All the best, most interesting, and unquestionably coolest fights the UFC needs to book following their latest event in Kallang, Singapore.
UFC Singpore was just about the perfect card, for what it was billed and booked to be. Packed with action fights, strong prospects, and with an elite grappling battle at the top —one that had the potential to bore, but instead turned into a Fight of the Night worthy performance. Demian Maia turned back the clock with an aggressive boxing and grappling attack to defeat Ben Askren, while Ciryl Gane & Movsar Evloev backed up the hype around their games.
So, what’s the perfect next grappling battle for Demian Maia as he rides off into the sunset? How long before Cyril Gane hits the UFC rankings? And where does Ben Askren go from here?
I’ll be answering all those questions – and maybe one or two others – with the help of the classic Silva/Shelby fight booking model from years past. That means pitting winners against winners, losers against losers, and similarly tenured talent up against one another. If you’d like to take your own stab at making some matches for UFC 244 next weekend, leave a comment below starting with, “I guess there’s a reason why he’s the best grappler in the division, possibly in MMA ever.” I’ll pick one winner from the entries to join me next time.
Now, let’s get to the fights…
DEMIAN MAIA
I don’t know that this was exactly a shocking upset, but it is the first time in a minute that Maia has gone out and beat a top shelf wrestler. Fans would have to go all the way back to Jon Fitch to find the Brazilian’s last win over someone with a serious collegiate wrestling career under their belt. It’s also the kind of win that keeps Maia in line for top tier welterweight fights, even as his career comes to a close. That makes his call out of Diego Sanchez, while understandable, not a particularly interesting one. Sanchez is still something of a fan favorite, and has had some good wins recently, but we just saw him against a good grappler in Michael Chiesa. And he got handled, easily.
A bout against Chiesa has a lot more fascination to it, in fact. Or perhaps a fight with Gilbert Burns, who has had a fantastic start to his welterweight career—and a great grappling pedigree as well. But, there’s one other fight that I think would be just right, and that’s a bout against Claudio Silva. ‘Hannibal’ isn’t nearly as entrenched with fans as Sanchez or Chiesa, but he’s an all action grappler who hasn’t lost since 2007—and is unbeaten in the UFC. At 37, time is short for Silva if he’s ever going to make a real run. Give Silva chance to make a huge splash, give Maia an all-grappling action fight. Demian Maia vs. Claudio Silva seems like it’d be just right.
BEN ASKREN
‘Funky’ Ben wasn’t exactly winning this fight, but by the end of the second round, it did seem like Maia’s cardio was starting to flag and Askren relentlessness was building momentum. It’s a rough turn of events then, that saw Askren swept and subbed just a few minutes later. And it all makes for something of an inauspicious run for Askren’s brief UFC career. A controversial debut sub win over Robbie Lawler has been followed by the first two losses of the Roufusport fighter’s career, both stoppages. Fans may argue Askren just needs a step back – a chance to regather his confidence – but at 35 and with one retirement already under his belt, it’s worth asking just what he’d be stepping back for.
Askren’s UFC bid has had a very ‘do or die’ flavor from the get go, is he really going to turn around and face Court McGee or Nordine Taleb on an undercard? Probably not. There’s still one very good challenge I’d like to see him take on right now, however. Gunnar Nelson is another grappling ace who’s faced some hard setbacks lately. ‘Gunni’’s UFC form has been spotty after a dominant early run, but he’s still got a great reputation as a fan-favorite grappler with an action-friendly ground game. Seems like just the right challenge for Askren right now. Ben Askren vs. Gunnar Nelson is a worthwhile step back for the former ONE & Bellator champ.
BENEIL DARIUSH
Dariush looked every bit like the top 10 fighter he’s been in the past. It keeps him on a strong run of form, stretching back to his win over Thiago Moises in late 2018. He’s now won three in a row, and should be targeted for an opponent closer to the fringes of the top 15 again. That could be a rematch with Carlos Diego Ferreira, or a bout against Islam Makhachev, or top-flight prospect Nasrat Haqparast. If I thought I could trust Leonardo Santos to get back in the cage any time soon, that would make an excellent next bout for Dariush.
End of the day, I think the most fascinating fight for Dariush right now would be that bout against Haqparast. The Afghanistan-born German is coming off a fantastic highlight over Joaquim Silva. He’s got the kind of striking and range that could give Dariush trouble, and the wrestling and grappling to compete if the fight hits the mat. A step toward contention for the prospect, another chance to reassert himself as a top flight lightweight for Dariush. Beneil Dariush vs. Nasrat Haqparast for a great prospect vs. veteran battle.
CYRIL GANE
Gane really has shown a ton of potential as he’s found his way into the bottom end of the UFC’s heavyweight division. A great sense of space and timing, some good head movement, strike variety, and the ability to carry powerful offense all the way into late rounds. Not even to mention finishing the whole thing with a heel hook. He dominated a tough, dangerous puncher in Mayes and didn’t ever look in any danger. It’s the kind of performance that suggests he’ll be a future title contender, and it may not take that long to get there. A bout against Todd Duffee would be a surefire thriller. And the winner of Arlovski/Rozenstruik would be must-see stuff. But, with Serghei Spivak getting an upset win to run into the rankings, that feels like a bout Gane should be heading toward as fast as possible. A chance to enter the rankings and immediately put himself in line for name opponents. And if Spivak can win, then he’ll prove that he’s here to stay as an underrated darkhorse. Cyril Gane vs. Serghei Spivak should be exactly the bout Gane wants to get him ranked at 265.
RANDA MARKOS
A win for Markos keeps her set in that gatekeeper role to more elite competition. She may have her struggles against the division’s best, but she’s still a half-step ahead of a lot of the talent trying to claw their way up 115 lbs behind her. If the UFC wants to keep her in that role, she would be a real test for Brianna Van Buren. She’d also make a great next step for Amanda Ribas, with Ribas coming off that surprising win over Mackenzie Dern. When Yan Xiaonan returns from injury, a bout with Markos would be a great entry for her to try and get a number by her name. Considering all of those, I think the fight with Ribas makes the most sense. Ribas has a name win to her credit, but Markos’ composure would still be a challenge she hasn’t faced. And for Markos, it’s a chance to show the kind of consistency she needs if she wants to make her own run toward the division’s best fighters once again. Randa Markos vs. Amanda Ribas; keep the Canadian in her role as gatekeeper to the top 15.
RAFAEL FIZIEV
This was the dominating performance Fiziev was expected to have in his debut. A striking clinic against an opponent willing to stand in and trade with the expert Muay Thai striker. He didn’t finish Alex White, but he showed off his technical mastery all the way through—and should be set up for another all-action bout. If the UFC just wants to slam newcomers together, he could face Arman Tsarukyan next, but I don’t feel like that fight would offer Fiziev much. Bouts against Alex da Silva or Matt Frevola would also be pretty quality ideas. However, I think there’s a pretty clear ‘must see’ bout that the UFC can make right now. Mike Davis just came off a brutal beating of Thomas Gifford; absolutely punishing his lanky opponent with heavy boxing combinations. Fiziev vs. Davis would be electric… for as long as it lasted. Rafael Fiziev vs. Mike Davis is as good a bout as the UFC can book.
MOVSAR EVLOEV
Evloev is just one hell of a problem in the featherweight division. He’s got a solid fundamental boxing game – built on footwork and output – a highly technical wrestling game, and a serious willingness to stay in the scramble and win difficult positions. Enrique Barzola may not be the biggest name in the Octagon, but this was a huge step up from his debut against Seung Woo Choi. The fact that Evloev battled out a strong win should mean he’s going to be ready to keep taking strong steps forward. That could mean fights against Ryan Hall, Dan Ige, or Charles Rosa, fresh off his latest win. But, I think the UFC should target a battle against another top shelf prospect on the rise who looks to have a pretty technical game in development: Sodiq Yusuff. Yusuff just blew past ‘Moggly’ Benitez and took a great win from Sheymon Moraes. He’s a dangerous task for anyone, just the kind of challenge Evloev looks ready to test himself against. Movsar Evloev vs. Sodiq Yusuff is the prospect battle we need.
SERGEI PAVLOVICH
Pavolvich is likely on his way to a pretty fast rise through the UFC heavyweight ranks. Not just for his size and physicality, but at 14-1 with a Fight Nights Global title to his name, he’s got a lot of the kind of experience that some of the other recent heavyweight signings just don’t have. Fights against ranked opponents like Oleksiy Oleinik, or Shamil Abdurakhimov wouldn’t be way out of line if the UFC really wants to push him hard. If, on the other hand, they want to slowplay Pavlovich’s career, a fight with Serghei Spivak seems like it’d be a pretty forgiving matchup—with Spivac’s surprising recent entry at the 15 spot. However, there seems like a pretty ideal mid-point out there, between the hyper seasoned vets and the too-green newcomers. That’s Augusto Sakai. Like Pavlovich, Sakai has faced a lot of good competition on his way to the UFC, he’s had a hot start, and he seems destined for contendership. Let them meet up and see who keeps their momentum rolling. Sergei Pavlovich vs. Augusto Sakai is a fantastic fight.
OTHER BOUTS: Stevie Ray vs. Jim Miller, Michael Johnson vs. Lando Vannata, Frank Camacho vs. Thiago Moises, Don’tale Mayes vs. Justin Tafa, Muslim Salikhov vs. Belal Muhammad, Laureano Staropoli vs. Curtis Millender, Ashley Yoder vs. Livia Renata Souza, Alex White vs. Joaquim Silva, Enrique Barzola vs. Rick Glenn, Maurice Greene vs. Tai Tuivasa, Loma Lookboonmee vs. Hannah Cifers, Aleksandra Albu vs. Ariane Carnelossi, Raphael Pessoa vs. Tanner Boser, Jeff Hughes vs. Allen Crowder