Matches to Make After UFC Kansas City

UFC on ESPN 44 was headlined by arguably one of the best free Ultimate Fighting Championship events in a long time, a massively important featherweight showdown between legendary former champion Max Holloway versus tremendous upstart Arnold Allen. Holloway lost his third and likely final shot at UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski in July of last year. However, one shouldn't forget that their second fight could have easily gone either way, with some believing Holloway should have won a split decision. And between those two title challenges, Holloway delivered a horrific, one-sided beatdown to top contender Calvin Kattar for five rounds, and also edged out current interim champion Yair Rodriguez in an entertaining contest.

Allen, meanwhile, was a perfect 10-0 in the UFC yet still hadn't been given a title shot. The last time the 29 year-old lost was all the way back in 2014. He is a superb fighter with excellent striking and very good grappling, and hoped he could finally get a crack at the title with a victory over Holloway. Unfortunately for him, Holloway proved again that he is the clear second best featherweight in the UFC, landing two shots for every one that Allen did and scoring especially with kicks. Holloway won at least three of the first four rounds, and despite a spirited showing by Allen in the final stanza, Holloway won the unanimous decision by scores of 49-46, 49-46, and 48-47.

In other results, elite flyweights Brandon Royval and Mattheu Nicolau were inexplicably buried deep in the prelims. Royval crashed through as an underdog, catching Nicolau with one of the fastest, cleanest knees to the chin one will ever see, followed by a crisp, beautiful right cross before pounding him out at just over two minutes of the first round. Chris Gutierrez, undefeated in his last eight UFC fights with seven wins and a draw, found rough going against veteran Pedro Munhoz, who won every round en route to an easy unanimous decision verdict.

Personally, I would book the following UFC matches for later this year:

Max Holloway vs. Justin Gaethje

Unfortunately, even with a win, I doubt there is much clamor for Holloway to fight for the title unless Volkanovski, who is 3-0 against him, were to lose to Rodriguez. But considering how much weight Holloway cuts, and that he fought for an interim lightweight championship against Dustin Poirier, why not see how he does at that weight in a blockbuster showdown against another legendary striker in Justin Gaethje? A victory may get Holloway a crack at the lightweight crown, but regardless of which fighter prevails, the fans would be the ultimate winners, as this could be a magnificent contest.

Arnold Allen vs. Brian Ortega

Allen finally tasted defeat in the UFC, but at 29, his championship hopes are far from over. A match against two-time title challenger Brian Ortega makes perfect sense. The winner is thrust back into the title picture while the loser is still an elite UFC featherweight. Furthermore, with Ortega's go for broke style against Allen's textbook movement and striking, we have a potentially thrilling matchup with huge blows and dangerous submission attempts.

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Pedro Munhoz vs. Loser of Ricky Simon-Yadong Song

Munhoz was ranked No. 9 before his victory over No. 13 Gutierrez, while Song and Simon are No. 8 and No. 10, respectively. At 36 and with a number of one-sided losses against top fighters, Munhoz's title aspirations are over, but as he proved Saturday night, the old lion can still bite. Thus, it makes sense for him to have another entertaining battle against a younger contender. Song would be the more entertaining option, with both him and Munhoz being excellent boxers with huge punching power for 135 pounds. It would be a top candidate for fight of the night on any card it appears. However, I would love to see Munhoz against the energetic, well-rounded Simon too, who never stops fighting, and can strike as well as wrestle.

Brandon Royval vs. Winner of Deiveson Figueiredo-Manel Kape

Royval is in a tough spot. Ranked No. 4 in the UFC before his win tonight, he has losses to champion Brandon Moreno and Alexandre Pantoja, with Pantoja more deserving of a title shot. He just destroyed No. 5 Nicolau and also has a submission over No. 3 Kai-Kara France. No. 1 Deiveson Figueiredo is the only logical dance partner right now, but he is facing Manel Kape in July. Waiting may be the best option, as not only would a win get Royval a title shot, but Royval-Figueiredo could be a candidate for fight of the year on paper. Both flyweights are absolutely electric, with phenomenal striking as well as grappling ability, and a non-stop desire to incapacitate their opponent. Figueiredo has 17 finishes in 21 victories, 9 by knockout and 8 by submission, while Royval has 13 finishes in 15 wins, 4 by knockout and 9 by submission, so fireworks are bound to go off for the entire match. And if it's Royval-Kape instead, that would “merely” be a fantastic duel between one a sensational knockout artist in Kape versus a thrilling finisher who could either knock him out or submit him.