Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returned to FOX Sports 1 for a mid-week (MMA) event yesterday (Weds., July 13, 2016) in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, as UFC Fight Night 91 gave fight fans who packed into the Denny Sanford Premier Center plenty to talk about.
In the main event of the evening, John Lineker knocked out fellow striker Michael McDonald in the very first round to earn his fifth straight win inside the eight-walled cage (video here). In the co-main event, Tony Ferguson survived a very aggressive and game Lando Vannata, as the UFC newcomer almost shocked the world in the very first round.
“El Cucuy” managed to get it together to score a second round submission victory (see it again here).
Winner: John Lineker
Who He Should Fight Next: Cody Garbrandt
I understand Garbrandt currently has a fight lined up against Takeya Mizugaki at UFC 202, but if “No Love” manages to take out the former World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) veteran, then this is the fight to make.
The two were initially set to square off this year before a virus bounced “Hands of Stone” from the fight. Both men have been on a tear as of a late and have slowly been climbing the rankings. In a perfect world, their respective win streaks would be enough to earn them a shot at the title.
But the system is flawed — just ask Chris Weidman — and win streaks sometimes aren’t enough. That said, if this fight comes to fruition, the winner has a strong case to jump to the very front of the championship line.
Winner: Tony Ferguson
“El Cucuy” hung on to seven-fight win streak (now eight), just barely, after running into a very game and determined Octagon newcomer in Lando Venatta. Which shouldn’t have come as a surprise to many, as he is a product of Jackson-Wink MMA in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Though you didn’t expect him to win the bout, you didn’t expect him to lie down, either.
Tony’s performance proved he can weather a storm, on more than one occasion, pull it together and rise up to get the job done. Afterward, he called for a shot a newly-crowned Lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez, however, the champ is currently on vacation and unable to take your call.
At the end of the day, the fight I believe should and will be made is one between Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov. The bout has been booked and cancelled more times than I can remember, but now that both seem to be in good health, it’s time to make it happen.
And fast.
Unfortunately, regardless of what they did in the past, beating newcomers — I’m looking at you too, Khabib — does not warrant an immediate shot at the strap. Hey, I didn’t make the “rules.” So, should this bout see the light of the day, there is no doubt that the winner should get first dibs to face Alvarez.
Winner: Tim Boetsch
“The Barbarian” ended his three-fight skid in impressive fashion, dominating Josh Samman from pillar to post en route to second-round technical knockout win. While he won’t be in line to face top 15 foes at the moment, Boetsch lives to fight another day under the UFC banner.
His next bout should be against someone like Thiago Santos, who was last seen getting knocked out be Gegard Mousasi at UFC 200. The loss, while unfortunate, isn’t exactly indicative of the type of fighter Thiago is, as he was recently riding a four-fight win streak.
Three of those wins were via strikes, so putting him against the heavy-handed “Barbarian” seems like a good recipe for fireworks.
For much more on last night’s UFC Fight Night 91 event on FOX Sports 1 including recaps, reactions, video highlights and more, head over to our comprehensive news archive right here.