Future Matches UFC Fight Night 61 will tell you who we think should face off with the winners of UFC Fight Night 61. Where does Mir go from here?
Future Matches UFC Fight Night 61 had almost all underdogs winning on the card which throws the future of the favorites into disarray. Can the underdogs continue their winning ways?
Future Matches UFC Fight Night 61: Winners
Frank Mir vs. Matt Mitrione
Mir has injected new life into a career everyone thought it was over. Mitrione has been calling for a big name after the snub from Arlovski and Mir falls right in line with that. If Mir wants to get back to title contention, like he professes, then he needs to beat some of the young blood of the division which Mitrione represents.
Michael Johnson vs. Winner of Al Iaquinta vs. Jorge Masvidal
Everyone is too quick to want Johnson to fight the upper end of the division, but they are quick to forget his losses just a few fights ago. The same thing could be said about Iaquinta and Masvidal with their current win streaks which will be extended to four with a win in their lined up fight. Johnson facing the winner of Iaquinta and Masvidal will spur the winner toward the top five.
Sam Alvey vs. Gunnar Nelson
Alvey won huge with another knockout which was his second in a row. No one will know how long this ride will last, but Nelson has a spot in the top 15 ready for Alvey if he can beat him. Match up the two and lets see who survives the fight to secure their spot with a higher Reebok payday.
Adriano Martins vs. Winner of Jim Miller vs. Paul Felder
Martins has rebounded from the loss to Donald Cerrone, but has yet to crack the top ten. Miller is the test of whether someone is top en worthy and a match against him, if he gets past Paul Felder, will tell how far Martins will be able to go.
Marion Reneau vs. Winner of Julianna Pena vs. Milana Dudieva
Reneau has won two fights in 2015 and has secured herself a shot against a bigger name in the women’s division. Pena and Dudieva will match off against each other soon, and Reneau could make a logical next fight for the winner of that fight. Plus, she may need time off after fighting twice in seven weeks.
Future Matches UFC Fight Night 61: Losers
Antonio Silva vs. Loser of Travis Browne vs. Andrei Arlovski
Silva has said he wants to continue and if Mir can lose four fights in a row and still get a fight then Silva should get at least one more fight. Silva has faced off with Browne and beat him while him and Arlovski have split two fights. He could face off against the loser of their fight to finish a set of fights with Arlovski or give Browne a chance to avenge his loss.
Edson Barboza vs. Rustam Khabilov
Barboza needs to check his mind as he freezes in fights that mean a lot, because with a win he may have been put in a number one contender’s fight. Khabilov lost his second straight fight and needs to rebuild as well. Let the two face off and see who deserves their spot in the top 15 more.