See the top Twitter reactions to Gilbert Burns’ win over Demian Maia in the UFC on ESPN+ 28 co-main event.
[autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag] achieved the most noteworthy victory over his career on Saturday when he beat [autotag]Demian Maia[/autotag] in the UFC on ESPN+ 28 co-main event.
Burns (18-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) improved to 3-0 since he returned to the welterweight division in August when he beat Maia (28-10 MMA, 22-10 UFC) by first-round TKO in the event co-headliner, which took place at Ginasio Nilson Nelson in Brasilia, Brazil.
Check below for the top Twitter reactions to Burns’ victory over Maia at UFC on ESPN+ 28.
Gilbert ‘Durinho’ Burns with a short left drops Demian Maia before finishing him with ground strikes. That’s a helluva highlight. Eerie to hear his post-fight scream echo in that vacant arena. #UFCBrasilia
Previewing Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 28 fight between Demian Maia and Gilbert Burns, with MMA betting odds, picks, tips and best bets.
Demian Maia and Gilbert Burns tangle in a welterweight bout on the main card at UFC on ESPN+ 28 – also called UFC Fight Night 170 – at the Ginasio Nilson Nelson in Brasilia, Brazil Saturday. The card kicks off at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Demian Maia vs. Gilbert Burns preview
Maia (28-9-0) checks into this bout on a 3-0 run, including a Round 3 submission win over Ben Askren in the main event on Oct. 26, 2019 in Singapore. Both of the Brazilian fighters know each other well, and it won’t matter this bout takes place in front of no fans due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The southpaw Maia, who is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu style fighter, has a three-inch advantage in height, and his reach extends one inch more than Burns’. The veteran has managed just 1.82 significant strikes landed per minute to 3.09 for Burns, but their Significant Strike Accuracy Percentage is nearly identical. This means Maia is going to eat a lot more punches in this match. Their Takedown Average is generally the same, too, although Burns is much better in Takedown Accuracy at 38.98% for Burns, to just 25.90% for Maia.
Burns (17-3-0) has an orthodox stance and striker fighting style. He enters on a four-bout winning streak, including a unanimous decision victory over Gunnar Nelson Sept. 28, 2019, on the Hermansson-Cannonier card. His record since joining UFC is a mix of UDs, submission wins and KO/TKOs, so he can beat you in a number of ways. He is definitely the more versatile fighter in this bout, and the No. 12 welterweight in the world is nine years younger than Maia (33 to 42), so he has the much fresher legs, too.
Place a sports bet on this mixed martial arts action or other events at BetMGM.
Demian Maia vs. Gilbert Burns betting odds
Per BetMGM, Burns (-189) is a rather heavy favorite over Maia (+155) on the 2-way line. You’ll have to get a little creative, as risking nearly two times your potential return is not the way to go here, especially with a lack of potential rebound wagers due to a lack of other sporting events.
Burns to win by decision/technical decision (+140) pays a little better, while a win by KO/TKO or DQ (+425) or by submission (+550) pays much better. You’ll have to make a decision here, and Maia isn’t going to go away quietly. I think this one goes the distance, with Burns scratching out a win by decision/technical decision (+140). Play it safe there.
As such, playing the Over 2.5 rounds (-250) or the prop ‘Will the fight go the full 3 rounds?’ at YES (-185). In addition, taking Gilbert Burns On Points (+140) is also a nice addition to your bet slip.
It might be a slightly risky play, but a two-fighter parlay of Charles Oliveira (+115) vs. Kevin Lee and Burns (-189) has total odds of +228, going for a nice double Brazilian payout.
New to sports betting? A $10 parlay of Oliveira (+115) and Burns (-189) returns a potential profit of $22.80.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
The UFC is back in Brazil this week with a pair of lightweight contenders at the top of the card.
UFC on ESPN+ 28 takes place Saturday at Ginasio Nilson Nelson in Brasilia, Brazil. The card streams on ESPN+. The event is closed to fans due to concerns over the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic, but the fights still will take place and will be broadcast with essential personnel on site.
In the main event, [autotag]Kevin Lee[/autotag] (18-5 MMA, 11-5 UFC) takes on [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] (28-8 MMA, 16-8 UFC) in a fight between lightweight contenders. Lee is a slight favorite in the fight, and he’s got a sizable 10-4 lead in the picks from our 14 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts.
In the co-main event, [autotag]Demian Maia[/autotag] (28-9 MMA, 22-9 UFC) meets fellow Brazilian [autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag] (17-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) at welterweight. Burns is the favorite from the oddsmakers, and only three of our 14 pickers are taking Maia to pull off the upset.
Also on the main card, [autotag]Renato Moicano[/autotag] (13-3-1 MMA, 5-3 UFC) is the event’s biggest betting favorite at -350 in his lightweight bout against [autotag]Damir Hadzovic[/autotag] (13-5 MMA, 3-3 UFC), and accordingly only one picker is taking Hadzovic in an upset.
Brazil’s [autotag]Johnny Walker[/autotag] (17-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC) has a big 10-4 picks lead over [autotag]Nikita Krylov[/autotag] (26-7 MMA, 7-5 UFC) in their light heavyweight bout.
And to open the main card, [autotag]Francisco Trinaldo[/autotag] (24-7 MMA, 14-6 UFC) is a mild favorite against [autotag]John Makdessi[/autotag] (17-6 MMA, 10-6 UFC) in their lightweight bout, but he’s got a big 11-3 lead in the picks.
In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Lee (56 percent), Maia (59 percent), Moicano (89 percent), Walker (75 percent) and Trinaldo (71 percent) are the choices.
MMA Junkie senior editor Dave Doyle takes you through five key storylines going into what promises to be a memorable night in Brazil.
If you read the headlines, the world might seem to be burning down around us, but the UFC’s relentless machine marches on.
Just one week after a memorable UFC 248, the company returns to one of its favorite destinations, Brazil, for UFC on ESPN+ 28.
In the interim, life as we know it got turned upside down, as the world woke up to the fact that coronavirus is everywhere. That includes Brasilia, which issued a ban on large public gatherings, putting UFC on ESPN+ 28 behind closed doors.
You have to feel for those who bought tickets for the card but can’t go. For a Fight Night-level card just one week after a blockbuster pay-per-view, this event is a pretty solid offering.
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That starts right at the top, with the main event. [autotag]Kevin Lee[/autotag], a former interim lightweight title challenger who seemed right on the brink of big things, is looking to get back to that status. Opponent [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag], himself, is knocking on that door. Put these two all-action competitors in the same cage and lock the door, and you’ve got the recipe for one hell of a fight.
UFC on ESPN+ 28 takes place Saturday at Ginasio Nilson Nelson in Brasilia, Brazil. The card streams on ESPN+.
Without further ado, then, here are six burning questions leading into UFC on ESPN+ 28.
Is Kevin Lee back on track?
Kevin Lee and Gregor Gillespie
Lee’s career is the case study in why the UFC should consider a 165-pound weight class.
A superbly talented competitor, Lee (18-5 MMA, 11-5 UFC) is just a little too big for the lightweight class – as has been evidenced by his troubles making 155 pounds – and just a little bit too small for the elite welterweights – as evidenced by his loss to Rafael dos Anjos, the Brazilian’s only win in his past five fights, in Lee’s attempt to go 170.
If there’s ever change in the divisional structure, though, it’s not likely to happen during Lee’s prime. So he went back to 155 pounds, where he made an emphatic statement with a first-round knockout of Gregor Gillespie at UFC 244.
Now he’s back in the main event spotlight, with an interesting challenge in Oliveira (28-8 MMA, 16-8 UFC). Lee needs to prove two things this time out: First, fair or not, we still need to see him get through a string of weigh-ins without looking like death warmed over before we’re going to declare his issues with 155 over. Next, Lee has been submitted twice in his three losses over his past three fights, and this time out, he faces the guy who blew right past Royce Gracie’s UFC submission record and never looked back in Oliveira.
If Lee can ace this both of this week’s tests, then he might just be back in the elite mix after all.
The best stats and figures about UFC on ESPN+ 28, which features a Kevin Lee vs. Charles Oliveira lightweight main event.
The UFC travels to Brazil for the 37th time in company history on Saturday with UFC on ESPN+ 28. It’s the third stop in Brasilia, as the event takes place at Ginasio Nilson Nelson with a 12-fight lineup set to stream on ESPN+.
A pair of surging lightweight contenders match up in the main event. [autotag]Kevin Lee[/autotag] (18-5 MMA, 11-5 UFC) will attempt to stay unbeaten since returning to 155 pounds when he meets red-hot [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] (28-8 MMA, 16-8 UFC), who has won six consecutive fights – all by stoppage.
For more on the numbers behind the main event, as well as a deep supporting cast, check below for 60 pre-event facts about UFC on ESPN+ 28.
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Main event
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Lee was successful in his return to the lightweight division when he knocked out Gregor Gillespie at UFC 244 in November.
Lee’s 11 victories since 2014 in UFC lightweight competition are tied with Tony Ferguson for second most in the division behind Beneil Dariush (12).
Lee has completed at least one takedown in 14 of his 16 UFC fights.
Lee’s 35 takedowns landed since 2014 in UFC lightweight competition are most in the division.
Lee’s 258 significant ground strikes landed in UFC lightweight competition are second most in divisional history behind Khabib Nurmagomedov (308).
Lee’s 96 significant ground strikes landed at UFC Fight Night 128 are the second most in a single UFC fight behind Neil Magny’s 100 landed at UFC Fight Night 85.
Charles Oliveira
Oliveira is 7-1 since he returned to the UFC lightweight division April 2017. He’s 9-3 (with one no contest) in the organization at 155 pounds.
Oliveira’s average fight time of 4:51 in UFC lightweight competition is the second shortest in divisional history behind Manny Gamburyan (4:45).
Oliveira’s six-fight UFC winning streak at lightweight is tied for the third longest active streak in the division behind Tony Ferguson (12) and Khabib Nurmagomedov (11).
Oliveira’s six-fight UFC stoppage streak is the longest active streak in the company.
Oliveira’s 15 stoppage victories in UFC competition are second most in company history behind Donald Cerrone (16).
Oliveira’s 13 submission victories in UFC competition are most in company history.
Oliveira’s six submission victories in UFC featherweight competition are the most in divisional history.
Oliveira’s four guillotine-choke victories in UFC competition are tied with Nate Diaz for most in company history.
Oliveira is one of two fighters in UFC history with multiple submission victories via anaconda choke. Phil Davis also accomplished the feat.
Charles Oliveira
Oliveira is one of two fighters in UFC history to earn submission victories with six different techniques. Frank Mir also accomplished the feat.
Oliveira is one of two fighters in UFC history to earn a calf-slicer submission victory. Brett Johns also accomplished the feat.
Oliveira has been awarded 15 fight-night bonuses for UFC bouts, the tied with Nate Diaz and Joe Lauzon for second most in company history behind Cerrone (18).
Oliveira has been awarded nine “Performance of the Night” bonuses, the most in company history.
Oliveira is the only fighter in UFC history to be awarded five or more fight-night bonuses in two separate divisions.
Co-main event
Demian Maia
[autotag]Demian Maia[/autotag] (28-9 MMA, 22-9 UFC), 42, is the oldest of the 24 fighters scheduled to compete at the event.
Maia competes in his 32nd UFC bout, tied with Jeremy Stephens for the third-most appearances in company history behind Cerrone (34) and Jim Miller (34).
Maia’s 22 victories in UFC competition are second most in company history behind Donald Cerrone (23).
Maia’s 22 victories in UFC competition are the most of any Brazilian fighter in company history.
Maia’s total fight time of 6:32:06 in UFC competition is third most in company history behind Frankie Edgar (7:15:51) and Rafael Dos Anjos (6:43:11).
Maia is 13-5 since he dropped to the UFC welterweight division in July 2012.
Maia’s 11 submission victories in UFC competition are second most in company history behind Oliveira (13).
Maia’s nine submission victories via rear-naked choke in UFC competition are most in company history.
Maia’s 65 takedowns landed in UFC competition are sixth most in company history.
Maia’s 251 takedown attempts in UFC competition are the most in company history.
Maia once went a combined 0-for-49 on takedown attempts over a three-fight UFC stretch. It’s the longest streak of failed attempts in UFC history without a takedown landed.
Maia was unsuccessful on all 21 of his takedown attempts against champ Tyron Woodley at UFC 214, the second worst title-fight output in UFC history behind Diego Sanchez’s 0-for-27 effort against B.J. Penn at UFC 107.
Maia completed just two of 22 takedown attempts in his unanimous-decision loss to Rory MacDonald at UFC 170. Those 22 takedown attempts were the most in a single UFC welterweight bout.
[autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag] (17-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) is 2-0 since he returned to the welterweight division in August 2019. He’s 3-0 when fighting at the weight class.
Burns’ three armbar victories in UFC competition are tied for third most in company history behind Royce Gracie (four) and Demetrious Johnson (four).
Remaining main card
Renato Moicano
[autotag]Renato Moicano[/autotag] (13-3-1 MMA, 5-3 UFC) moves up to the UFC lightweight division after spending his previous eight promotional appearances at featherweight.
Moicano enters the event on the first losing skid of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since August 2018.
[autotag]Johnny Walker[/autotag] (17-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC) has earned 16 of his 17 career victories by stoppage. That includes all three of his UFC wins.
Walker is one of seven fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a spinning back fist. He accomplished the feat at UFC on ESPN+ 2.
Walker is one of two fighters in UFC history to win a light heavyweight bout by knockout stemming from a flying knee. James Irvin also accomplished the feat.
Walker is one of five fighters in modern UFC history to win a light heavyweight bout by knockout in 15 seconds or less. He accomplished the feat at UFC on ESPN+ 2.
[autotag]Nikita Krylov[/autotag] (25-7 MMA, 7-5 UFC) is 1-2 since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in September 2018.
Krylov is 9-5 since he dropped to the light heavyweight division in March 2014.
Krylov has earned all of his 25 career victories by stoppage. He’s finished 20 of those wins in Round 1.
Krylov lands 56.1 percent of his significant strike attempts in UFC light heavyweight competition, the second best rate among active fighters in the weight class behind Jon Jones (57.9 percent).
Krylov’s 25-second knockout at UFC on FOX 10 marked the fastest finish stemming from a head kick in UFC history.
Francisco Trinaldo
[autotag]Francisco Trinaldo[/autotag] (24-7 MMA, 14-6 UFC), 41, is the oldest active fighter in the UFC lightweight division.
Trinaldo has alternated wins and losses over his past seven fights. He won his most recent bout at UFC on ESPN+ 22 in November.
Trinaldo’s 12 UFC victories in Brazil are the most in company history.
Trinaldo is the only fighter in UFC history to earn two arm-triangle submission victories from half-guard.
[autotag]John Makdessi[/autotag] (17-6 MMA, 10-6 UFC) is one of seven fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a spinning back fist. He accomplished the feat at UFC 129.
Makdessi defends 71.4 percent of opponent significant strike attempts in UFC lightweight competition, the second highest rate among active fighters in the weight class behind Nasrat Haqparast (74.1 percent).
Makdessi defends 86.8 percent of all opponent takedown attempts in UFC lightweight competition, the third best among active fighters in the weight class behind Cerrone (90 percent) and Mairbek Taisumov (88.5 percent).
Preliminary card
Jussier Formiga
[autotag]Jussier Formiga[/autotag] (23-5 MMA, 9-4 UFC) competes in his 15th UFC flyweight bout, tied with Demetrious Johnson for the second most appearances in divisional history behind Joseph Benavidez (17).
Formiga’s nine victories in UFC flyweight competition are third most in divisional history behind Johnson (13) and Benavidez (13).
Formiga’s three submission victories in UFC flyweight competition are tied for second most in divisional history behind Johnson (five).
Formiga defends 86.2 percent of all opponent takedown attempts in UFC flyweight competition, the third best rate in divisional history behind Kai Kara-France (90.9 percent) and Ian McCall (90 percent).
[autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] (16-5-1 MMA, 4-2-1 UFC) is 1-0-1 since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in September.
[autotag]Randa Markos[/autotag] (10-7-1 MMA, 6-6-1 UFC) competes in her 14th UFC strawweight bout, tied with Angela Hill for the most appearances in divisional history.
Markos is 3-3-1 in her past seven UFC appearance dating back to August 2017.
Markos’ six victories in UFC strawweight competition are tied for fourth most in divisional history behind Joanna Jedrzejczyk (10), Jessica Andrade (seven) and Hill (seven).
Markos has completed at least one takedown against 10 of her 13 UFC opponents.
Markos’ four split-decision results in UFC strawweight competition are most in divisional history.
Markos and Marina Rodriguez fought to the first draw in UFC strawweight history at UFC Fight Night 137 in September 2018.
Rani Yahya
[autotag]Rani Yahya[/autotag] (26-10 MMA, 11-4 UFC) has earned 20 of his 26 career victories by submission. He’s finished 13 of those wins in Round 1.
Yahya’s eight stoppage victories in UFC/WEC bantamweight competition are tied with T.J. Dillashaw, Urijah Faber and Eddie Wineland for most in combined divisional history.
Yahya’s eight submission victories in UFC/WEC bantamweight competition are most in combined divisional history.
Yahya is one of four fighters in UFC history to earn a north-south choke submission in UFC competition. Jake Ellenberger, Jeff Monson and Michel Prazeres have also accomplished the feat.
Yahya’s 21 takedowns landed in UFC bantamweight competition are tied for fourth most in divisional history behind Merab Dvalishvili (39), Urijah Faber (26) and Dominick Cruz (23).
[autotag]Enrique Barzola[/autotag] (16-5-1 MMA, 6-3 UFC) drops to the UFC bantamweight division after spending his previous nine promotional appearances at featherweight.
Barzola has earned all six of his UFC victories by decision.
Barzola’s 36 takedowns landed in UFC featherweight competition are third most in divisional history behind Dennis Bermudez (46) and Darren Elkins (40).
Barzola is one five fighters in history to earned 10 or more takedowns in a UFC/WEC featherweight bout. He accomplished the feat at UFC Fight Night 129.
[autotag]Mayra Bueno Silva[/autotag] (6-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) returns to competition for the first time since Sept. 22, 2018. The 539-day layoff is the longest of her nearly four-year career.
[autotag]Veronica Macedo[/autotag] (6-3-1 MMA, 1-3 UFC), 24, is the youngest of the 24 fighters scheduled to compete at the event.
Macedo returns to the UFC women’s bantamweight division after going 1-2 in the flyweight division.
Macedo’s submission victory at 1:09 of Round 1 at UFC on ESPN+ 15 is the fastest finish in UFC women’s flyweight history.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
“My jiu-jitsu is just as good and I do better in striking. So, he’s taking a big risk.”
[autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Demian Maia[/autotag] is making a mistake by taking a fight against him.
Burns (17-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) faces Maia (28-9 MMA, 22-9 UFC), this Saturday in the UFC on ESPN+ 28 co-main event in an intriguing style matchup between two of the most accomplished grapplers in the sport.
But Burns, who said he’s happy to go the ground if need be, thinks the difference in the fight will be his striking.
“I’m confident of victory,” Burns told MMA Junkie. “I think I have more than enough tools to defeat Demian. I feel my striking is more developed. I have faith in my high-level jiu-jitsu. I actively compete. It’s up to date. I see myself having a dominant win.
“It took a while for him to agree to face me, but he did eventually. I feel he’s very tough and experienced. This fight makes a lot of sense to me. A dominant win would place me in the top-6. It’s a high-risk fight for him. My jiu-jitsu is just as good and I do better in striking, so he’s taking a big risk.”
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Training out of Hard Knocks 365 in Florida, Burns has won his last four in a row, and is 2-0 since moving up to 170 pounds from his previous home at lightweight. He sees the fight with former UFC welterweight title challenger and 31 UFC-fight veteran Maia as a changing of the guard.
“This is a clash of generations,” Burns said. “I belong to a newer breed. I know that he only plans to fight two times more. I see myself as continuing Demian’s jiu-jitsu legacy. Except my style is improved. We combine boxing and wrestling. He made his mark in the sport, but now is my turn.”
UFC on ESPN+ 28 takes place at Ginasio Nilson Nelson in Brasilia. The card streams in its entirety on ESPN+.
We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 28 event in Brasilia, Brazil, featuring Kevin Lee vs. Charles Oliveira.
We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 28 event in Brasilia, Brazil.
Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Thursday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).
Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the UFC on ESPN+ 28 event staff predictions we release Friday ahead of the event. UFC on ESPN+ 28 takes place Saturday at Ginasio Nilson Nelson in Brasilia, Brazil. The card streams on ESPN+.
Make your picks for all five main card fights inside:
The likes of Joseph Benavidez, Yoel Romero, Alexander Gustafsson and more make the list.
Many UFC fighters have come close to achieving the sport’s ultimate goal, but have just fallen short. Some have gone on incredible winning streaks and never even gotten a title shot. Some have gotten multiple opportunities, but just couldn’t quite capitalize.
There are many great fighters who haven’t won a UFC title. On Saturday, one of the flyweight division’s staples, Joseph Benavidez, will get his third crack at the 125-pound title when he takes on Deiveson Figueiredo for the vacant belt in the UFC on ESPN+ 27 main event.
Ahead of that headliner, we take a look at 14 of the best fighters to never win a title in the UFC – offered alphabetically; we’ll leave it to you to debate their rankings.
****
Joseph Benavidez
[autotag]Joseph Benavidez[/autotag] might have one of the best UFC records in history, and Saturday things could drastically change for his career.
Benavidez will take on Deiveson Figueiredo for the vacant UFC flyweight title at UFC on ESPN+ 27 in his third attempt to capture the title. One man has stood in his way, and that’s former champion Demetrious Johnson, who beat Benavidez twice.
Their first meeting was in 2011, when the UFC 125-pound title was being introduced to the promotion through a flyweight tournament. They met in the finals for the inaugural belt, and Johnson narrowly edged Benavidez with a split decision.
Benavidez picked up three straight wins, including finishes of Darren Uyenoyama and Jussier Formiga, to earn another shot at the title. But Johnson got a much more definitive win when he knocked out Benavidez in the first round.
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That started a very long road back to the title for one of the division’s best, who again has earned his way back to the top. Benavidez won six straight, but suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for more than a year. Eighteen months later, he made his return against Sergio Pettis, but saw his winning streak halted with a split decision loss.
Benavidez quickly rebounded with three straight wins over Alex Perez, Dustin Ortiz and Formiga to get his third shot at flyweight gold.
Benavidez had to remain patient with the uncertainty of the division, Johnson’s eventual surprise move to ONE Championship, and Henry Cejudo’s reign over two divisions. But the title picture finally is much clearer. After Cejudo relinquished the flyweight title, 35-year-old Benavidez has his latest shot at a UFC belt.
After every event, fans wonder whom the winners will be matched up with next.
And with another night of UFC action in the rearview mirror, it’s time to look forward, put on a pair of Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard’s shoes, and play UFC matchmaker for UFC on ESPN+ 25’s most noteworthy winning fighters.
Those winners include [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] (26-8 MMA, 9-5 UFC), who scored a first-round knockout of Corey Anderson (13-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) in the light heavyweight headliner at Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, N.M., as well as [autotag]Diego Sanchez[/autotag] (30-12 MMA, 19-12 UFC), [autotag]John Dodson[/autotag] (21-11 MMA, 10-6 UFC) and [autotag]Macy Chiasson[/autotag] (6-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC).
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Macy Chiasson
NIcco Montano
Should fight: [autotag]Nicco Montano[/autotag] Why they should fight: Chiasson rebounded from her first career loss with a strong performance in a unanimous decision win over a durable late replacement opponent in Shanna Young.
The previous fight marked a setback for Chiasson, as not many expected the upset loss to Lina Lansberg. That outcome didn’t make her gun-shy going into the next fight, though, because she left it all out there against Young.
Chiasson was originally scheduled to fight Montano (4-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) on the card, but the former UFC champ withdrew less than a week out due to an undisclosed injury. Chiasson said following her win that she would like to reschedule that matchup so her previous efforts don’t go to waste, and so long as whatever Montano isn’t dealing with anything too serious, it makes sense to grant that request.
John Dodson
Rob Font
Should fight: [autotag]Rob Font[/autotag] Why they should fight: In a critical career moment, Dodson came through big. After struggling through two rounds to Nathaniel Wood, “The Ultimate Fighter 14” winner found the chin of his opponent in the third round for the TKO.
Dodson came into the matchup with a surging prospect in Wood on a two-fight skid. He took 11 months off coming into the fight, and needed to prove he still belongs into the conversation of the top names in the bantamweight division.
He certainly did that with the finish of Wood, and now “The Magician” has put himself back in position for a noteworthy matchup. Font (17-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) is not the biggest name at 135 pounds, but with five wins in his past seven fights, has built enough stock in the division to be worthy of an important fight. Dodson would represent that for him.
Diego Sanchez
Demian Maia
Should fight: Loser of [autotag]Demian Maia[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag] at UFC on ESPN+ 28 Why they should fight: Of his now 19 UFC victories, Sanchez’s win over Michel Pereira was arguably the most bizarre as he was awarded the disqualification after being hit with a damaging illegal knee strike from his Brazilian foe.
Sanchez was losing in a big way up until the fight-ending blow landed in the third round. He was outsized and overpowered by Pereira, but nevertheless it’s technically a win on his resume, and there’s no doubt “The Ultimate Fighter 1” winner will be looking to return to action once he recovers.
Whenever that time comes, a showdown with the loser of the March 14 fight between Maia (28-9 MMA, 22-9 UFC) and Burns (17-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) would be a logical booking, especially if it’s Maia. Sanchez has been calling for that matchup for a long time, and Maia has expressed interest, too. They are both among the all-time UFC leaders in fights and wins, and it’s a matchup that would seem fitting before one or both of them hang up the gloves. Should Burns come out on the short end for this scenario, it would be an entertaining fight with Sanchez, too.
Jan Blachowicz
Jon Jones
Should fight: [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] Why they should fight: Watch the video above to see why Blachowicz should challenge Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) for the light heavyweight title next.
