TUF 24 Finale: Johnson vs. Elliott – Fights to make

All the best, most interesting, and above all else coolest fights to book following the UFC’s TUF Tournament of Champions Finale.

The Ultimate Fighter Tournament of Champions may not have revived TUF to any meaningful extent, but it provided a notable bump up in fight quality and, much to the surprise of many, a viable title challenger in Tim Elliott. It sounds like Elliott won’t be sticking around the division, unfortunately, but there are plenty of good fights to make for him at 135.

Joining me in making the most radical of fantasy fights this week is longtime BE member and moderator, Ben Kohn. You’ll know him for his undying love of Ryan Bader as well as several other endearing traits. If you want to be like Ben (and let’s face it who doesn’t), start a comment below with “Ryan Bader isn’t a bad boxer by any means.” I’ll select on lucky entrant to be a guest fight-booker for next week’s card. Now, lets get to the fights!

Hello Bloody Elbowers, how are you this fine day after the fights? I am Ben, currently a moderator of the forums who has been graciously allowed to join Zane in making imaginary fights for the main card competitors. I am currently working in the health care industry as an AR supervisor, a purple belt in BJJ under Marcelo Garcia, recovering from my ACL repair back in August, and most importantly, happily married.

DEMETRIOUS JOHNSON:

Ben – Look, I may be looking into this one fight a bit too much (something that was mentioned in the comments to me) but I believe this fight was indicative of how a rematch between Cruz and DJ would go. Elliot is smaller, weaker, slower, less powerful, has lower fight IQ, and is far less technical on the ground. He’s wild, that’s really all he has compared to Cruz. DJ would not be able to stop Cruz from getting him down and keeping him down in my opinion. That makes this pretty easy in my eyes, you have to make a third fight with Joseph Benavidez. He’s earned it with his sixth straight victory. The only other option is if TJ Dillishaw drops down for an immediate title shot but I don’t know how likely that is. Demetrious Johnson vs. Joseph Benavidez 3.

Zane – I like DJ, I like Joe-B, I know that Joe-B has earned his shot, and I know that DJ is out of other immediate challengers at 125… But, man I can’t help being not enticed at all by the idea of DJ vs. Benavidez III. I just can’t. Hell, I’d rather see Wilson Reis at that point. At least it would be new. Or maybe if Jussier Formiga defeats Sergio Pettis he could get a shot. Just keep the new fights coming. Elliott ended up being a way better than expected challenger, in part just because he was such a breath of fresh air. I know DJ wants to break the title defense record first, so a bout with Cruz is off the table, but I’m gonna say he should fight Wilson Reis. As long as you’re booking a fight nobody will watch, it might as well be a new one. Demetrious Johnson vs. Wilson Reis.

TIM ELLIOTT:

Ben – Well that sure was awesome. Tim Elliott made a huge statement that he absolutely belongs back in the UFC. While he definitely stopped being a significant threat after the first round, he never stopped fighting and made DJ work for everything. And even when he wasn’t doing anything, Elliott still made him work. It was a performance that earned him a ton of new fans and the crowd showed him a ton of love. He said he wants to move to Bantamweight, which I think is a bad idea as his size really would help him in a lot of fights, something he can’t lean on at BW. That being said, if he sticks around at FLW, I think a fight with Brandon Moreno would be 3 things. 1) An excellent fight, 2) a great test for Moreno, and 3) a nice step down for Elliott in terms of elite competition. If he does move to BW, match him with Felipe Arantes. It’s a bigger man with a wild style, let’s see how he’d handle it. Tim Elliott vs. Brandon Moreno or Tim Elliott vs. Felipe Arantes.

Zane – Assuming Elliott is now at 135 for the foreseeable future, I’m going to pass on booking him at flyweight (although I think he spanks Moreno). At that point, even up a division, he deserves a ranked opponent. I say book Tim Elliott vs. Michael McDonald. McDonald is dangerous, but still has so many holes in his game. A lack of proper wrestling defense is especially glaring. But, it would make a great test for Elliott to show if his own offensive wildness leads to him getting put in bad spots with McDonald’s crafty never-say-die offense. If Elliott can exploit McDonald’s flaws, it’s a great way to vault him immediately into the top 10 at 135. Tim Elliott vs. Michael McDonald, make it happen.

JOSEPH BENAVIDEZ:

Ben – Joe-B got the hard fought split decision which I’m sure will cause some arguments in the comments. But officially, he got the win and his sixth straight win. Already mentioned it above, he gets a title shot. If, for some reason, Joe-B can’t wait, let him fight Horiguchi and see who comes out on top for the next title shot. Unless he won’t take the fight though, it’s easy. Demetrious Johnson vs. Joseph Benavidez 3.

Zane – So, since I’m not interested in Joe-B vs. DJ, what do you do with Benavidez now. He’s in the Faber-esque position of clearly being the no. 2 guy, while also clearly being second best. I say this is the time to make Benavidez vs. Horiguchi. Horiguchi keeps improving, and is looking to build for his own second shot at the belt. If Joe-B beats him then, sure, give him the shot. And if Horiguchi beats Benavidez then he might be ready for his second chance at gold. I know it’d suck for Joe-B to have to take a road back to contention that’s that long, but he’s had his shots at the belt, and he didn’t win them. Joseph Benavidez vs. Kyoji Horiguchi is the bout I’d like to see.

HENRY CEJUDO:

Ben – Despite officially losing, Cejudo’s stock doesn’t take a hit in my eyes. He performed better than I expected he would and arguably won the fight. The point deduction I personally agreed with and notice how those accidental groin shots stopped after it. Good job Yves. Anyway, Cejudo was, and is, clearly still developing so while he needs a high level fight, I think he can take a fight out of the top 5. Henry Cejudo vs. Ali Bagautinov

Zane – Henry Cejudo has a ton of options for notable flyweights coming off losses, in need of opponents. He could fight John Moraga, Ian McCall (assuming McCall/Seery doesn’t get re-booked), or Ali Bagautinov. Or he could wait for the loser of Ortiz vs. Makovsky. Of all those, I’ll agree with Ben and say that Bagautinov makes the most sense. Bagautinov is much more trustably active right now, and seems to be fighting at a very high competitive level, just a shade off the elite. I’m not sure that the rest are quite there. Henry Cejudo vs. Ali Bagautinov is a great fight.

JORGE MASVIDAL:

Ben – Why does he always have to have controversy around his fights? That was a weird ass stoppage. Yes, he was winning handily but Jake was protecting himself. Herb messed up there to stop the fight like that. He didn’t stop it because of the strikes, he stopped it for the toe to ask if it’s in the rules, and then ruled it a TKO. Either way, Masvidal showed urgency against a fighter who’s shown to fold under pressure and it was working nicely for him. Would have liked to see it go on but nothing we can do. I think he deserves another ranked opponent, but not anyone too high. Saffiedine is fighting the real Dong at 206 and both can test Masvidal’s ability to win a clean decision. Jorge Masvidal vs. Dong Hyun Kim/Tarec Saffiedine winner.

Zane – If Ellenberger isn’t badly injured, and if the fight gets overturned to a no contest, I’d actually like to see them just run this bout back. It was a fun fight until it ended and if Masvidal doesn’t walk away with the win, I’m sure he’d like to make it official. However, assuming all parties move on without firm resolution (as is often the case in MMA), I wouldn’t mind seeing Masvidal vs. DHK, but Masvidal vs. Saffiedine seems like anti-fun. Instead, I say book Masvidal against the Hendricks/Magny winner. Realistically neither of them is all that near to a title shot right now, and both have the kind of flaws and offensive styles that should make a really fun fight for Masvidal. Masvidal’s a seasoned vet. If he’s gonna be ranked now, no reason not to give him a good step up. Jorge Masvidal vs. the Hendricks/Magny winner.

SARA MCMANN:

Ben – That was awesome! So happy for Sara! She trains at Marcelo’s so it’s a good time for us. She looked much improved in the standup, really throwing hard shots before apparently getting clipped and losing feeling in her face. She didn’t panic though, took Davis down, and despite a bit of trouble at the end, eventually submitted Davis. This is a huge deal as Davis is one of the better black belts at WBW and this was her first submission loss. Sara is 36 but she’s only been fighting five years. Now riding a two fight win streak, she needs another ranked opponent with momentum. Rocky Pennington makes the most sense to test both of them. Sara McMann vs. Raquel Pennington.

Zane – There are a few weird/possibly fun fights to be made between Sara McMann, Raquel Pennington, Liz Carmouche, Germaine de Randamie, and Bethe Correia. All of whom have been around a minute, and of which only Correia vs. Pennington has happened before. Of those fights, I’d like to see Pennington vs. GDR and Carmouche vs. McMann. Carmouche has had a very similar series of expectations and problems as McMann. At one point seen as a power wrestler who could make problems for anyone, she’s struggled with control, creating consistent offense, and building a functional striking game. Also like McMann, she has really gotten better over time. Carmouche’s win over Chookagian wasn’t pretty, but it showed a continued advance in her striking. So, lets match yesteryear’s prospects up to see which of them has gone the furthest, and might possibly contend again. Liz Carmouche vs. Sara McMann.

RYAN HALL:

Ben – Urgh….that wasn’t pretty. Both men are at fault for putting on that awful fight. Ryan’s kicks were pretty and all but he’s going to need a hell of lot more than that going forward. Not every fighter will run in fear of his BJJ and I think he needs to either learn that lesson early, or be able to shut down guys who are skilled and not afraid of entering his world. I honestly want to move him up fast to see how he handles the pressure (considering how calm he always is). Mirsda Bektic is ranked but still raw and only one fight returned from a huge injury layoff. I think it’s a good test for him as well to try and impose his hellacious ground and pound on such a skilled grappler like Hall. I also don’t think we see him running away either. Ryan Hall vs. Mirsad Bektic.

Zane – Hall’s win was a bit of UFC tragicomedy. I’m not saying there wasn’t enjoyment in it, or that it wasn’t interesting to see a fighter working a completely different style than the norm, but watching a completely unconfident Gray Maynard do nothing while his opponent flopped like a fish on the mat was just kinda sad. The UFC may, as Ben offers up, choose to give Hall another fight that looks to crush his style and grind him out of the promotion, but I’m going to hope they go a different direction. I think the solution to booking Hall isn’t to give him confident power wrestlers, but to give him other exciting flashy grapplers. Make him earn his stripes with people who will dive into his guard and roll with him. Brian Ortega would be a good fit, but I think Godofredo Pepey is the fight to make. Pepey’s balls out striking and grappling style would make for a bananas match, because you know that there’s no way Pepey keeps it standing without a flying knee or goes to the ground without looking for a submission. Ryan Hall vs. Godofredo Pepey has to happen.

OTHER BOUTS: Ellenberger vs. Cote, Cannonier vs. Bosse, Cutelaba vs. Stansbury, Davis vs. Murphy, Moreno vs. Nguyen, Benoit vs. Schnell, Font vs. Silva de Andrade, Dong Hyun vs. D. Brown, Moyle vs. Albu, A. Smith vs. Theodorou, Clark vs. Pedro