Octagon Report’s Matchmaker Tuesdays

 

 

 

(Essentially Sports)

It is customary for the UFC to gather with its matchmakers on Tuesdays following a weekend of fights.

Today we will be discussing potential matchups for upcoming cards and get your opinions, as well. 

You will be the UFC matchmakers for a day.

We will start with the lighter weight divisions and move our way up the heavier weight divisions.

In the wake of the retirement of Henry Cejudo, two weight classes now need a champion. The flyweight title will be up for grabs in a bout between Joseph Benavidez and Deiveson Figueiredo. 

The Lightweight has become one of the most stacked weight classes in the UFC, recently. The champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, Tony Ferguson, Justin Gaethje, Conor McGregor, and Dustin Poirier rank in the top five.

Dana white has come out and voiced interest in making the Justin Gaethje vs. Khabib Nurmovomedov matchup for the lightweight title later this summer/fall. That would leave several bouts to make for the top contenders. 

Conor seems to have several options both at lightweight and welterweight. A potential match against Tony Ferguson or Dustin Poirier could be next for McGregor. 

The welterweight division is also stacked. The champion Usman was in talks to fight Jorge Masvisal but it seems the negotiations have hit a roadblock and the UFC is now looking for a new opponent.

Masvidal is petitioning for a rematch with Nate Diaz and that leaves Colby Covington, Leon Edward, Wonderboy Thompson, Tyron Woodley and Gilbert Burns without a fight. 

Matches to make at welterweight would be Usman vs. Masvidal,  Gilbert vs Covington, Edwards vs Wonderboy 

The middleweight division will have to wait until travel restrictions are lifted for the champion Israel Adesanya to defend his title. 

Recently, Jon Jones shocked the MMA community announcing that he will be vacating his title and will sit out until the UFC is ready to pay him.

Jones tweeted, “#ESPN Reyes vs Jan For the UFC light heavyweight championship of the world. As of right now, I got nothing to really gain fighting either of them. Let me know if you guys want to set up a day in 2021 for that Izzy fight. Hopefully you guys will be willing to pay by then.”

If Jones does proceed to vacate his title a potential matchup between top contenders Dominick Reyes vs. Jan Blachowicz would be the bout to make for the vacant title. 

If Jones decides to stay, a move to heavyweight is expected. 

Jon Jones and top heavyweight FrancisNgannou have been going back and forth on twitter calling for a fight. 

The exchange between the two is the catalyst that may have caused Jones to threaten to leave the UFC.

Jon stated he was informed by the UFC that he would not be paid more if he were to move up to heavyweight. “You’re talking all that big guy stuff about not caring, put your money where your mouth is and release me from that contract,” Jones added.

At heavyweight, the champion Stipe Miocic has been out due to an injury and would most likely defend the belt against previous rival and former heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier. Cormier has been calling for the fight, which would be a third fight between the two. 

Cormier took the win by KO at their first fight and  Stipe took the rematch by TKO. 

A third fight is the fight to match to determine the champ. 

If stipe sits out longer due to injury then a fight between Cormier and Ngannou for the intern heavyweight title is warranted.