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UFC 270 was a great event that kicked off the promotion’s 2022 pay-per-view schedule. It was headlined by a heavyweight championship unification bout, but it were the flyweights that stole the show.
Deiveson Figueiredo reclaimed the flyweight championship he lost to Brandon Moreno last year in another classic between the two. The crowd was electric for the co-main event as they rallied behind ‘The Assassin Baby’ and booed Figueiredo. The promotion has plenty of possibilities for their flyweight division, but not so much in the heavyweight division.
Francis Ngannou retained his title against interim-heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane in a bout that saw him showcase improved grappling and wrestling. Taking into account his injury situation and contract dispute, it could be a while before we see ‘The Predator’ competing again. This list will look at 5 fights to make following UFC 270.
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#5. Said Nurmagomedov vs. Victor Henry - UFC bantamweight division
UFC 270 saw two excellent bantamweight performances from Said Nurmagomedov and ‘La Mangosta’ Victor Henry. Based on how they won their bouts, it would make sense for them to fight each other next.
Nurmagomedov made quick work of Cody Stamann in the second bout of the main card. He landed a spinning-kick to the body before submitting him with a guillotine choke. Henry, on the other hand, capped off a successful debut with his unanimous decision win over Raoni Barcelos.
During the post-fight press conference, Henry spoke about his road to the octagon and silencing the doubters.
“I realize that my road is not going to be the same as everybody else’s. I knew that I had to pretty much work twice as hard,” Victor Henry to the media during the post-fight press conference.
It would be interesting to see whether Henry could replicate his performance against Nurmagomedov and whether his catch-wrestling would be affective.
#4. Michel Pereira vs. former UFC title challenger Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson
After Michel Pereira’s performance at UFC 270, the promotion should consider booking in a bout against former title-challenger Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson. Pereira's high-risk offense featuring somersault kicks and Superman punches off the fence has made him a fan favorite. ‘Wonderboy’ would be the perfect opponent for ‘Demolidor’ as their fighting styles are similar.
Both fighters have a karate background, so the fight would most likely be contested in the stand up. Periera has recently done a better job pacing himself instead of going for flashy first-round finishes like he’s done in the past. This has served him well as he’s gone the distance in three straight bouts and hasn’t looked exhausted in the final round.
Despite the Brazilian not being ranked, Thompson vs. Periera wouldn’t necessarily be a mismatch. ‘Wonderboy’ has lost back-to-back fights, while ‘Demolidor’ is riding a four-fight winning streak.
#3. Former UFC interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane vs. Derrick Lewis/Tai Tuivasa winner
Following the UFC 270 main event, the promotion should book Ciryl Gane against the winner of Derrick Lewis vs. Tai Tuivasa. Gane was unsuccessful in his title unification bout with Francis Ngannou. But it shouldn’t be ignored that he’s been a pro MMA fighter for only three-and-a-half years. ‘Bon Gamin’ stated after the fight that he wouldn’t want to fight for a vacant or interim title.
If Lewis wins, it’d set up a rematch against Gane, who’d be coming into the fight following a loss. ‘Bon Gamin’ defeated ‘The Black Beast’ for the interim heavyweight championship, so it would make sense if the promotion revisited that bout.
If Tuivasa wins, a bout with Gane would be another massive step up in competition for the Australian. Tuivasa's currently the No.11-ranked heavyweight, so a win over No.3-ranked Lewis would be significant. ‘Bam Bam’ would definitely put his name in the mix for a title shot or title-eliminator with a win.
#2. Former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic vs. Jon Jones
With the uncertainty surrounding Francis Ngannou’s UFC future, the promotion needs to have continuity in the heavyweight division. A fight that helps them accomplish that would be former heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic vs. former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
‘The Predator’ revealed that he had sustained an MCL and ACL injury prior to his title defense that will require surgery. In addition, it’s looking more likely that he'll sit out the remainder of the year and enter free agency.
Based on that revelation, the promotion could strip Ngannou of the title and make him entertain other offers immediately. Another option would be booking ‘Bones’ vs. Miocic for the interim-heavyweight championship and continue negotiating with the reigning champion.
Jones vs. Miocic would be a fascinating matchup, especially with their accolades in the sport. ‘Bones’ has committed himself to a move to heavyweight and a bout with the division’s greatest champion would be intriguing.
#1. UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno IV
Deiveson Figueiredo reclaimed the flyweight championship at UFC 270 and avenged his loss to Brandon Moreno. After reclaiming the title, he stated that he’d like to fight ‘The Assassin Baby’ for a fourth time.
The first bout ended in a majority draw, so there was no winner and ‘God of War’ retained the title. Moreno then defeated Figueiredo in the rematch to become the new champion. And finally, the third bout saw the title change hands once again. The trilogy has rejuvenated the flyweight division and made it a must-see because this rivalry has won Fight of the Night honors on two occasions.
A fourth bout would be massive for the promotion and the flyweight division. Moreno’s popularity has grown immensely and may lead to the promotion booking the fight in Mexico. Depending on their recovery status, perhaps the fourth fight could serve as a co-headliner for their return to Brazil.
