Matchmaker Monday following UFC Fight Island 1 & 2
UFC Fight Island was busy last week with two events and number of great fights.
On Wednesday, Calvin Kattar cruised to unanimous decision win over Dan Ige and then called for a fight with featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski.
Then on Saturday, a new flyweight king was crowned as Deiveson Figueiredo submitted Joseph Benavidez in the first-round of their fight.
Following two big events, lets find out what’s next for the men involved in the main events from both cards on this Matchmaker Monday.
Calvin Kattar
Result: defeated Dan Ige by unanimous decision at UFC on Fight Island 1
Next: Max Holloway or Yair Rodriguez.
Give it up for Kattar. The impressive win puts him in the mix of things in what is becoming a stacked featherweight division.
Unfortunately for Kattar, I don’t see him getting a fight with Volkanovski. In fact here’s where things get tricky.
Volkanovski’s next opponent should be Zabit Magomedsharipov. However there has been rumblings of a possible elimination fight between Magmedsharipov and Yair Rodriguez. So if those two fight then Kattar will still need a dance partner. If they don’t, then I like a Rodriguez and Kattar fight.
Of course you can give Holloway to Kattar and nobody would complain. But you have to ask yourself just how much longer do you see Holloway staying at 145-pounds?
Dan Ige
Result: lost to Calvin Kattar by unanimous decision at UFC on Fight Island 1
Next: Jeremy Stephens
First off this division is a lot deeper than people think. You have Josh Emmett sitting at No. 7 and he wants to fight someone above him so good luck to him trying to go through the weeds there.
I was to say Ige and Emmett but I don’t see Emmett taking that fight, not to mention he torn his ACL last month. So how about Stephens? That’s a fun fight and I’ll definitely watch that one.
Ige will be in tough spot in his next fight. He got lucky over Edson Barboza as many people, myself included thought Barboza won that fight. A loss in his next outing could really set him back.
Deveson Figueiredo
Result: defeated Joseph Benavidez by first-round submission at UFC on Fight Island 2
Next: Brandon Moreno
No controversy needed this time. Figueiredo made weight and absolutely crushed Benavidez on way to winning the UFC flyweight title. Since the win, Figueiredo has been showcasing his new belt on Instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CC2kDsNBxa7/
As for what’s next, let’s honor the rankings system. Brandon Moreno is next in line. He is coming off a win over Jussier Formiga in March. Not to mention that he Formiga is the only man to ever beat Figueiredo.
Joseph Benavidez
Result: lost to Deveson Figueiredo by first-round submission at UFC on Fight Island 2
Next: Askar Askarov
My heart breaks for Benavidez. Five world championship opportunities, including four in the UFC and he lost all of them.
Benavidez understands that he most likely will never get a chance to fight for another one, but he still wants to continue on with his career.
So with that being said let’s match him up with Askar Askarov. Askarov won on Saturday against Alexander Pantoja and is honestly in contention to fight Figueiredo.
Askarov is 12-0-1 and his one draw came against Moreno. Since I’m going with Moreno to fight for the title, let Askarov fight Benavidez and if he comes away with a win, then he can fight the winner of Figueiredo and Moreno.
