Like your standard ‘matches to make next’, but with an emphasis on fantasy and a disregard for probability. Basically, fights that should happen, but probably won’t.

Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Justino: Enough

Most of us have watched the Cris Cyborg documentary, or at least the excruciating weight cutting part. The uninformed could be forgiven for mistaking the tears and struggles for somebody fighting a life threatening disease, not preparing their body to fight.

Better men than I have already made the case against Cyborg cutting to the now arbitrary 140lbs catchweight, so I’ll sum my feelings up in bullet points:

  • She’s never going to make 135lbs
  • The days of Rousey calling the shots are gone, even if only temporarily
  • If she’s big enough to headline an event, she’s big enough to not have to pander to redundant ideas of her fighting below featherweight
  • Nobody of note is stepping up from bantamweight, if we’re making fights with relative unknowns*, why not use featherweight unknowns?

At the risk of crushing yet another Invicta weight class, isn’t it time we started bringing over whatever talent resides in their 145lbs division? If the UFC are keen to have the Invicta featherweight champion continue to compete on their stage, then have her defend the belt there.

Either have Cyborg fight featherweights back in Invicta or bring the title over into the UFC and get it defended there. These fights currently have no relevance in the UFC anyway!

Cyborg vs. Megan Anderson, and make it at 145lbs. You know, her actual weight class.

*For the record, I was aware of the work of Lina Lansberg pre-UFC Brasilia. The very first Cage Warriors event I worked on was in Copenhagen where she defeated Emma Delaney. Basically, f*** all of you.

Renan Barão: Clash of the titans

We all know that Barão is a monster – he was the pound-for-pound king at one point.

It would be unfair to say Renan Barão was overhyped, he was the bantamweight champion in the absence of Dominick Cruz. The idea that he’s some sort of bust lays largely on the shoulders of the UFC’s resident carnival barker, Dana White. Regular proclamations of the Brazilian as the sport’s numero uno (along with any other champions not performing in the PPV stakes) only set him up for a great fall when TJ Dillashaw came along and ruined it all.

Barão is an elite level fighter and he’s having a hard time fitting in right now. Ironically, his first UFC featherweight victory came against another fighter who unfairly had a ridiculous weight of expectation loaded upon his shoulders, Phillipe Nover.

Nover was meant to be the next Anderson Silva, right? Well, turns out he wasn’t. Just like Uriah Hall, we shot him towards the stars and he came up short of the moon. Judging on last night’s performance, Nover can hang with some of the better fighters at 145lbs, just not the best.

And maybe we can say something similar of Barão.

Dropping a competitive decision to Jeremy Stephens was nothing to be ashamed of, but is expecting a run at the featherweight belt aiming too high again? Well, get him in there with another divisional newcomer in Anthony Pettis, and let’s see if either man is destined to recapture gold.

Francisco Trinaldo: Another victim of the lightweight logjam

In no other division could a seven-fight win streak go almost unnoticed.

Trinaldo has gone about his business in notching up perhaps the most understated of winning runs in the UFC right now. Much like Neil Magny, only with less fanfare, Trinaldo has compiled an impressive undefeated streak – one that dates back to September of 2014.

Unfortunately for ‘Massaranduba’, nobody is going to be calling for him to get a crack at lightweight champion, Eddie Alvarez any time soon. He’s just not glamorous enough, not outspoken, not a needle mover (whatever the f*** that is).

Nate Diaz wasn’t a needle mover, but I digress.

Trinaldo is 11-3 in his UFC tenure, but he might as well be 3-11 as far as the belt is concerned; there’s a long line forming at the top of the table and he’s not part of it right now. Oh, and he’s not currently ranked!

Spot the Trinaldo

Given the tear he’s on, that would suggest he’s not being given the fights he’s earned. Something that would further suggest he’s not figuring in anybody’s plans…

To be fair, it’s hard to know where Trinaldo would break into a top fifteen like that, even with so many wins under his belt. It’s not time for title talk, but is time to put him in there with the kind of people you need to beat to be in that discussion.

Beneil Dariush is currently 6-1 in his last seven outings, pair them up and see who comes out on top. Wait, this is one they MIGHT make, I’ve got this wrong. ‘Massaranduba’ vs. McGregor! at MSG!


AUTHOR:

JJ SADDINGTON

MANAGING EDITOR

WASTEMAN.SIDEMAN.PAR.

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