For all the hand-wringing about how being on Fuel was a step down from Spike that went on, UFC on Fuel 1 is in the books and was actually a good show. I should know, considering I chipped in for the play by play of the main card. Now it’s time to sit back, relax and play UFC matchmaker for Joe Silva and Sean Shelby and figure out the five most intriguing fighters and fights they ought to be in coming off of UFC on Fuel 1.
Jake Ellenberger vs. Carlos Condit – If Condit isn’t going to wait a year or so for GSP to heal up for a unification fight, an interim title fight with Ellenberger makes the most sense. They have history, as Condit took a very controversial split decision in their mutual UFC debut, and five rounds would most likely give us a clearer decision than their three rounder did. Ellenberger gassed towards the end of the third against Sanchez and two more rounds could’ve given a finish in that fight potentially; “Can he last 25 minutes?” is a question that needs to be answered. If Condit waits, one could expect the winner of Johnny Hendricks/Josh Koscheck or Rory MacDonald/Che Mills to get matched with “The Juggernaut.”
Stefan Struve vs. Mike Russow – Struve isn’t quite good enough to hang with the top of the division yet but a step up in competition could be worthwhile for him. Russow makes the most sense; the hardened Chicago cop is coming off a decision victory over Jon Olav Einemo at UFC on Fox 2 and needs a similar step up in competition. Neither fighter is elite yet; Russow may never be, Struve is still years from being amongst the best in the division. Matt Mitrione or Brendan Schaub could be another matchup worth noting, despite the “winners fight winners, losers fight losers” motif of UFC match-making, as all three are prospects not quite elite but not quite gatekeeper material yet.
Diego Sanchez vs. Mike Pierce – Sanchez looked really good against Ellenberger and, had the fight been five rounds and not three, potentially could’ve finished Ellenberger in the fourth after a dominating third round. He and Pearce both lost to top five guys in the division and a matchup could make sense in many ways. Rick Story is in a similar spot and one could see him being positioned opposite Sanchez. A rematch with Jon Fitch could be possible as well, though I doubt we’ll see it, and depending on Nick Diaz’s drug suspension fallout Diaz/Sanchez 2 could be a worthwhile rematch.
Dave Herman vs. the loser of Pat Barry/Lavar Johnson – Herman is still an uber-talented prospect in the heavyweight division and lost a tough fight to an improved Struve. How he responds to the loss will be something to see; he has a pedigree outside the UFC and is really talented. The loser of Barry/Johnson guarantees us a slugfest, most likely, and can get the winner back on the right track. Herman isn’t ready for a high profile fight, talent wise, though down the road he has championship potential. The loser of Cheick Kongo/Mark Hunt might be a solid matchup as could be the loser of Ben Rothwell/Brendan Schaub fight as well.
T.J Dillashaw vs. Johnny Bedford – Bedford had his opponent scratch on him before his last scheduled fight and from the look of things Dillashaw walked out of his fight without any injuries. He’s still a prospect in the division, as is Bedford, and a matchup between the two makes sense. I could see them throwing Nick Denis at him as well as Alex Caceres in a matchup of exciting prospects. Dillashaw at this point isn’t going to get anyone of note for a while; a pair of wins over prospects and he’ll be ready for someone like a Scott Jorgensen or Brian Bowles caliber fighter. Dillashaw has looked really good so far and comes from a great camp, which is encouraging, but even after a terrific victory the UFC isn’t going to put him up against elite competition just yet. Two wins against solid competition and probably someone like Miguel Torres is in his future before the top of the food chain in the division.
