UFC 246 pre-event facts: Aleksei Oleinik first to compete across four decades

The best facts and figures about UFC 246, which features plenty of action outside of the Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone main event.

UFC 246 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas with a 12-fight main card set to air on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass.

Although the majority of focus is on the welterweight headliner (which has plenty of interesting numbers behind it), the remaining bouts offer a little of something for everyone, including another key women’s bantamweight rematch between [autotag]Holly Holm[/autotag] (12-5 MMA, 5-5 UFC) and [autotag]Raquel Pennington[/autotag] (10-7 MMA, 7-4 UFC).

For more on the numbers behind UFC 246, check below for 45 pre-event facts.

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Co-main event

Holm is 2-5 in her past seven UFC appearances dating back to November 2015, when she won the UFC women’s bantamweight title.

Holm’s four consecutive losses in UFC title fights are the most for any female in company history.

Holm’s two head-kick knockout victories in UFC competition are the most of any female in company history.

Holm is one of seven fighters in UFC history to win a championship fight by head-kick knockout. She accomplished the feat at UFC 193.

Holm has been awarded three fight-night bonuses for UFC women’s bantamweight fights, the third most in divisional history behind Ronda Rousey (7) and Nunes (4).

Raquel Pennington

Pennington competes in her 12th UFC women’s bantamweight bout, tied with Nunes for the most appearances in divisional history.

Pennington’s seven victories in UFC women’s bantamweight competition are second most in divisional history behind Nunes (11).

Pennington’s two submission victories in UFC women’s bantamweight competition are tied for second most in divisional history behind Rousey (3).

Pennington is one of six fighters in UFC history to earn a bulldog-choke submission victory. She accomplished the feat against Ashlee-Evans Smith at UFC 181.

Featured bout

Aleksei Oleinik

[autotag]Aleksei Oleinik[/autotag] (57-13-1 MMA, 6-4 UFC), 42, is the oldest active fighter in the UFC heavyweight division and is the oldest of the 24 fighters scheduled to compete at the event.

Oleinik becomes the first fighter in MMA history to have professional bouts across four decades (1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s).

Oleinik’s average fight time of 5:01 in UFC heavyweight fights is fourth shortest in divisional history behind Cyril Asker (3:24), Todd Duffee (3:26) and Shane Carwin (4:55).

Oleinik has earned 53 of his 57 career victories by stoppage. That includes his past 16 wins, 11 of which have come in the first round.

Oleinik has earned 45 of his 57 career victories by submission. Of those stoppages, 37 have come in the first round.

Oleinik’s five submission victories in UFC heavyweight competition are third most in divisional history behind Frank Mir (8) and Stefan Struve (6).

Oleinik has earned both of the Ezekiel-choke submission victories in UFC history. He accomplished the feat at UFC 224 and UFC Fight Night 103.

Oleinik attempts 2.4 submissions per 15 minutes of fighting in UFC heavyweight competition, the highest rate in divisional history.

[autotag]Maurice Greene[/autotag] (8-3 MMA, 3-1 UFC) is one of two heavyweights in UFC history to earn a submission by triangle choke. Struve owns two wins with the technique.

Remaining main card

Claudia Gadelha

[autotag]Claudia Gadelha[/autotag] (17-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) competes in her 11th UFC strawweight bout, tied for the third most appearances in divisional history behind Randa Markos (13) and Angela Hill (12).

Gadelha’s six victories in UFC strawweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Joanna Jedrzejczyk (9) and Jessica Andrade (7).

Gadelha has alternated wins and losses over her past five fights. She won her most recent bout at UFC 239 in July.

Gadelha’s 33 takedowns landed in UFC strawweight competition are tied with Carla Esparza for the most in divisional history.

Gadelha has been awarded three fight-night bonuses for UFC strawweight bouts, tied for the third most in divisional history behind Andrade (6) and Rose Namajunas (4).

[autotag]Alexa Grasso[/autotag] (11-3 MMA, 3-3 UFC) has alternated wins and losses over her past six fights. She lost her most recent bout at UFC on ESPN+ 17 in September.

Anthony Pettis

[autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag] (22-9 MMA, 9-8 UFC) has alternated wins and losses over his past nine fights. Her lost his most recent bout at UFC 241 in August.

Pettis returns to the lightweight division for the first time since November 2018. He went 1-1 during his stint at welterweight.

Pettis is one of nine fighters in UFC history to earn victories in three weight classes.

Pettis is 4-7 in his past 11 UFC appearance dating back to when he lost the UFC lightweight title in March 2015.

Pettis has earned 18 of his 22 career victories by stoppage. That includes seven of his nine UFC wins.

Pettis’ five submission victories from a bottom position in UFC/WEC competition are tied with Diaz for most in combined company history.

[autotag]Diego Ferreira[/autotag]’s (16-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) five-fight UFC winning streak at lightweight is the fifth longest active streak in the division behind Tony Ferguson (12), Khabib Nurmagomedov (11), Islam Makhachev (6) and Charles Oliveira (6).

Preliminary card

Roxanne Modafferi

[autotag]Roxanne Modafferi[/autotag] (23-16 MMA, 2-4 UFC) competes in her sixth UFC women’s flyweight bout, tied with Gillian Robertson for the most appearances in divisional history.

Modafferi is 8-5 since her initial UFC release in November 2013.

Modafferi has alternated wins and losses over her past six fights. She lost her most recent bout at UFC on ESPN 4 in July

Maycee Barber

[autotag]Maycee Barber[/autotag] (8-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC), 21, is the youngest of the 24 fighters scheduled to compete at the event.

Barber is 2-0 since she moved up to the UFC women’s flyweight division in March.

Barber has earned seven of her eight career victories by stoppage. She’s won all three of her UFC fights by knockout.

Barber’s three-fight knockout streak in UFC competition is tied with Amanda Nunes and Cris Cyborg for the longest such streak in women’s company history.

[autotag]Nasrat Haqparast[/autotag] (11-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) has landed at least one knockdown against all four of his UFC opponents.

[autotag]Justin Ledet[/autotag] (9-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) is 0-2 since he dropped to the UFC light heavyweight division in July.

Ledet’s 113 significant strikes landed against Chase Sherman at UFC Fight Night 92 are tied for the second most by any debuting UFC heavyweight behind Tim Sylvia’s 138 at UFC 39.

Tim Elliott

[autotag]Tim Elliott[/autotag] (15-9-1 MMA, 4-7 UFC) has alternated wins and losses over his past six fights. He lost his most recent bout at UFC on ESPN+ 19 in October.

Elliott is 2-3 since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in December 2016.

Elliott’s 36 takedowns landed in UFC flyweight competition are third most in divisional history behind Demetrious Johnson (58) and Wilson Reis (44).

Elliott lands 63.2 percent of his takedown attempts in UFC flyweight competition, the highest rate in divisional history.

[autotag]Brian Kelleher[/autotag] (19-10 MMA, 3-3 UFC) returns to competition for the first time since Dec. 29, 2018. The 385-day layoff is the longest of his nearly nine-year career.

[autotag]J.J. Aldrich[/autotag] (8-3 MMA, 4-2 UFC) is 1-1 since she moved up to the UFC women’s flyweight division in March.

Aldrich has earned all four of her UFC victories by decision.

UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.

UFC 246: Make your predictions for Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone in Las Vegas

We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC 246 in Las Vegas, which features Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone in the main event.

We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC 246 event in Las Vegas.

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 246 event staff predictions we release Friday ahead of the event. UFC 246 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.

Make your picks for all five main card fights inside:

Video: ‘UFC 246 Countdown’ for Diego Ferreira vs. Anthony Pettis

Did you miss the debut of “UFC 246 Countdown,” or just want to watch it again? Check out a preview for the main card opener now.

Did you miss the debut of “UFC 246 Countdown,” or just want to watch it again? Check out a preview for the main card opener now.

The segment takes a special look at the main card opener between [autotag]Diego Ferreira[/autotag] (16-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) and former lightweight champion [autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag] (22-9 MMA, 9-8 UFC).

UFC 246 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.

“Countdown” goes behind the scenes with the two fighters, and you can watch the full segment above. And don’t miss the entire episode in the video below.

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Check out the entire UFC 246 fight card below:

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone
  • Holly Holm vs. Raquel Pennington
  • Maurice Greene vs. Aleksei Oleinik
  • Claudia Gadelha vs. Alexa Grasso
  • Diego Ferreira vs. Anthony Pettis

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET)

  • Maycee Barber vs. Roxanne Modafferi
  • Andre Fili vs. Sodiq Yusuff
  • Drew Dober vs. Nasrat Haqparast
  • Grant Dawson vs. Chas Skelly

PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+, 6:15 p.m. ET)

  • Aleksa Camur vs. Justin Ledet
  • Askar Askarov vs. Tim Elliott
  • Brian Kelleher vs. Ode Osbourne
  • J.J. Aldrich vs. Sabina Mazo

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Diego Ferreira looking for shot at next level with UFC 246 win over Anthony Pettis

On the most impressive and important run of his career, Diego Ferreira is hoping a sixth straight win will take him to the next level.

[autotag]Diego Ferreira[/autotag] is on the most impressive and important run of his career, and he’s hoping a sixth straight win will take him to the next level.

If it comes next week, it will be against his most accomplished opponent yet, which certainly would help his case to be considered among the next standouts in the UFC’s lightweight division.

Ferreira (16-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) fights former lightweight champion Anthony Pettis (22-9 MMA, 9-8 UFC) on the main card at UFC 246, which takes place Jan. 18 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.

“I’m also very focused on this next bout after five wins,” Ferreira told MMA Junkie. “I want to fight well against Anthony Pettis, who’s a former champion. I can hardly wait. I hope we’ll have a great fight. It’s what I always hope for so I can show my country and my fans that I’m among the very best. To simply be in the UFC means I’m already one of the best, but I wish to be among the top fighters in the promotion.”

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Ferreira, a Texas-based Brazilian, started his pro career 11-0, including bonus-winning stoppage wins in his first two UFC bouts in 2014. After he submitted Colton Smith in just 38 seconds and knocked out Ramsey Nijem, he picked up a tough test in Beneil Dariush.

But at UFC 179 in Brazil, he dropped a unanimous decision. Hoping to rebound six months later, he took on eventual interim lightweight champ Dustin Poirier. But Poirier knocked him out in the first round, and suddenly Ferreira found himself with back-to-back losses.

After a decision win over Olivier Aubin-Mercier in January 2016, Ferreira found himself on the wrong end of a U.S. Anti-Doping Agency test for a banned substance and wound up with a 17-month suspension.

Upon his return, though, he has won four more in a row for a five-fight winning streak ahead of his showdown with “Showtime.”

“I’d like to think this is the start of something great,” Ferreira said. “I never imagined, when I was in Manaus (Brazil), that one day I’d be living in the U.S. and fighting MMA. This has been a blessed life. I want to enjoy the ride. I want to give my best and show my true potential. After this fight, I’d like to rank in the top 10. I’m happy with my achievements so far.”

Pettis might be the household name in the MMA world compared to Ferreira, but it’s Ferreira who is a fairly sizable betting favorite in the fight. He checks in around -250.

But that doesn’t mean the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, who will turn 35 on the day of the fight, is taking anything for granted against Pettis.

“He’s very well-rounded,” he said. “He performs very well on the ground and on the feet. I plan to implement a high-pressure punching and kicking game. I know that he’ll come at full force. I know he’s defeated top fighters in the past, despite a few recent losses. I’m sure he’ll be trying to win as much as I’ll be. I feel I’m hungrier. He’s been a top fighter for a long time. I need this opportunity to achieve my dreams. He fights very well from every position. He’s clocked a lot of time in the octagon, so I’d never underestimate him.

“I always like to bring something new and unexpected. For this particular fight, I have to be ready for anything, especially his acrobatic kicks. He moves very well. That’s what I’m ready for.”

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UFC 246’s 13-bout lineup finalized with Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone headliner

Check out the finalized lineup and broadcast plans for UFC 246, which takes place Jan. 18 in Las Vegas.

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The UFC will kick off 2020 with the long-awaited return of arguably its most bankable fighter.

UFC 246 takes place Jan. 18 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.

The main event features a welterweight bout between former dual-division champion [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] (21-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) and former lightweight title challenger [autotag]Donald Cerrone[/autotag] (36-13 MMA, 23-10 UFC).

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In the co-main event, former UFC women’s bantamweight champion [autotag]Holly Holm[/autotag] (12-5 MMA, 5-5 UFC) will take on [autotag]Raquel Pennington[/autotag] (10-7 MMA, 7-4 UFC) in a rematch from a 2015 bout in which Holm edged out Pennington in her UFC debut. The rematch originally was scheduled to take place at UFC 243 in October, but Holm was forced out due to a hamstring injury.

Also on the card is former UFC lightweight champ [autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag], Dana White’s Contender Series standouts [autotag]Maycee Barber[/autotag] and [autotag]Sodiq Yusuff[/autotag], and more.

The full UFC 246 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone
  • Holly Holm vs. Raquel Pennington
  • [autotag]Maurice Greene[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Aleksei Oleinik[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Claudia Gadelha[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Alexa Grasso[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Diego Ferreira[/autotag] vs. Anthony Pettis

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET)

  • Maycee Barber vs. [autotag]Roxanne Modafferi[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Andre Fili[/autotag] vs. Sodiq Yusuff
  • [autotag]Drew Dober[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Nasrat Haqparast[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Grant Dawson[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Chas Skelly[/autotag]

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6:15 p.m. ET)

  • [autotag]Aleksa Camur[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Justin Ledet[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Askar Askarov[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Tim Elliott[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Brian Kelleher[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Ode Osbourne[/autotag]
  • [autotag]J.J. Aldrich[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Sabina Mazo[/autotag]

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Success paying off for Fortis MMA with big UFC bookings in early 2020

Fortis MMA has been among the hottest gyms in the sport of late, and now the benefits of success are coming.

Over the past two years, Fortis MMA has been one of the most successful gyms in the sport. The wins have been stacking up, and now the benefits are coming with it.

The Dallas-based gym, led by head coach Sayif Saud, has one of the highest UFC winning percentages of any team in the sport. It has gone 18-5 in 2019 (it went 16-4 in 2018), with a scheduled matchup between Geoff Neal (12-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) and Mike Perry (13-5 MMA, 6-5 UFC) still to go at UFC 245 on Dec. 14.

“It’s just been an incredible year,” Saud told MMA Junkie. “If you told me we were going to win 18 fights and only lose five in 2019, I’d be pretty thrilled. Obviously I’d rather we lose no fights, but we’ve taken a step up in competition this year if you look at our opponents.”

Saud isn’t joking about the level of competition. A scan of the matchups shows accepting bouts against tough, underrated opponents are commonplace for the team. In fact, Fortis MMA athletes entered the UFC cage as the betting underdog for the majority of their fights this year.

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A turn appears to be happening going into 2020, though, because the two fights Fortis MMA has booked so far represent breakthrough opportunities. Not only is the team getting the tough fights, but the names to go along with it, too.

[autotag]Diego Ferreira[/autotag] (16-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC), the streaking lightweight who has put together five consecutive wins in arguably the sport’s toughest weight class, is scheduled to fight former UFC and WEC champ Anthony Pettis (22-9 MMA, 9-8 UFC) at UFC 246 on Jan. 18 in Las Vegas.

Ferreira’s past two wins have come over Mairbek Taisumov and Rustam Khabilov, who are not names anyone is calling out at 155 pounds. His reward for winning? Thee clash with “Showtime.”

Pettis is coming off a high-profile defeat to Nate Diaz at UFC 241 in August, and there’s an opportunity for Ferreira to capitalize and take his career to the next level.

“Diego took two hard fights against guys no one wanted to fight that were on streaks,” Saud said. “Two guys everybody said, ‘No’ to. Diego went out there and beat them impressively. He earned that spot with his five-fight win streak.”

A similar opportunity goes to [autotag]Ryan Spann[/autotag] (17-5 MMA, 3-0 UFC) at UFC 247. The surging light heavyweight, who is unbeaten in three octagon appearances, gets his most meaningful fight thus far when he meets Ovince Saint Preux (24-13 MMA, 12-8 UFC) on Feb. 8 in Houston.

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Saint Preux has fought for the interim 205-pound belt and shared the octagon with some of the biggest and best names the weight class has to offer during his lengthy UFC stay. Beating “OSP” means something, and Spann can turn heads as a contender with a win.

“He fought for the interim belt and at just 3-0 we’re fighting a guy that’s got 20 fights in the UFC at light heavyweight,” Saud said. “These guys, they’re moving and some of them might not be loud, but they do their talking in the cage. They’re ready to go.”

As the 2020 schedule continues to fill out, there are several others on the Fortis MMA squad in position to get big opportunities, from Neal to Uriah Hall to Alonzo Menifield to Macy Chiasson and more. The hard work at the ever-expanding Fortis MMA facility (which is adding its own rehab and recovery center next year) is turning into results.

“We’ve got multiple people ranked and the next thing is to penetrate the rankings,” Saud said. “Anything worth anything takes time. That’s going to take time. You win a fight and you get in the top 10, all of those guys are booked and some of them have a lot more name value and it’s going to take time. We’re here to put in the work and get the job done.”

Fortis MMA only got its start in 2017, but Saud’s leadership has produced a significant rise in gym notoriety. The team has still yet to produce a UFC title, but Saud said crowning a champion is merely a natural progression. And he has no intention to stop at just one.

“The goal of the gym is not to just have one belt, but have multiple belts because we’ve got guys and girls in different divisions that can do it,” Saud said. “You should be looking at each fighter and want to take them to the belt. Even if you fall short of that, that’s where you’ve got to be aiming.”

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Anthony Pettis moves back to lightweight, meets Diego Ferreira at Jan. 18 UFC event

A lightweight bout between Anthony Pettis and Diego Ferreira is the latest addition to the Jan. 18 event.

[autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag] will make the move back down to 155 pounds for his next fight, where he will take on a streaking lightweight.

Pettis (22-9 MMA, 14-9 UFC) faces [autotag]Diego Ferreira[/autotag] on Jan. 18, two persons with knowledge of the booking told MMA Junkie on Monday. The person requested anonymity since the UFC has yet to make an announcement.

In his brief move up to welterweight, Pettis, the former UFC and WEC lightweight champion, scored a spectacular knockout over Stephen Thompson in March. But he then dropped a unanimous decision to Nate Diaz at UFC 241 in August, which precipitated his move back to 155.

Fortis MMA’s Ferreira (16-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) has won his last five fights in a row, and is coming off a unanimous decision win over Mairbek Taisumov at UFC 242 in September, snapping Taisumov’s six fight win streak. He will look to continue his run at 155, when he takes on former UFC lightweight champion Pettis.

With the addition, the Jan. 18 lineup, which does not yet have an official location or event name, now includes:

  • Maycee Barber vs. Roxanne Modafferi
  • Drew Dober vs. Nasrat Haqparast
  • Grant Dawson vs. Chas Skelly
  • Maurice Greene vs. Aleksei Oleinik
  • Claudia Gadelha vs. Alexa Grasso
  • Andre Fili vs. Sodiq Yusuff
  • Diego Ferreira vs. Anthony Pettis

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Sean Shelby’s Shoes: What’s next for Jan Blachowicz and UFC on ESPN+ 22’s other key winners?

See whom Jan Blachowicz should fight next after his victory over Ronaldo Souza at UFC on ESPN+ 22.

(ALSO SEE: Sean Shelby’s Shoes: What’s next for ‘Jacare’ Souza after UFC on ESPN+ 22 loss?)

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+ 22’s most noteworthy winning fighters.

Those winners include [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] (25-8 MMA, 8-5 UFC), who defeated Ronaldo Souza (26-8 MMA, 9-5 UFC) by split decision in the light heavyweight headliner at Ginasio do Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo, as well as [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] (28-8 MMA, 16-8 UFC), [autotag]James Krause[/autotag] (27-7 MMA, 8-3 UFC) and [autotag]Francisco Trinaldo[/autotag] (24-7 MMA, 14-6 UFC),

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Francisco Trinaldo

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Should fight: [autotag]Diego Ferreira[/autotag]
Why they should fight: He had to work hard for it, but Trinaldo earned his 14th octagon victory when he edged Bobby Green by unanimous decision in their lightweight bout.

At 41, Trinaldo proved he’s still a force to be reckoned with at 155. He clearly wants to prove as much judging by his post-fight callout, which was directed at perennial contender Edson Barboza. He may not get that fight next, but the Brazilian is certainly deserving of another noteworthy matchup at 155 pounds.

Ferreira (16-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) has been on a roll of late, winning his past five fights against some solid opponents. The Fortis MMA product is looking to prove he belongs in the upper echelon of the weight class, as well, and beating someone like Trinaldo to extend his winning streak would be a statement. And if Trinaldo were to win, he would take all Ferreira’s momentum for himself.

James Krause

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Should fight: [autotag]Gunnar Nelson[/autotag]
Why they should fight: Krause continued to shine in the welterweight division when he put on a clinic against Sergio Moraes that ended with a knockout in the final minute of the third round.

Krause is now riding a six-fight winning streak (including 4-0 at welterweight) and appears to be clicking both mentally and physically. He needs a bigger challenge going forward to see where he really stands, and Nelson (17-5-1 MMA, 8-5 UFC) is an opponent who could test Krause’s value at 170 pounds.

Nelson may be on a two-fight skid and not in the best place in his career, but he’s been a constant in the top 20 of the division for several years. He needs to display that he still deserves that status, and halting Krause’s streak would help send that message.

Charles Oliveira

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Should fight: [autotag]Al Iaquinta[/autotag]
Why they should fight: The best run of Oliveira’s UFC tenure continued with a brilliant first-round knockout of Jared Gordon that extended the Brazilian’s winning streak to six fights – all of which have come by stoppage.

Oliveira is firing on all cylinders at the moment and at 30, is in the sharpest form of his career. His stoppage of Gordon was his 15th in UFC competition, which trails the all-time record by just one. Oliveira said prior to being booked against Gordon that he wanted a steeper test, but it didn’t materialize this time around.

“Do Bronx” tried to take matters into his own hands by issuing a post-fight callout of Conor McGregor and Paul Felder (who handed him his last loss), but neither of those seemed to register as particularly realistic at the moment (especially McGregor).

What is realistic, though, is that Oliveira could and should get a top-10 opponent at 155 pounds. Iaquinta (14-6-1 MMA, 9-5 UFC) has been in one of those spots for much of the past severals years, and in terms of opponent, he should have everything Oliveira is looking for to take him one step closer to title contention.

Jan Blachowicz


Should fight: [autotag]Corey Anderson[/autotag]
Why they should fight: Watch the video above to see why Blachowicz should rematch Anderson (13-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) next after his main event win.