, that’s fine, he’s still a new face at the top of a division that badly needs new faces. Unfortunately, that only really leaves two immediate options: Jon Jones and Shogun Rua. The Jon Jones fight would be there if the UFC moves ahead with Cormier/Johnson 2 and still wants Jones back in the cage ASAP, but I’d go with Manuwa vs. Shogun as the more likely option. It’s a fight Manuwa should win and one that would really put him on a run for a top contender fight.
Ovince Saint-Preux:
Chad - That was a really bad loss, REALLY BAD. He got outclassed everywhere, faded and got finished. Now 1-3 in his last 4 any hope of a run to the title has evaporated and now his job could be on the line next time out. OSP has been a company man though and I think they will give him a bounce back fight. They could give him a fight against a tough vet like Ed Herman or give him the loser of Krylov/Cirkunov. I'd rather not give OSP a bounce back fight at the cost of a fresh face in the top 15 so.. OSP vs. Ed Herman
Zane - I’m not sure that the fight I’m about to propose would be the most thrilling matchup out there, in fact it probably wouldn’t be. But I think it makes good ranking sense and somehow it’s a fight I just really want to watch. OSP vs. Ilir Latifi. Both men have a somewhat cautious, counter-fighting style, which would probably lead to a lot of staring and not a lot of action. But where OSP is a physical phenom with a diverse, but technically lacking game, Latifi is a physical phenom with an incredibly limited and reasonably technically sound style. And I think both are just willing enough to attack opposition to turn it into a weird scrap that either man could win. So, give me OSP vs. Latifi.
Stefan Struve:
Chad - Hello Stefan, welcome back to the heavyweight contenders bracket. One of the biggest knocks against Struve was proper utilization of his advantages. That argument goes away after he beat Omielanczuk on the feet, in the clinch, and on the ground sinking in a slick D'arce. He asked for a top 5 fight afterwards and with a win over the champ and a muddled top 10 I'm inclined to give it to him. Ben Rothwell needs to prove himself after the loss to JDS and this would be a good test for Struve as Rothwell is tough as nails and hard to muscle around in the clinch. Stefan Struve vs. Ben Rothwell
Zane - Pretty much the entirity of the heavyweight elite is unbooked right now, save for a reported matchup between Fabricio Werdum and Cain Velasquez. Everyone else is just sitting out there waiting for a fight. That gives Struve a lot of options if he’s looking to take another bout soon. I believe I’ve said before that if I were Josh Barnett, I’d be campaigning for a fight against Alistair Overeem right now. However, if I’m Stefan Struve, I’d be looking for a fight with Josh Barnett. Barnett is a very solid, crafty clinch fighter, without the kind of pop in his range striking to be likely to KO Struve quickly. Chances are, it could turn into a fun grappling battle, which is exactly what I want right now for both Struve and Barnett fights. So, on that chance, I’m saying book Josh Barnett vs. Stefan Struve.
Iuri Alcantara:
Chad - That was a perfect fight. He mauled Pickett, jumped on him and then proceeded to have the slickest set of submission transitions I've ever seen. A fight like that deserves a performance bonus and tougher competition. Considering their paths have never crossed despite their lengthy tenures this would be the perfect time for. Iuri Alcantara vs. Takeya Mizugaki
Zane - That win should put Alcantara right back in at the edges of the bantamweight rankings. He could fight Rani Yahya, to get a feel for who the best fringe elite Brazilian grappler is. And I would love to see him fight Michael McDonald, although McDonald is coming off a pretty brutal KO loss. Eventually, however, I’m going to say Eddie Wineland. Both he and Alcantara have been kicking around bantamweight for a while, and they’re both fun, drastically different action fighters. That should make for a fascinating matchup and a way for either guy to rebuild some serious momentum.
Leon Edwards:
Chad - Despite his inconsistency later in the fight he kept digging and managed to sub a tough as nails ranked opponent. I don't think he is ready for top 10 competition as Brian Stann suggested, rather I' d like to see him have the same kind of fight Tumenov just lost against a rising unranked fighter. Leon Edwards vs. Tim Means
Zane - I want to see Tim Means fight Alex Oliveira and I’m sticking by those guns, but Edwards definitely deserves something interesting coming off this huge win. And I’m going to say that fight is Santiago Ponzinibbio. The Ponz has been improving a lot and put on one hell of a showcase against Zac Cummings. Edwards still seems like he has some trouble with Cardio, but Ponzinibbio isn’t the standard bearer for top end endurance. It should make for a fun go anywhere fight between two dudes who can not only crack a bit - although Ponzinibbio has looked much more consistent there - but who can change things up and wrestle and grapple too. Fights with Alan Jouban or Nordine Taleb would also be solid.
Other Bouts: Omielanczuk vs. Abdurakhimov, Bektic vs. Pepey, Stasiak vs. Quinonez, Grant vs. R. Vieira, Tumenov vs. Bahadurzada, Diakiese vs. F. Silva, Perry vs. Fabinski, Roberts vs. Dalby, L. Santos vs. Taisumov, Martins vs. Green