The UFC closed out its 2014 in Brazil, as UFC Fight Night 58 aired Saturday night. Headlined by middleweight contenders Lyoto Machida and CB Dollaway, the card was heavy on Brazilian talent and up-and-comers.
In the co-main event, former UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao met Canadian fighter Mitch Gagnon in a three-round affair. After two rounds of relative inactivity, Barao was able to ground Gagnon and secure an arm-triangle choke to get the finish.
The win was a comeback for Barao, who lost the UFC title in his last fight to TJ Dillashaw. This was a good recovery fight, as he looks to get his feet back under him.
Who should he fight next? Here are three fights Barao can take going forward.
TJ Dillashaw/Dominick Cruz Winner
Although not confirmed, it’s pretty much assumed that UFC champ TJ Dillashaw will be taking on former champion Dominick Cruz in his next fight. If that’s the case, Barao will likely have to wait until that fight clears up to stake his claim at a title shot.
However, Barao can sit and wait, knowing that there is nobody else in front of him. If Dillashaw and Cruz throw down in the first or early second quarter of the year, Barao could take the rest and be healthy for the winner of that bout.
In Dillashaw, Barao would be aiming to redeem himself after the one-sided drubbing that saw the American take his belt. In Cruz, it would be a fight that fans wanted to see while Barao was still champion.
It’s really win-win for the Brazilian, in theory.
Raphael Assuncao
If Barao is forced to take another fight before a title shot, there are definitely a few guys who could keep him busy. One of those men is a fellow Brazilian by the name of Raphael Assuncao.
Assuncao has been on a surge recently, rushing up the rankings by knocking off credible opponent after credible opponent. He even has a win over Dillashaw, albeit controversial, which makes Assuncao a special case in the bantamweight division.
Pitting Assuncao and Barao against each other could serve as a No. 1 contender’s bout. The winner gets the winner of Cruz-Dillashaw, and the loser goes back to the drawing board.
Iuri Alcantara
One last man Barao could see in his near future is Brazilian, tough and skilled. It sounds like a mirror image, which is why Iuri Alcantara would be a suitable opponent for him.
If you are looking for a main-card barnburner that will have fans on their feet, it’s Barao-Alcantara. Both men throw heat, make their bouts exciting and are in the upper echelon of their division.
Alcantara would be an underdog in the fight, but he has a style that could give Barao problems. That’s why it could be the under-the-radar matchup that fans could get behind.
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