Matches to Make After ‘The Ultimate Fighter 22’ Finale
Frankie Edgar left no doubt as to the identity of the No. 1 contender for the Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight title.
Edgar threw Chad Mendes off the trail in decisive fashion, as he stopped the Team Alpha Male standout with first-round punches in “The Ultimate Fighter 22” Finale main event on Friday at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. Mendes met his end 2:28 into round one, the 30-year-old Californian victimized by a left hook across the face and follow-up punches. All he could do afterward was smile.
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In wake of “The Ultimate Fighter 22” Finale, here are five matches that ought to be considered:
Frankie Edgar vs. Jose Aldo-Conor McGregor winner: Edgar has done his part. All he can do now is wait for the outcome of the UFC 194 unification bout between Aldo, the featherweight champion, and McGregor, the interim titleholder. Already an all-time great in the eyes of many, Edgar has a chance to carve out a truly special legacy in mixed martial arts. If UFC President Dana White follows through with his promise to award the New Jersey native the next title shot at 145 pounds, a win over Aldo or McGregor would give Edgar a resume few fighters could rival.
Tony Ferguson vs. Rafael dos Anjos-Donald Cerrone winner: Boundless aggression has become a Ferguson hallmark and has made him a serious player in the lightweight division. “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 13 winner recorded his seventh consecutive victory in a “Fight of the Year” contender with Edson Barboza, as he submitted the former Ring of Combat champion with a second-round brabo choke. Ferguson has compiled a stellar 9-1 record since arriving in the UFC in 2011 and finds himself on a short list of potential title contenders at 155 pounds. Dos Anjos will defend the lightweight championship in a rematch against Donald Cerrone at UFC on Fox 17 on Dec. 19.
Evan Dunham vs. Johnny Case: Dunham appeared to be headed for the scrap heap following a three-fight losing streak between May 18, 2013 and July 16, 2014. However, the Las Vegas-based Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt has resurfaced in the lightweight division. High-volume punching lifted Dunham to his third win in as many appearances, as he routed Joe Lauzon in a one-sided unanimous decision. According to FightMetric, Dunham threw 318 total strikes across the 15-minute battle, landing 147 of them. Lauzon, by comparison, fired off a meager 115 and connected on just 44 of them. Case has rattled off 12 straight wins and seems due for a step up in competition.
Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Doo Ho Choi: The ageless Kawajiri showed no mercy to newcomer Jason Knight, who replaced the injured Mirsad Bektic on short notice. The Japanese veteran navigated Knight’s tricky guard, punished him with ground-and-pound and leaned on his trusted top game in claiming a unanimous decision. A former Shooto champion, Kawajiri has posted eight wins in his past nine outings, the 37-year-old effectively keeping Father Time at bay. Choi has emerged as one of the featherweight division’s most promising young fighters and called for a match with the “Crusher” following his first-round knockout against Sam Sicilia at a UFC Fight Night event on Nov. 28.
Chad Mendes vs. Max Holloway-Jeremy Stephens loser: Mendes has wandered into no man’s land at 145 pounds, having been beaten by the top three fighters in his weight class over a 14-month period. No one can dispute the 30-year-old’s place among the featherweight elite, but Mendes will need to string together some sustained success to regain his foothold in a division that has become increasingly deep and dangerous. Rising fast on the 145-pound ladder, Holloway will put his seven-fight winning streak on the line when he collides with Stephens at UFC 194.
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