Five Best Fights To Make After UFC Fresno
UFC Fight Night 123, which took place last night (Dec. 9, 2017) live on FOX Sports 1 from Fresno, California, is now in the rearview mirror, and as always, speculation now turns to where the night’s biggest winners and losers should land next.
In the night’s main event, surging contender Brian Ortega established himself as a legitimate contender, submitting veteran Cub Swanson in the second round. In the co-main event, Gabriel Benitez scored a decision victory over Jason Knight.
Also on the main card, former World Series of Fighting (WSOF) champion Marlon Moraes scored a brutal stoppage victory over Aljamain Sterling.
Let’s take a look at the five best fights to make moving forward:
Brian Ortega vs. Ricardo Lamas/Josh Emmet
With his latest victory, Ortega is now 5-0-1 inside the Octagon with all five of those victories coming by way of stoppage. The no-contest was also a stoppage victory for “T-City” before it was revealed that he had failed a drug test.
Although his resume is impressive, Ortega likely isn’t next in line for a title shot, which is why he should take on the winner of next weekend’s bout between Ricardo Lamas and Josh Emmet.
Lamas, who was originally scheduled to meet Jose Aldo next week, has won two straight and if can make it three, he’ll be one step closer to a title shot as well.
Emmet, on the other hand, is 3-1 in the UFC and if he can add a win over a top name like Lamas to his resume, he’ll be in line for a big fight as well.
Either option would serve as a viable one for Ortega to take on next.
Cub Swanson vs. Jose Aldo II
After losing via third-round knockout to Max Holloway in their rematch earlier this month, Jose Aldo’s future is unclear. If he decides to continue fighting and remain at featherweight, however, a rematch against Swanson would make sense.
The two first met at WEC 41 in 2009 where Aldo scored a brutal 8-second flying knee knockout victory.
Years later both men are much different fighters, specifically Swanson. Although both are coming off of losses, they both also remain two of the best featherweights in the world, and it could be time to run it back.
Gabriel Benitez vs. Zabit Magomedsharipov
Gabriel Benitez bounced back with an impressive win over Jason Knight last night. Although he benefited from a point deduction, he was effective on the feet and got the better of the striking exchanges over the course of three rounds.
Now, he should take on another rising featherweight.
Zabit Magomedsharipov has won 10 consecutive fights and he’s currently 2-0 inside the UFC with two stoppages.
The winner of a potential bout between Benitez and Magomedsharipov would vault themselves into the top 15 at 145 pounds.
Marlon Moraes vs. Jimmie Rivera/John Lineker
Since losing his UFC debut earlier this year, Marlon Moraes has bounced back with back-to-back victories over John Dodson and Aljamain Sterling. His stoppage victory over Sterling last night was vicious and proves he belongs with the top bantamweights in the world.
Top contenders Jimmie Rivera and John Lineker are set to meet at UFC 219 on Dec. 30. The winner may be deserving of a title shot, but with divisional champion TJ Dillashaw gunning for a fight with flyweight king Demetrious Johnson, the title picture is a bit unclear.
Moraes should be booked against the winner of Rivera vs. Lineker to determine the next challenger to the 135-pound throne.
Aljamain Sterling vs. John Dodson
Sterling got caught by a brutal knee last night, but he’s won two of his last three bouts and remains an exciting fighter to watch.
He should next be booked against Dodson, who is also coming off a loss to Moraes.
Both Dodson and Sterling are still top 10 bantamweights looking to get back to winning ways. It’s an intriguing match up from a stylistic standpoint and it makes since for both men.
The UFC should book it.
