UFC Fight Night 47 started out as a dull event with all four preliminary-card bouts going the distance. However, once the FOX Sports 1-televised main card kicked off from Bangor’s Cross Insurance Center, business picked up in the best of ways.
Absent of Ryan Bader’s (18-4 MMA, 11-4 UFC) dominant decision victory over Ovince Saint Preux (16-6 MMA, 4-1 UFC) in the main event, every main card contest featured a knockout or submission finish.
It was an impressive run of bouts that saw Ross Pearson (16-7 MMA, 8-4 UFC), Tim Boetsch (18-7 MMA, 9-6 UFC), Alan Jouban (10-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Shawn Jordan (16-6 MMA, 4-3 UFC) and Thiago Tavares (19-5-1 MMA, 9-5-1 UFC) all score decisive wins over their respective opposition.
After every event, fans wonder whom the winners will be matched up with next. And with another night of UFC action in the rearview mirror, it’s time to look forward, put on a pair of Joe Silva’s (and Sean Shelby’s) shoes, and play UFC matchmaker.
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THIAGO TAVARES
Should fight: Cole Miller
Why they should fight: It was rather unexpected, but Tavares made a splash in his UFC featherweight debut with arguably the best performance of his 15-fight UFC career against Robbie Peralta.
The Brazilian looked brilliant on his way to a first-round submission victory and is an interesting addition to what is quickly becoming one of the deepest weight classes the organization has to offer.
Tavares has utilized his submission skills well of late, with his past two UFC victories coming by rear-naked choke. He clearly prefers to fight on the ground, but that might be a very bad idea against an opponent like Cole Miller (21-8 MMA, 10-6 UFC).
Miller is fierce on the ground in his own right, and a battle with Tavares has the potential to be something special.
SHAWN JORDAN
Should fight: Jared Rosholt
Why they should fight: Jordan may never be a UFC champion, but he is certainly fun to watch. He lives and dies on his shield every time he steps in the octagon, and fortunately against Jack May, the result went his way.
With all of his UFC victories coming by knockout, Jordan can make an entertaining fight with pretty much anyone (except Cheick Kongo, apparently), and a heavyweight in desperate need of a fan-friendly battle is Jared Rosholt (11-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC).
Rosholt has stormed the UFC scene with three consecutive wins since his debut, but all of those performances have been relatively underwhelming. If he hopes to move to the next level of heavyweight competition, he needs to put forth something more.
Even if Jordan doesn’t get his hand raised, there’s a high probability of a finish, which when discussing mid-level heavyweights, is all viewers can really ask for.
ALAN JOUBAN
Should fight: Kenny Robertson
Why they should fight: After proving he can slug it out on the feet in his “Fight of the Night” performance against Seth Baczynski, it’s time to find out what Jouban is made of on the ground.
Few fighters in the welterweight division can test someone on the mat like Kenny Robertson (14-3 MMA, 3-3 UFC), who has earned two of his three UFC victories by submission. Jouban has never been submitted in his career, and there’s little doubt Robertson would do everything in his power to become the first.
TIM BOETSCH
Should fight: Winner of Francis Carmont vs. Thales Leites at UFC Fight Night 49
Why they should fight: While Boetsch’s come-from-behind knockout of Brad Tavares was spectacular to say the least, “The Barbarian” hasn’t done anything lately that shows he’s ready to jump back in against top-five competition.
Prior to the Tavares win, Boetsch had lost three of four with the lone triumph coming via controversial split decision. He was getting beat up by Tavares prior to the stoppage, and if he wants to be considered a contender again, he needs a one-sided performance.
Facing the winner of Francis Carmont (22-9 MMA, 6-2 UFC) and Thales Leites (23-4 MMA, 8-3 UFC), who meet next weekend at UFC Fight Night 49 in Tulsa, would give him the perfect opportunity to do just that. Both men are talented and durable, but also aren’t so overpowering that a fight with Boetsch would be considered a mismatch.
ROSS PEARSON
Should fight: Winner of Joe Lauzon vs. Michael Chiesa at UFC Fight Night 50
Why they should fight: After a string of bad luck, Pearson finally got the convincing, controversy-free victory he so desperately needed for his career right now, as he stopped Gray Maynard with strikes in the second round of their lightweight bout.
Now that Pearson is standing on steady ground, he can move forward to bigger and better things. A fight against Joe Lauzon (23-9 MMA, 10-6 UFC) or Michael Chiesa (11-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC), who are scheduled to fact off at UFC Fight Night 50 next month in Connecticut, would be a suitable next step for “The Real Deal.”
Lauzon and Chiesa possess fearsome ground games few are able to deal with, and that poses an interesting challenge to someone like Pearson, who primarily prefers to strike.
The Englishman has turned back capable submission fighters like George Sotiropoulos and Junior Assuncao in the past, but it’s arguably that neither are quite as effective against Lauzon and Chiesa.
Pearson has displayed strong takedown defense during his UFC career, so if he keeps the fight standing, he’ll likely cruise to another win. If the fight hits the floor, though, Lauzon or Chiesa would undoubtedly make it an intriguing affair.
RYAN BADER
Should fight: Rashad Evans
Why they should fight: A previous edition of Joe Silva’s Shoes targeted Anthony Johnson as a logical opponent for the winner of Bader vs. Saint Preux, but since “Rumble” defeated Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC on FOX 12 in July, the 205-pound landscape has changed.
With divisional kingpin Jon Jones now set to face Daniel Cormier, not Alexander Gustafsson, early next year, it appears Johnson may slide up to fight “The Mauler” in a No. 1 contender’s fight.
That leaves Bader as the odd man out. With that said, the dominance displayed in his current three-fight winning streak will almost certainly earn him a marquee matchup, it just might not be for the title of top contender.
One of the biggest names at 205 pounds currently without an opponent is Rashad Evans (19-3-1 MMA, 14-3-1 UFC). “Suga” has been sidelined with injuries since a first-round stoppage of Chael Sonnen at UFC 167 in November, but he’s looking to get back in the octagon by early 2015.
Evans is a former light heavyweight champion and owns one of the most impressive records on the UFC roster. He is the most successful takedown artist in divisional history (right ahead of Bader), and is on a run of six victories in his past eight bouts.
There’s upside to the potential contest for both men, and the winner would catapult right into the thick of the title discussion alongside Jones, Cormier, Gustafsson and Johnson.
For complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 47, check out the UFC Events section of the site.
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