Matches to Make After UFC Fight Night 238
Tyler TreeseMar 02, 2024
The Ultimate Fighting Championship’s first event of March is now in the books. While UFC Fight Night 238 didn't have a star-studded main event, the heavyweight contest between Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Shamil Gaziev ended in fireworks. The card also featured several undefeated prospects that will factor into their divisions for years to come.
Here are five matches to make after UFC Fight Night 238.
Rozenstruik got back into the win column tonight with a technical knockout victory over Shamil Gaziev, who said he couldn’t see after Round 4. The hard-hitting Rozenstruik (14-5) is most entertaining when fighting fellow strikers, so a clash against fellow heavyweight veteran Lewis would be a lot of fun for as long as it lasts. While “The Black Beast” has struggled recently, with a win over Marcos Rogerio de Lima sandwiched between losses to Jailton Almeida and Sergey Spivak, he remains a fan-favorite. With neither vying for gold anytime soon, this would make for a solid heavyweight scrap on a pay-per-view card or a Fight Night headliner.
Light heavyweight prospect Petrino edged out Tyson Pedro in the co-main event. Sporting an impressive 11-0 record, “Icao” is on a stretch that includes wins over Pedro, Modestas Bukauskas, Marcin Prachnio and Anton Turkalj. A fight against another undefeated prospect in Murzakanov would be particularly interesting. “The Professional” most recently defeated Dustin Jacoby and Devin Clark, so the match would help the winner take the step from prospect to contender.
Mokaev continued his impressive win streak at the expense of Alex Perez with a unanimous decision win. Mokaev (11-0, 1 NC) is now 6-0 inside the UFC and has impressive wins over Perez, Tim Elliott and Jafel Filho. Up next should be former champion Moreno, as it would serve as a bounce back fight for “The Assassin Baby,” while also giving Mokaev a chance to go up against the flyweight elite. It would certainly be a fun Fight Night main event.
Nurmagomedov stayed undefeated by dispatching promotional newcomer Bekzat Almakhan via unanimous decision. Now 17-0, Nurmagomedov is ready for a potential title eliminator fight against Sandhagen. It’s a fight that was booked last year before Nurmagomedov pulled out, so there’s some unfinished business as well. The winner would be in a prime spot, with only Merab Dvalishvili being more deserving of a title shot.
After defeating Matt Schnell with a vicious left hook, Erceg is ready for an even stiffer test. The Australian has now won 11 straight, including three within the UFC. While not quite ready for the best of the division, a duel with Ulanbekov would be a fitting trial for Erceg (12-1) with the winner clearly established as being ready for a contender. Ulanbekov (15-2) is also coming off wins, having racked up back-to-back submissions against Cody Durden and Nate Maness.