Matches to Make After UFC 185
Rafael dos Anjos lost his first two fights inside the Ultimate Fighting Championship to Jeremy Stephens and Tyson Griffin. A little less than six years later, he sits atop the promotion’s deepest and most talented division.
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Pettis spun his wheels from the start and never recovered. Dos Anjos sent one left hand after another crashing into his face, secured nine takedowns and essentially manhandled the Roufusport star across their 25-minute encounter. Per FightMetric, he out-landed Pettis in significant strikes, 90-54, and total strikes, 144-96. Dos Anjos also passed guard five times and moved to the Milwaukee native’s back in three of the five rounds.
In wake of UFC 185 “Pettis vs. dos Anjos,” here are six matchups
that ought to be considered:
Related » UFC 185 By the Numbers
Rafael dos Anjos vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov-Donald Cerrone winner: Dos Anjos, 30, has never looked better. The longtime Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt has rattled off four straight wins, defeating Pettis, Nate Diaz, Benson Henderson and Jason High on his way to the 155-pound throne. Dos Anjos was superior to Pettis in all phases of MMA, besting “Showtime” on the feet, in the clinch and on the ground in claiming a surprisingly one-sided unanimous decision. Nurmagomedov, who already holds a victory over dos Anjos, will return from reconstructive knee surgery to put his unblemished 22-0 record on the line against Cerrone at UFC 187 in May.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Claudia Gadelha: Everything went according to plan for Jedrzejczyk, as she took out Carla Esparza with second-round punches to become the UFC’s second women’s strawweight champion. The Polish muay Thai machine denied 16 of Esparza’s 17 takedown attempts, trapping the wrestling-centric Team Oyama export on the feet. Jedrzejczyk was masterful with her hands, patiently dissecting Esparza with clean, accurate punches. The “Cookie Monster” wilted 4:17 into round two, her title reign over just three months after it began. Gadelha figures to be first in line at 115 pounds, provided she can get past Aisling Daly at UFC Fight Night “Gonzaga vs. Cro Cop 2” in Poland on April 11. The Nova Uniao rep battled Jedrzejczyk to a split decision in December.
Anthony Pettis vs. Nate Diaz: For all his talents, Pettis still has some definite holes in his game. Defensive wrestling remains an issue, as evidenced by the fact that he managed to stop only one of the aforementioned dos Anjos’ 10 takedown attempts. With an immediate rematch seemingly out of the question, “Showtime” must turn his attention elsewhere in the division he once ruled. There is no shortage of potential opponents, though most of the fighters who populate the upper reaches of the weight class have either lost to Pettis already or have bouts on the horizon. Diaz returned from an extended layoff in December, losing a lopsided decision to dos Anjos in the UFC on Fox 13 co-main event.
Johny Hendricks vs. Robbie Lawler-Rory MacDonald winner: Hendricks leaned on takedowns and a stifling top game in pocketing a unanimous decision over Matt Brown. He grounded Brown at will throughout their 15-minute scrap, forcing the Xenia, Ohio, native to fight from his back. Brown had his moments -- they included a first-round striking burst that featured slashing standing elbows --– but they were few and far between. Hendricks forced one of the UFC’s most aggressive offensive fighters into a defensive shell, cementing his place as the No. 1 contender in waiting at 170 pounds. Lawler will defend the welterweight championship he won from Hendricks for the first time when he confronts MacDonald at UFC 189 in July.
Alistair Overeem vs. Junior dos Santos: Overeem tore into Roy Nelson’s body with kicks and knees, as he recorded his second straight victory by earning a unanimous decision. The former Dream and Strikeforce champion for the most part navigated Nelson’s howitzer of a right hand, punishing his midsection and legs. Overeem’s chin held up over three rounds, allowing him to claim a much-needed win in a division still starved for contenders. Dos Santos, who finds himself in heavyweight purgatory following two one-sided defeats to reigning champion Cain Velasquez, last fought in December, when he walked away from his highly competitive UFC on Fox 13 main event with Stipe Miocic a unanimous decision winner.
Henry Cejudo vs. Joseph Benavidez-John Moraga winner: On the fast track at 125 pounds, Cejudo dominated former title challenger Chris Cariaso with speed, technique and well-rounded skills. The 2008 Olympic gold medalist refused to let Cariaso breathe, overwhelming him with pressure, punches and takedowns. Cejudo connected on 111 total strikes, executed half a dozen takedowns and passed the Cariaso guard seven times, proving again that he is far more than a one-dimensional wrestler. Afterward, he called for a matchup with a top-five flyweight. Benavidez and Moraga will collide at UFC 187 on May 23.
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