Fights to Make Following Hectic UFC 279
Man, fight week for UFC 279 was bananas.
From the canceled press conference to Khamzat Chimaev missing weight by eight pounds down to frantically reshuffling the fight card on a day’s notice, fight week for UFC 279 was unlike anything we have ever seen. Three fights were changed, completely destroying our predictions for the card, but made for must-see television leading up to the event. With all the chaos that went down, the card was a success, so now we look forward and play matchmaker and book the main card for their next fights.
Johnny Walker (W) vs. Ion Cutelaba (L) (Light Heavyweight)
Raise your hand if you had Johnny Walker winning by first-round submission at UFC 279. I can see there aren’t a lot of hands up. I can safely assume NO ONE could have seen that coming. Cutelaba was a -215 favorite going into the fight, so we can safely call this a decent upset. This makes back-to-back submission losses for Cutelaba.
Two fights come to mind: Kennedy Nzechukwu or Da Un Jung. Kennedy just snapped a losing streak of his own and wants to regain some of that momentum he had when he first joined the UFC, and Jung just suffered his first UFC loss. Both guys could use a big win over a noted tough guy in Cutelaba.
Walker showed vast improvements in his game on Saturday. Walker snapped the losing streak and gets back over .500 in the UFC; both are pluses in my book. A step up in competition would be a guy like the winner of Dustin Jacoby vs. Khalil Rountree, but I think if the UFC wanted to make a big fight, they would book him against Jamahal Hill. Hill has the skills to become a future champion, and a Fight Night main event of Hill vs. Walker would certainly put both men to the test. I could understand not wanting to put Walker against a guy that high up the rankings (Hill is No. 6), so the first fight seems a bit more realistic.
Irene Aldana (W) vs. Macy Chaisson (L) (Women’s Bantamweight)
If you go in the fight dictionary and look up “back-and-forth fight” this bout would be a key example. Irene Aldana dominated the first round, then Macy Chiasson went out and dominated the second. Aldana landed a NASTY upkick to finish the fight in the third. For Chiasson, she falls to 6-3 in the UFC, which is nothing to sleep on — she has some talent here. She could prove as a test for a rising prospect, and that prospect would be Josiane Nunes. Nunes is sitting just outside the top 15, and with Chiasson potentially falling towards the bottom of the top 15 or out of it altogether, this could be a fight that would land both women back in the rankings.
Meanwhile, Aldana is a special fighter. She is well-rounded, but her specialty is her boxing. When she gets it going, she is as dangerous as anyone in the division. With the women’s bantamweight division in a bit of a stall at the top with Amanda Nunes and Julianna Pena, a fight with Ketlen Vieira would make a ton of sense. These ladies could main event a Fight Night or be a premier fight on a PPV and would serve as a title eliminator.
Daniel Rodriguez (W) vs. Li Jingliang (L) (Catchweight)
Fight fans took to Twitter after this fight at UFC 279, calling this one a robbery. Most people watching had the fight 29-28 for Jingliang, myself included. I would argue there was no bigger winner this week than “Leech.” Jingliang was a fan favorite going into it, and his flexibility to help save the card won him even more fans. Plus, his suit looked KILLER, and the man didn’t even get to wear it to the press conference. Jingliang won’t see a jump up in competition, so someone like Niko Price or Gunnar Nelson would help piece this division together.
Daniel Rodriguez just might be somebody. His jab was on point all night long but looked hesitant to follow up after it. The boxing never really got going. I think the best course of action here would be to have him fight someone who would force him to bring out all his boxing and more. Michel Pereira makes a ton of sense to me. Pereira is a wild man who could throw anything from any angle at any time. This would make for a delight to watch for fans all over.
Khamzat Chimaev (W) vs. Kevin Holland (L) (Catchweight)
The man who caused all the drama. Khamzat Chimaev brought this whole event down, basically. First, he seems to be a catalyst for the scuffle that canceled the press conference. Next, he shows up almost eight pounds overweight and just shrugs it off. It was unprofessional and shows he simply doesn’t care. I honestly couldn’t care less who he fights next. I do think the best course of action would be either Colby Covington or make him move up to 185. If he makes the jump, I want to see him against Robert Whittaker so badly, so I have no idea.
Kevin Holland is also a major winner here. Showed up on weight, took a MAJOR jump in skill level in opponent and I’m sure got his bag for it as well. Yes, he did lose in the first round, but I won’t hold that against him. I think he deserves another big fight at 170. Geoff Neal is an established name who is on a winning streak, but an even bigger fight would be Holland vs. Masvidal. The promos cut before the fight would be electric.
Nate Diaz (W) vs. Tony Ferguson (L) (Welterweight)
I can’t believe in 2022 that Tony Ferguson got the main event spot at UFC 279. He better be thanking Nate Diaz for the foreseeable future for that blessing. UFC 279 saw one of the most real fighters around in Diaz fight his last fight on his UFC deal. He has said he won’t be returning to the octagon, so we won’t pick the next fight for him. However, I think he will move to boxing and maybe box Jake Paul after he fights Anderson Silva, or could we see the trilogy with Conor McGregor take place in a boxing ring? Who knows.
I am going to upset a LOT of fight fans with this one. I think the UFC should cut Ferguson. What does he have to offer? He has looked terrible since 2019, which was also his last win in the UFC — and it came via doctor stoppage against Donald Cerrone. He has lost five straight fights, as well. But Garrett, look who he has fought. Two UFC title contenders and a future UFC champion give him a break. Nope. No can do. He has looked terrible for so long that he brings no value. Cut ties and move on.
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