Fight Forecast: Matches to make following UFC Fight Night 83
After UFC Fight Night 83, theScore's Alexander K. Lee picks which matchups should be made for the event's most impressive performers.
Donald Cerrone vs. Nick Diaz
Let's pretend for a second that Cerrone's submission win over Alex Oliveira convinced him to stay at welterweight.
"Cowboy" has been lobbying for a rematch with Nate Diaz for years, but if he's amenable to competing at 170, why not fight Nate's brother, Nick, instead? Nick is eligible to return to action as early as July, and he'll be itching for an opponent who won't back down from a few "Stockton Slaps."
Other than wanting to make up for a bad performance, Cerrone doesn't have any real animosity towards Nate or Nick, so all three would probably go for a beer after with fat bonus checks in their pockets.
Derek Brunson vs. Gegard Mousasi-Thales Leites winner
A first-round finish of Roan Carneiro proved Brunson is ready for a step up in competition.
With top-10 middleweights Mousasi and Leites competing in London this Saturday, it only makes sense to pair up the winner of that match with Brunson. Both fighters would be stiff tests, with Mousasi being the superior striker and Leites the superior grappler.
Brunson has shown himself to be a terrific all-around fighter and his last three wins have all come in under three minutes. If he can accomplish that feat against the likes of Mousasi or Leites, he'll establish himself as a legitimate contender at 185.
Cody Garbrandt vs. John Lineker
This is kind of a cheat since Garbrandt's win over replacement Augusto Mendes was essentially a detour en route to a delayed clash with Lineker.
But it's worth reiterating how perfect this match would be for both men. Lineker is a former flyweight contender who's one-punch knockout power makes him an immediate threat at 135 pounds, while the 24-year-old Garbrandt is one of the brightest prospects in the bantamweight division. This fight would produce fireworks and move the winner closer to the top of the rankings.
Garbrandt told management he still wants Lineker, so cross your fingers that these two can stay healthy enough to brutalize each other in the near future.
Oluwale Bamgbose vs. Tamdan McCrory
Bamgbose is another fighter who may have forced his way into a higher profile fight after blasting Daniel Sarafian with a head-kick KO in the first minute of their bout.
The versatile Bamgbose spoke about the importance of being creative and stepping up your game, and one fighter who can match him in that aspect is McCrory. "The Barn Cat" might not be the flashiest fighter, but one can't argue with the results. He's finished 13 of his 14 fights, including a submission win over Josh Samman in his UFC return in December.
There's no sense in protecting these guys. They're in their athletic prime, they're hungry, and they're guaranteed to put on a show.