George Sotiropoulos
Option 1: Evan Dunham
Everyone has been suggesting this match even before Sotiropoulos got the better of Kurt Pellegrino, and it certainly seems as though this is the fight that will be made. With both Dunham and Sotiropoulos announcing themselves as potential contenders in their most recent fights, it’s entirely possible that Dunham could challenge Sotiropoulos to determine the next top contender in the UFC’s lightweight division following the winner of Kenny Florian v. Gray Maynard at UFC 118 in August. As an added bonus, we would all finally find out whether or not Sotiropoulos can deal with a talented wrestler with good takedown defense and top control on the ground. It would give Sotiropoulos the opportunity to silence the critics on what may be the only question remaining about his game.
Option 2: The winner of Tyson Griffin v. Takanori Gomi (UFC Live, 8/1)
While no match makes more sense for Sotiropoulos than does the one against Evan Dunham, a match against the winner of Griffin v. Gomi is not terribly far behind. Consider: Griffin himself is a perpetual near contender who vaults an opponent who can beat him into contention. A win over Gomi would strengthen his own position in the division and move him back up towards contention, which would allow Sotiropoulos the opportunity to become a top contender if he were able to defeat a victorious Griffin. Likewise, should Gomi get his act together and best Griffin in their fight, his success in Pride will allow him to realistically be presented as a top fighter in the UFC’s lightweight division, even if that distinction is realistically about three years past the point of veracity. Regardless of who wins between Griffin and Gomi (and it would be stunning if it is not Griffin), either fighter would give Sotiropoulos the opportunity to climb the UFC’s lightweight ranks, and on only a slightly slower pace than if he were to defeat Dunham.
Chris Lytle
Option 1: Mike Guymon
At first blush, it may seem odd to suggest an opponent for Lytle who has yet to appear on the televised portion of a UFC event. However, Guymon is an opponent who makes nearly perfect sense for “Lights Out.” Lytle has made it clear that he wants to fight opponents who will come after him and fight to win as opposed to fighting not to lose. Looking at Guymon’s resume, Guymon has earned 11 of his 12 victories via either knockout or submission. Additionally, the UFC will travel to Lytle’s hometown of Indianapolis, IN on September 25th for UFC 119 at the Conseco Field House. Once upon a time, Lytle actually fought outside of his UFC contract for the opportunity to fight in that very arena, and it’s reasonable to believe that the UFC will want to put an entertaining hometown fighter on the card in Indianapolis. Guymon, who as yet does not have an announced opponent nor has been announced as being booked for any upcoming UFC card, should be available for the September 25th event. Interesting side note: When Lytle took the fight outside of his UFC contract, he beat Matt Brown via second round submission.
Option 2: Martin Kampmann
With just two fights remaining on his current UFC contract, now may be the time to give Lytle the chance to prove whether or not he deserves to be considered among the contenders in the talent-filled UFC welterweight division. If he were to defeat Kampmann, particularly via stoppage, the UFC would know that a re-negotiation would be appropriate with one of the organization’s most consistently entertaining fighters. If he were to lose to Kampmann, well, perhaps they would choose to allow Lytle to ride off into the sunset given that he is approach 36 years of age. In either case, Kampmann is a talented striker and grappler whose aggression in both aspects of the fight game make a bout against Lytle one of the most compelling available to the UFC.
Brendan Schaub
Option 1: The winner of Stefan Struve v. Christian Morecraft (UFC 117, 8/7)
It’s clear that Schaub is due for a step up in competition over the Chase Gormleys and Chris Tuchscherers of the world. Unless Christian Morecraft absolutely decimates Struve in a “putting the division on notice” sort of way, either Struve or Morecraft should be the appropriate step up in competition for Schaub. In six fights, Morecraft has gone past the first round (three submissions, three TKOs), and Struve’s kickboxing and jiu jitsu are well known by UFC fans. Either fighter should bring the fight to Schaub, and either matchup should be entertaining.
Option 2: Jon Madsen
In fact, it seems more likely that Schaub would fight a newcomer than he would Madsen. Madsen is simply too predictable dull a fighter to put on the televised portion of any UFC event, whereas Schaub has earned the right to be on TV. Madsen would certainly be a step up in competition over Chase Gormley and Chris Tuchscherer, but it’s unlikely that Schaub would be able to negotiate Madsen’s takedowns and lay & pray style. However, both fighters are on the way up the heavyweight ranks and are at roughly the same level coming off of TUF 10, so there is some logic behind the match up. While a win for Schaub would move him up the ranks and a knockout of Madsen, as previously seen in the quarter final round of TUF 10, would likely endear him to UFC president Dana White for the foreseeable future. It’s a win-lose proposition to be sure.
Ricardo Romero
Option 1: Stephan Bonnar
While Romero is a fighter who now has a little profile coming off of a win on the UFC 116 prelims on Spike who Bonnar should be able to beat, it works both ways. Bonnar, despite his performance against Soszynski on Saturday, isn’t being mistaken for a world beater. If Romero can beat him in Bonnar’s next fight, it will give him a nice push towards relevance in the UFC’s light heavyweight division, at least from the perspective of more UFC fans learning his name.
Option 2: Phil Davis
While this would be a showcase match for Davis on paper, the match up would give Romero a huge opportunity to make his mark on the UFC’s light heavyweight division. A win over the undefeated Davis would go a long way toward masking the concerns raised about Romero’s game in his victory over Seth Petruzelli.
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