UFC Fight Night 76 Matches to Make: Winners
Louis Smolka vs. Ray Borg: Both of these fighters are on a three fight winning streak after losing a close decision to the top ten of their division. Borg is coming off a win in August but before that won two fights by submission with performance of the night honors. They are very similar as well with over half their wins coming by submission.
Paddy Holohan vs. Chris Beal: Beal and Holohan were thought to be some big up and comers n the division but losses to other top prospects have dimmed their own prospects a little. Another loss could spell the end of their respective UFC careers considering all the recent cuts that have been made. Still it would be a great fight to see who can return to form with a loss better.
Norman Parke vs. James Krause: Parke seems to do best when face with someone who will push as hard as he can. His best fights in the octagon came against those who truly pushed him unlike his losses to grinding fighters like Gleison Tibau and Francisco Trinaldo. Krause has had ups and downs in the UFC as well, but is a dangerous fighter not matter what round they are fighting in. He will make a good test to see what Parke is made of in the Octagon.
Nicolas Dalby vs. Darren Till: The basis o this match was to see which undefeated fighter would walk away wit a win and the other with a loss on their record. Now, with a draw happening and one fighter dominating for two rounds while losing the last it may be time to run this back. Hopefully, they can do it soon because while an entertaining fight the result did not produce who should move on up the rankings like it was supposed to. A rematch will maybe provide those results.
Neil Seery vs. Ben Nguyen: Seery is the awkward position of being the elder statesman of the division, but at the same time still putting forth winning efforts. At 36, his time int he Octagon is limited, but he is still putting on some great performances. He could be a good test for Nguyen who needs a stern test to see what he is made of in terms of his MMA skills.
Aisling Daly vs. Juliana Lima: Both of these fighters sit with the same record in the UFC at 2-1. Daly was beaten by Randa Markos while lima lost to the current champion. Both want to get back into the top ten and they potentially could with a win over each other.
Darren Elkins vs. Winner of Thiago Tavares vs. Clay Guida: All three of these fighters are veterans of the Octagon who have been trading wins and losses in their last few fights. Both want to reach the level they once were as one of the best of their given division, but they need to beat more than young prospects to do it. A little tiny tournament for these three will produce the best of the current gatekeepers and give the winner a chance to redeem themselves and rack the top ten again.
Tom Breese vs. Rick Story: Breese did something no one else has been able to do in the Octagon and made a Cathal Pendred fight interesting by knocking him out. with on nine fights, but nine finishes in those fights, Bresse is young in his career but doing a great job so far. He has not made it past the first round yet, but Story is notoriously tough and will make a good litmus test for the young fighter as he works his way up the rankings.