WHAT'S NEXT FOR UFC ON FUEL TV FIGHTERS
By Joe Lebeau on 2/15/2012 11:35 PM
As always, with UFC on FUEL TV in the books, it's time to take a look at what may, could, and probably should, be next for tonight's fighters.
Winners:
Tim Means (17-3-1): The former King of the Cage champion made a successful debut in the octagon. Given his experience, maybe he should take on another fighter who recently made their successful UFC debut,
Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Justin Salas (10-3): Salas used his wrestling to his advantage and earned a solid unanimous decision over Anton Kuivanen. Let's see how he fairs against a more well-rounded lightweight in
Ramsey Nijem.
Jonathan Brookins (13-4): With the featherweight division in the state its in currently, I had a hard time finding just one potential opponent for the Ultimate Fighter 12 winner, so how about
Javi Vasquez, Steven Siler, or the winner of Mark Hominick/Eddie Yagin.
Ivan Menjivar (24-8): Getting his ninth submission win at UFC on FUEL TV over John Albert, I'd like to see "The Pride of El Salvador" put his grappling chops to the test against fellow main card fighter,
T.J. Dillashaw.
T.J. Dillashaw (5-1): T.J. looked like an absolute beast against Walel Watson. Greatly improved and frothing at the mouth with intensity, I'd like to see Dillashaw get back in there quick, barring injury. Seems like an easy choice for this one, but given the timeline, why not match him up with
Ivan Menjivar?
Stipe Miocic (8-0): The heavyweight striker remains undefeated with his knockout victory over Philip De Fries at UFC on FUEL TV. He needs a step up in competition for his next fight, but not a giant leap. I wouldn't mind seeing him go toe to toe with
Mike Russow or Stefan Struve.
Ronny Markes (13-1): Winning a split decision over Aaron Simpson, Ronnys Markes showed why sometimes, size matters. I suggest he be matched up against a larger middleweight in his next fight. Although it may be a step up in competition, the
winner of Tim Boetsch vs Yushin Okami should suffice.
Stefan Struve (23-5): As I mentioned up there, it would make sense to match up Struve with the surging
Stipe Miocic. It's time for Miocic to take a step up in competition, not a giant leap, and Struve makes perfect sense.
Jake Ellenberger (27-5): A match with the
winner of Johny Hendricks vs Josh Koscheck to determine who faces the winner of GSP/Condit.
Losers:
Bernardo Magalhaes (11-2): It's not too often I'll say this about a fighter, but with his boring, play it safe fighting style, and with how absolutely terrible he looked in tonight's fight,
this man needs to be cut.
Anton Kuivanen (16-5): Despite coming out the losing end, Kuivanen showed that he deserves another chance in the UFC. Match him up with
TJ O'Brien or Rafaello Oliveira, maybe setting up a "loser leaves town" sort of situation.
Vagner Rocha (7-3): If he manages to remain employed, and I assume he will, I'd like to see him matched up with the
loser of Marcus Brimage vs Maximo Blanco, or Antonio Carvalho.
John Albert (7-2): I'm going to make this one easy. The
guy in this sentence..
Walel Watson (9-4): Against the
guy in this sentence.
Philip De Fries (8-1 1 NC): Given the timeline, and the style match-up, let's have the Englishman go toe-to-toe with
Christian Morecraft in a few months.
Aaron Simpson (11-3): Considering both men have run the gamut of the middle of the middleweight division without facing each other, it's time for Aaron Simpson vs
Tim Credeur
Dave Herman (21-3): Matt Mitrione. I'd like to see Herman work on his conditioning, and maybe take his training more seriously before this fight happens, but that's where I feel the next logical step is.
Diego Sanchez: A
rematch with Jon Fitch. Both coming off losses, both have fallen from the top of the division, and both have grown since Fitch scored a split decision victory over Diego in 2007.
