Belo Horizonte’s Mineirinho Arena played host to UFC Fight Night 28 this past Wednesday night.
UFC Fight Night 28: What’s next for the main card winners?
It’s not often you will see an 80% finish rate on a UFC main card. Hardcore fans do understand that the match-up of styles between two fighters are so close, that you should be considered a lucky camper if you witness a finish. So I guess all of us were lucky this past Wednesday night, as the 28th installment of the “UFC Fight Night” series drew a remarkable number of five finishes on its main card.
Glover Teixeira, on a tear with a 20-fight winning streak, was announced as the new #1 contender to the Light Heavyweight championship after he demolished Ryan Bader via a first round TKO finish in the night’s main event. Teixeira has finished four of his five UFC fights, and you can’t argue that the title shot was well earned.
In the co-main event, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza was unfortunate to not celebrate with his signature “Alligator” stride across the octagon, as his win over Yushin Okami came with a cost of a foot injury. Souza looked dominant, though, in that fight as Okami, a former top Middleweight contender, had no answers to his Brazilian counterpart’s vicious striking.
Joseph Benavidez may be the next in line for Demetrious Johnson’s Flyweight strap, following a slick TKO victory over Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace Jussier Formiga. The Team Alpha Male native showcased some good, precise movement and striking skills en route to earning that TKO stoppage.
It’s time for MMASucka.com to seat in the armchair of the “Matchmaker”, where we speculate on match-ups that could materialize for the winners of the UFC Fight Night 28 event.
- *Ali Bagautinov vs. Louis Gaudinot
Bagautinov (11-2) looked calm and composed as he made his UFC debut on Wednesday night. Suffice to say, facing a tall and lengthy Marcos Vinicius should intimidate anyone. But that didn’t stop the Russian from blasting a clean right hand on Vinicius’ face, to end the fight via TKO in the third frame. He took the plaudits, and well, he deserved it. It was a dream UFC debut in many aspects.
Louis Gaudinot (6-3), in the meantime, is coming off a loss against Tim Elliot at UFC 164. The American, Gaudinot, is currently 1-2 in his stint with the UFC, and I believe his pace and approach to fights matches up really well with Bagautinov. The Russian showcased some heavy leather in his first UFC outing, and might need to do more of the same should the bout with Gaudinot materialize.
- *Rafael Natal vs. Thales Leites
If it weren’t for Tor Troeng’s heart on Wednesday night, Brazil’s Rafael Natal (17-4-1) could have celebrated a TKO victory.
The Swede was clipped on more than one occasion, but refused to allow Natal to finish him. Eventually, the latter swept the judges’ score cards with a Unanimous Decision, making it three wins on the trot. I believe it’s time for Natal to face a high-caliber opponent, and Thales Leites (21-4) fits that bill rather well. The 32-year-old recently made a successful return to the UFC, with a victory over Tom Watson at UFC 163.
A match-up between Natal and Leites could very well push the winner for a shot at a top ten opponent.
- *Piotr Hallmann vs. Isaac Vallie-Flagg
Hallmann’s 9 fight winning run looked to be in jeopardy heading into his promotional debut at UFC Fight Night 28. He had to weather the early storm from Francisco Trinaldo, who looked hell-bent in gaining a stoppage victory in the opening stages. But the Polish MMA fighter persevered and submitted his Brazilian counter-part, perhaps surprising the crowd in attendance that night.
I believe there’s more to come from Hallmann (14-1) given the fact it’s still early days in his UFC career. Isaac Vallie-Flagg (14-3-1), a former Strikeforce vet, most recently gained his first UFC victory as well. Both these fighters could be paired up next, given their 1-0 records inside the octagon.
- [C] Demetrious Johnson vs. *Joseph Benavidez 2
The last encounter between both these fighters ended with “Mighty Mouse” getting his hand raised, and winning the inaugural UFC 125-lbs championship. Since that loss, Benavidez (19-3) has racked up three straight victories.
With the Flyweight division sparse of contenders, few would argue that the Team Alpha native isn’t deserving of another shot at the belt. In fact, under the tutelage of Duane “Bang” Luwig, Team Alpha Male is yet to record a defeat under the UFC banner, possibly indicating that a re-match between both Johnson (18-2-1) and Benavidez could have a different ending.
- Ronaldo Souza vs. (Winner of Michael Bisping vs. Mark Munoz)
I don’t think anyone can disagree about Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (19-3-1) being in the upper echelon of the UFC Middleweight division. The former Strikeforce 185-lbs title-holder has looked absolutely outstanding in his first two UFC outings, and is, in my humble opinion, deserving of a shot at a top 5 opponent.
Michael Bisping (24-5) is set to battle Mark Munoz (13-3) in the main event of UFC Fight Night 30 in Manchester, England, and I believe Souza would be best suited to face the winner. Besides, a match-up like this one carries huge stakes and could actually provide a new #1 contender for the Middleweight title.
I believe Souza is up there with the division’s elite and only time will tell if he can cement a place there.
- (Winner of [C] Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson) vs. *Glover Teixeira
For over a year now, the 205-lbs division has been buzzing about the emergence of Brazilian phenom, Glover Teixeira (22-2), who seems to garner the complete Mixed Martial Arts game. With hard, accurate striking to go along with a sick Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu game, no one has has quite figured how to stop Texeira.
This past Wednesday night, Teixiera made it 20 consecutive victories as he brushed former top contender, Yushin Okami, aside with a first round TKO finish. The Chuck Liddell protege is next in line for a shot at the Light Heavyweight title, which is set to be contested between two of the division’s elite fighters in Jon Jones (18-1) and Alexander Gustafsson (15-1) in about a fortnight’s time.
Some may argue that Teixeira isn’t deserving of a title shot but however you see it, he does pose a legit threat to the 205-lbs throne. The victor between the Jones-Gustafsson will have his hands full, and you can count on that.
Check out the rest of the results for UFC Fight Night 28 here.
*Pictures are credited to the Ultimate Fighting Championship
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Follow Thinesh on Twitter (@ThineshJohnMMA), and keep up with the latest MMA news from MMASucka via Twitter (@MMASucka) and Facebook
