It’s UFC Fight Night! The Middleweight division has been on fire in 2021, with the latest UFC main event being a rescheduled bout between former champion Robert Whittaker and former title challenger Kelvin Gastelum. Whittaker was supposed to defend his title against Gastelum when he still held the title, but had to pull out due to injury, leading to Gastelum fighting and losing to current champ Israel Adesanya. Tonight answered a big what-if question in the main event, and with a whole main card of fighters making the walk, there are plenty of matches to be made after this card.
Alex Munoz vs. Dakota Bush
Alex Munoz came up on the wrong end of a poor judges’ decision, putting him on a two fight losing streak. This is a very dangerous position to be in, especially when you statistically beat your last opponent, but Munoz could get back on the right track against sacrificial lamb Dakota Bush. Bush was utterly dominated in his debut fight against Austin Hubbard, and seems like one of those fighters that the promotion uses to give better fighters some experience, which is why Munoz could use this fight to get back to his winning ways.
Luis Pena vs. Austin Hubbard
“Violent Bob Ross” Luis Pena took some hard punches and kicks on his way to a split decision victory that really should not have gone his way, but he won his fight nonetheless. Pena has cemented himself as a mid-tier UFC Lightweight, trading wins and losses to the lower prospects of the division since his debut. Austin Hubbard fits into that mold, and with both men winning decisions on the same card, this seems like an easy match to make.
Justine Kish vs. Cortney Casey
How Justine Kish and Cortney Casey have not fought yet is astounding, as they are both former Strawweights who moved a division and have accumulated similar records. On top of those similarities, they also love to bang it out and throw hands. This would be a fire match-up, with the loser more than likely leaving the UFC.
Tracy Cortez vs. Pannie Kianzad
Tracy Cortez has been perfect inside the UFC, except for on the scale. Although she handily won her fight against Justine Kish (despite the split decision), she missed the Flyweight limit, meaning she needs to go up to Bantamweight. Someone that could welcome her to the division is Ultimate Fighter runner-up and solid contender Pannie Kianzad, who would definitely bring the fight to Cortez for three rounds at most.
Abdul Razak Alhassan: Cut
When you lose three fights in a row, you should be cut from the UFC. It’s as simple as that, and Abdul Razak Alhassan falls victim to this rule of thumb.
Jacob Malkoun vs. Makhmud Muradov
Australian and European fighters are known for being primarily strikers and weak on the ground, but Jacob Malkoun flipped the script on that narrative. Using his superior wrestling and submission skills, Malkoun dominated his opponent in a gritty decision win, but does not seem to really have what it takes to compete with the top of the division. Makhmud Muradov is riding a three fight win streak in the company, and could be a good litmus test to see if Malkoun is where he belongs or not.
Chase Sherman vs. Juan Espino
The pride of D’Iberville, Mississippi, Chase Sherman came up just short in a winnable fight against Andrei Arlovski. Despite a hurt leg and low gas tank, he kept the fight going and landed good shots all the way into the third round, showing that he has what it takes to compete with former champions. Juan Espino is a former (TUF) champion who lost a controversial decision on the prelims, and with Sherman’s weakness against wrestlers, this is a dangerous fight for both men.
Andrei Arlovski vs. Alexander Romanov
The fighter who has been on the UFC roster longer than any other active UFC fighter is Andrei Arlovski, and he proved why tonight by out striking a younger striker. Arlovski has built the back half of his career off of beating younger prospects, and why not keep that trend going? No man has been able to figure out the puzzle of Alexander Romanov yet, so giving the most experienced UFC fighter in the promotion a crack at trying would make for an interesting fight.
Kelvin Gastelum vs. Kevin Holland
Kelvin Gastelum got out-struck, out-wrestled, out-jiu-jitsued, and just plain beat up by Robert Whittaker for five straight rounds. He is one of the toughest fighters in the division, but his skills still need to evolve, as do Kevin Holland’s skills. Holland and Gastelum have both lost main events within weeks of each other, and with numbers still next to their names, this could be an excellent co-main event or pay-per-view opener.
Robert Whittaker vs. Israel Adesanya II
There is no denying it anymore, Robert Whittaker deserves a chance to get his belt back. He has proven that he is the best fighter in the division aside from Israel Adesanya, and with Izzy coming off of a loss in his super fight against Jan Blachowicz, Whittaker may have a better chance at beating the previously undefeated champion. If this fight took place in Australia or New Zealand it would probably break gate records, and it is the fight that fans deserve to see.
