There are 35 UFC fights, spanning over three days this week. First up is UFC Fight Night 90 on Thursday, followed by The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale, and finished up with the grand daddy of them all UFC 200 on Saturday.
Much like every other fight weekend, there are bound to be some fights that fans may not realize are taking place. However, with three events going down, there are more overlooked fights than ever before.
Below is my list of the most overlooked fights this week. Don’t get me wrong, there are definitely more than just five, but these are my top picks in no particular order.
1. Jose Aldo vs. Frankie Edgar (UFC Featherweight Interim Championship – UFC 200)
This fight right here could easily headline any UFC pay-per-view, but it’s not. In fact, it’s the second fight on the main card. This tells you exactly how stacked UFC 200 is. With the interim title up for grabs in the 145-pound division, this fight will have fans clamoring for more. Both Aldo and Edgar have been itching to get back into the Octagon, not necessarily against each other, but more so against Conor McGregor. Regardless, this is the fight that makes sense. Edgar is riding a five-fight winning streak dating back to his 2013 loss to Aldo, and he’s coming into this fight with a flame under his ass since being overlooked for the title on a couple occasions. Much like Edgar, Aldo is also coming into this fight with something to prove. Not to get that title shot, but to prove that he is still the best featherweight in the world. Will the 13-second knockout set him back a notch? Who knows — only time will tell.
2. Doo Ho Choi vs. Thiago Tavares (The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale)
Choi is undefeated over the last six years and holds two TKO finishes in his two UFC outings. Tavares has always been at the top of the food chain in the lightweight division. However, since dropping to featherweight, Tavares has gone 2-1. He will look to continue his growth in a stacked division, against a guy that will continue to push the pace in Choi. If the Korean is able to finish Tavares like his last two opponents, he will prove his worth in the 145-pound division. All I can say for this fight is — FIREWORKS.
3. Gilbert Burns vs. Lukasz Sajewski (UFC Fight Night 90)
Both Burns and Sajewski are coming off losses, not just any loss, but the first loss of their careers. The difference between the two though is Burns has UFC experience prior to the blemish, and Sajewski lost his Octagon debut. Burns will look to utilize his finishing skills, and bring his exciting style back to the Octagon against the Poland native. “Wookie” is also a submission specialist, and as a BJJ practitioner myself, this bout has me reeling with joy. I am hoping to see a ton of slick transitions and awesome submission attempts.
4. Rafael Assuncao vs. T.J. Dillashaw (UFC 200)
How can you not be excited about a rematch between two of the best bantamweights in the world? For one, Assuncao handed Dillashaw his lone loss in the last four years, other than Dominick Cruz, of course. Secondly, Dillashaw is a completely transformed fighter in comparison to his 2012 self, and will want to prove that against the 33-year-old Brazilian. I have been excited to see this match-up for quite some time, but injuries have forced Assuncao out of action since 2014. He is riding an unheard of seven-fight winning streak, in a division that is overloaded with beasts. Dillashaw will not only look to avenge his loss to Assuncao, but will want to earn himself another shot at the 135-pound title.
5. Kevin Lee vs. Jake Matthews (The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale)
There were a ton of fights that could have come in and grabbed a spot in the top five, but I decided on the lightweight match-up between Lee and Matthews. Lee has been a UFC fighter since late 2013 and has grown tremendously over the last three years, going 5-2 in that span. The 21-year-old Matthews stepped into the Octagon for the first time about a year after Lee, and has built a name for himself in a stacked division, going 4-1 with all four victories coming via submission. This is a match-up between wrestling vs. jiu-jitsu and both men will look to use their bread and butter come out on top. Based on styles, there is a chance this fight could be boring, but there is still plenty of potential for it to be one of the best fights of the week.
If there are other fights out there that you think are being overlooked, let us know in the comments section below or on our Facebook or Twitter pages.
