Raphael Assuncao defeated Bryan Caraway at UFC Fight Night 54 to run his win streak to seven.
The No. 4-ranked bantamweight contender has been seeking a title shot for some time, but did his decision victory on Saturday do enough to warrant one?
Current champion T.J. Dillashaw recently defended the crown for the first time against Joe Soto after Renan Barao pulled out last minute. Meanwhile, former champion Dominick Cruz returned for the first time in years with an emphatic knockout victory over Takeya Mizugaki.
UFC matchmaker Joe Silva and President Dana White have some decisions to make in the bantamweight division. Let’s put on our matchmaker caps to highlight three potential fights for Assuncao.
T.J. Dillashaw
Assuncao has seven wins in a row, the most in the division. He has earned a title shot.
Now, it is unlikely to come to fruition. It would appear that Cruz will get the next title shot for a belt he never lost. And that fight makes sense too. It is just unfortunate timing for Assuncao.
Assuncao is the last person to beat Dillashaw, in a tight split-decision result. It is a built-in storyline, and a fight that Dillashaw would not doubt want. Does the fight have heat with most of the fanbase? Doubtful. Assuncao is just not a sexy opponent.
Regardless, if the UFC wanted to give Assuncao the title shot, it could. He holds a win over the champion and has the longest win streak in the division. He’s earned it.
Renan Barao
After his debacle at UFC 177, Barao will not get a title shot against Dillashaw—or whoever the champion may be—when he returns. Thus, it makes a lot of sense for Assuncao to challenge Barao in Brazil for the top contender spot.
This fight could have happened when Barao was champion and nearly did earlier this year.
Barao’s next fight needs to be against a Top Five opponent. Assuncao certainly meets that requirement. It makes sense for the division and both fighters. It is an easy fight to make for early 2015.
This is likely the best option for the UFC.
Faber and Assuncao met in the WEC, and a victory by Faber put him into a featherweight title shot against Jose Aldo. Now, these two are at 135 pounds. Faber needs a premier win to earn another title shot in the UFC, and Assuncao can try to avenge the loss.
Assuncao is undefeated at bantamweight. Faber has only lost in title fights.
The winner of this bout would be an excellent candidate for the winner of Dillashaw vs. Cruz. Cruz and Faber have a long history together, and I have already mentioned Assuncao defeating Dillashaw. Faber and Dillashaw meeting in a master vs. student fight would also draw interest.
Assuncao vs. Faber could headline a Fight Night card or co-main event a pay-per-view. Faber has a bit of drawing power left, and putting Assuncao on that stage before a title shot could prove to be beneficial.
The UFC has select options for Assuncao’s next fight, and none of them are bad. I lean toward a Faber fight as being the right one for both competitors, given where they are in the division.
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