Coming off of one of the most entertaining Pay-Per-Views of the year, the UFC put on a card full of hungry up-and-comers on Saturday night, UFC Fight Night. Capping off the festivities was what could be seen as a number one contender fight between former title challenger Jessica Eye and Flyweight debutant Cynthia Calvillo. The night was filled with finishes and contenders who were begging for a quick turnaround, so here is what could be next for the main card fighters who made the walk-in Vegas.
Hannah Cifers: Cut
Embed from Getty ImagesHannah Cifers was submitted in the first round for the second time in a row, after only two weeks since her last fight. She has been finished three times straight, and there is no excuse for that to happen at the highest level of MMA.
Mariya Agapova vs. Sabina Mazo
Mariya Agapova pulled off an impressive first-round submission in her UFC debut and proved that she may be a dangerous contender in the Flyweight division. Much like Agapova, Sabina Mazo is highly touted by most UFC fans and has the same kind of rangey striking style. While both of these women are dangerous on the feet, Agapova proved tonight that she is also a force to be reckoned with on the ground, so that could be the deciding factor for this bout.
Mark De La Rosa: Cut
Embed from Getty ImagesAfter being completely dominated against Jordan Espinosa, Mark De La Rosa has officially lost four UFC fights in a row. Quite frankly, he should have been cut from the promotion after the third, because there is just no place for a fighter who loses on a consistent basis in the UFC.
Jordan Espinosa vs. Tyson Nam
Jordan Espinosa and Tyson Nam had polar opposite performances on Saturday, with Espinosa dominating for three straight rounds, and Nam winning with a one-punch knockout in the first round. After his fight, Espinosa called out Nam for a bout on Fight Island, which seems like it would be an absolute barn burner. Both of these men have had spectacular wins to break their losing streaks, and it is a toss-up as to who would come out victorious in this match-up.
Charles Jourdain vs. Michael Trizano
Charles Jourdain seemed like one of the hottest prospects in the Featherweight division before his loss to Andre Fili, but he still has a long career ahead of him. Someone else who is a young prospect coming off of a loss is Michael Trizano, who just recently lost his undefeated status. These two men are bound to meet eventually, and the fight itself is certain to be a striker’s delight.
Andre Fili vs. Alex Caceres
Andre Fili has established himself as a UFC veteran before the age of thirty and has fought the best the UFC has to offer. The same can be said for Alex Caceres, who is also coming off of a win against promising up-and-comer Chase Hooper. They both have similar, flashy styles, and either man could easily win this fight.
Kevin Aguilar: Cut
Embed from Getty ImagesKevin Aguilar has lost three straight fights in the UFC, being completely dominated in every instance. While he was a hot prospect coming into the promotion, he has proven that the big show is much too big for him, and should go back to the regional circuit to rack up some more wins.
Charles Rosa vs. Mark Madsen
Charles Rosa made a successful UFC Lightweight debut and has shown that he can hang with the competition at a higher weight class. Someone who has very little UFC experience under his belt is Mark Madsen, despite his Olympic wrestling career. Both of these men are talented grapplers and could rise to the next level of the division with wins over each other.
Karl Roberson vs. Klidson Abreu
Karl Roberson not only got submitted in the first round, but he also missed weight by a whopping four pounds, making it clear that his next fight should be at Light Heavyweight. The perfect competitor to welcome him there is Klidson Abreu, a fighter who has also been hot and cold in the UFC, and who could test the strength of the former Middleweight Roberson.
Marvin Vettori vs. Krzysztof Jotko
Marvin Vettori has quietly amassed a three-fight win streak against some of Middleweight’s best contenders, proving that he belongs in the top fifteen. Krzysztof Jotko did the exact same thing, except he actually got a number next to his name. Vettori is chasing a ranking, he wants a title shot, and fighting Jotko could be the first step to doing that.
Jessica Eye vs. Yana Kunitskaya
Jessica Eye may be a former title challenger, but she was absolutely no match for former Strawweight contender Cynthia Calvillo. She was dominated for all five rounds, and missed weight on top of that, proving that she does not belong in this weight class. Yana Kunitskaya is a Bantamweight fighter who is ranked towards the bottom of the top ten, which is exactly where Eye’s skill level is, so this is a fight that makes much more sense than another title eliminator.
Cynthia Calvillo vs. Katlyn Chookagian
Cynthia Calvillo completely starched the number one ranked fighter in the Flyweight division and should be getting the next title shot if not for Valentina Shevchenko scheduled to fight Joanne Calderwood. The fighter that is ranked right below Eye (which should now be Calvillo) is Katlyn Chookagian, who actually called out Calvillo on Twitter during the live broadcast. If Calvillo can beat two former title contenders back-to-back, then there is no doubt that she will a chance to fight Shevchenko.
