MMA Fights To Look Forward To In April 2017

MMA Fights To Look Forward To In April 2017
March 27, 2017
By Ryan Porzl

Note that the time I release these, the full card of certain events have not been released so there may be other fights I would recommend but aren't announced until after I complete this. Also, card subject to change.



Daniel Cormier vs. Anthony Johnson (UFC 210, 4/8/17)- For the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship and a rematch from UFC 187 back on May 23, 2015. The last encounter was for the vacant championship with Cormier winning by submission. Since then, Cormier has scored two other wins by retaining over Alexander Gustafsson in October 2015 and then a non title fight against Anderson Silva in July. The loss to Cormier snapped a nine fight win streak for Johnson which spanned Titan FC, WSOF, and a return to the UFC with wins over David Branch, Andrei Arlovski, Mike Kyle, Phil Davis, Little Nog, and Gustafsson. It was also Johnson's first loss in three years which was in the last fight of his first run in the UFC against Vitor Belfort in January 2012. Since the loss, Johnson has bounced back with a three fight win streak with KO wins over Jimi Manuwa, Ryan Bader, and Glover Teixeira which earned him Performance of the Night bonuses in each fight. As mentioned, this is the second time they've fought which means Johnson needs to win this or else he'll be sent to the Light Heavyweight wilderness. He had to rack up a three fight win streak and a two year period before he got this rematch with Cormier so imagine what he'll have to go through for another opportunity. Both also have a lot to gain. One being the winner becomes champion but the other likely gets a chance to face a returning Jon Jones in the summer. Jones never lost the title in the octagon and people do think that whoever is the champion is just keeping it warm for him so the winner gets the chance to prove they are the true champion. On top of that, Cormier has only lost once in his career and that was to Jones while Johnson was supposed to face Jones two years ago before Jones' legal problems caused him to be stripped of the title.

Chris Weidman vs. Gegard Mousasi (UFC 210, 4/8/17)- Both are in different positions of their careers but both still need wins. It's hard to believe that it's been nearly four years since Weidman made history by slaying the Anderson Silva beast and ending the longest title reign in UFC history. However, the man who defeated the legendary Silva and was undefeated is now on the skids as he's currently riding a two fight losing streak as he lost the title to Luke Rockhold back in December 2015 and then was knocked out by Yoel Romero this past November. While Weidman will likely not get cut with another loss, it's still puts him in a horrible position as he'll be far away from any title shot and his next fight will see him fighting for his job. Mousasi is doing much better and finally appears to have found his groove. After coming in to the UFC in April 2013, Mousasi seemed like someone who could be a game changer given his success elsewhere but he spent two and a half years yo-yoing up and down while being stuck in the middle. However, Mousasi finally started becoming his old self last year by racking up a four fight win streak which included wins over former title contenders Thales Leites and Vitor Belfort while avenging his loss against TUF runner up Uriah Hall. A win over Weidman would guarantee him a title eliminator fight likely against Souza in a rubber fight should Souza beat Whittaker. Both fighters need a win and a loss would be a major setback but for different reasons.

Will Brooks vs. Charles Oliveira (UFC 210, 4/8/17)- Both fighters have a lot going on in this fight. Originally getting his big break with an upset win over Satoru Kitaoka in DREAM's final event on New Year's Eve 2012, Brooks would go on a highly successful Bellator run by going 9-1, winning the season nine Lightweight tournament, and then both the Interim & Offical Lightweight Championship before leaving the promotion last year and signed with the UFC. In 2016, Brooks batted .500 with a debut win over Ross Pearson in July and a loss to Alex Oliveria in October. Going into this fight, Brooks needs a win and to show he's not hype. A loss could cost him his job and it would give him the first losing streak of his career. Oliveria has seen better days as he's on a two fight losing streak and 2-3 in his last five. Granted, the losses are to Max Holloway, Anthony Pettis, and Ricardo Lamas but it's never good to be on a two fight losing streak. On top of that, Oliveria has had weight issues as he's missed weight twice in his last three fights including his recent fight with Lamas. A third straight loss could send him packing especially with the failed weight cuts.

Patrick Cummins vs. Jan Blachowicz (UFC 210, 4/8/17)- This could potentially be a "loser gets cut" fight. Cummins is currently 2-3 in his last five fights while currently riding a two fight losing streak with a KO loss to OSP and TKO losses Glover Teixeira & a washed up Little Nog. Blachowicz entered the UFC with promise having dominated in KSW in his native Poland and is a former KSW Light Heavyweight Champion but things haven't worked well for him. Like Cummins, Blachowicz is also 2-3 in his last five but coming off only one loss which was against Gustafsson. Nevertheless, Blachowicz needs a win as he could get cut with not only two losses in a row but 1-4 in five fights especially given the UFC probably had a lot of hopes for him given his success in KSW. In the end, Cummins is coming off expendable and Blachowicz a disappointment so neither can feel their jobs are secure.

Ronaldo Souza vs. Robert Whittaker (UFC on FOX: Johnson vs. Reis, 4/15/17)- Poor Souza, so close and so far as he has to jump over another hurdle. This is more or less another fight where Souza has to win to maintain his position as a top contender with the recent announcement that GSP is next in line. For Whittaker, this is the biggest fight of his career to date. Currently riding a six fight win streak, a win over Souza would put him at seven, give him the biggest name in his resume, and shoot him to the top. The winner of this fight could potentially fight in a title eliminator next time against Yoel Romero which is another incentive for Souza who lost to Romero a year ago by a controversial split decision.

Rose Namajunas vs. Michelle Waterson (UFC on FOX: Johnson vs. Reis, 4/15/17)- Well, I thought Waterson's last fight was a title eliminator but this one could be. Waterson is coming off the biggest win of her career to date by defeating Paige VanZant in the main event of the UFC on FOX: VanZant vs. Waterson show back in December. Namajunas was riding a three fight win streak until hitting a speed bump by losing to Karolina Kowalkiewicz back in July at UFC 201. Waterson should be guaranteed the winner of the upcoming Jedrzejczyk/Andrade which is set to happen in May if she wins while Namajunas may as well given the division isn't stacked. Even if Namajunas doesn't, a win over Waterson is a great notch on her belt and will at least guarantee a title eliminator in her next fight.

Alexander Volkov vs. Roy Nelson (UFC on FOX: Johnson vs. Reis, 4/15/17)- This is a case of new blood and old guard. Volkov is currently riding a three fight winning streak and is coming off defeating Timothy Johnson in his debut fight back in November at UFC Fight Night: Mousasi vs. Hall 2. Nelson has seen better days as he is coming off a win over Antonio Silva back in September at UFC Fight Night: Cyborg vs. Lansburg but is 3-6 since 2013. Volkov has already achieved much despite not even being 30 yet including runs as Bellator and M-1 Heavyweight Champions as well as a two time Bellator Tournament Winner but a win over Nelson would get him some more eyes in the UFC and with UFC matchmakers. Nelson is clearly at the end of his career and at 40 years old, any fight could be his last. The chance to be a title contender have likely passed but if Nelson wants any chance at a heavyweight campaign, this is it. A win gives Volkov a name win and a step up the ladder while Nelson can show he's still a handful for the young fighters.

Eduardo Dantas vs. Leandro Higo (Bellator 177, 4/14/17)- This is for the Bellator Featherweight Championship. Dantas is coming off avenging his 2014 title loss to Joe Warren at Bellator 166 in December after having regained the title for the second time against Marcos Galvao in June at Bellator 156 and is currently riding a three fight winning streak. Higo is replacing the injured Darrion Caldwell and making his Bellator debut. Currently 17-2, Higo is the LFA Bantamweight Champion and hasn't lost in five years outside of an exhibition fight on the fourth season of The Ultimate Fighter Brazil two years ago. To say the least, Higo is getting a huge opportunity, not only competing in Bellator but for the championship. Not many know him but he'll make a big name for himself to come in and defeat Dantas to become the new champion. Anything is possible as Dantas has been upset before when he lost to Tyson Nam in Shooto Brazil shortly after his first title win.

Daniel Weichel vs. John Teixeira (Bellator 177, 4/14/17)- With the recent announcement of Daniel Straus vs. Patricio Freire for the Featherweight Championship, this fight is likely to be the title eliminator with the winner meeting whoever wins the Straus/Freire fight. Since coming so close in his title fight with Freire back in June 2015, Weichel has been on the comeback trail and clawing his way back to the top for another chance as he's currently on a three fight win streak including wins over Georgi Karakhanyan and prospect Emmanuel Sanchez. Currently 19-1, Teixeira has been slowly and quietly climbing his way to the top. He's unbeaten in his last ten fights (nine wins and one draw) and has only lost once which was against Hugo Viana by split decision in his one and only UFC appearance to date at UFC 147 back in June 2012. He's currently 4-0 in Bellator with his recent win over prospect Justin Lawrence being the first decisive win of his career (a unanimous decision win while his three previous wins were split decisions). A win here is a must as the winner will likely get the next title shot. Weichel has been waiting two years for another opportunity while Teixeira has yet to get one.

Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Yuki Montoys (Rizin FF, 4/16/17)- This is Horiguchi's Rizin debut. Horiguchi is coming off a somewhat successful run in the UFC where he went 7-1 with the only blemish being against current Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson while currently riding a three fight win streak. Montoya is currently 18-2 while riding an eleven fight unbeaten streak while scoring wins over former Pancrase champion Kiyotaka Shimizu, former two division DEEP champion & Cage Rage champion Masakazu Imanari, and former DEEP champion & WEC title challenger Yoshihiro Maeda. This should not only be a good fight to watch but an interesting one as well. Rizin knows they need a Japanese star who can be one of the best in the world like how Kazushi Sakuraba was to PRIDE and Horiguchi can be it. With the exception of failing to win the Flyweight Championship, he had a successful run in the UFC and proved he could hold his own. He could definitely be that Japanese star Rizin is looking for. A win over Horiguchi would be the biggest Montoya has had to date in his career. This is a big opportunity as more people will know him if he scores this win.

Ali Aliakbari vs. Geronimo Dos Santos (Rizin FF, 4/16/17)- Aliakbari is coming off his loss to Mirko Cro Cop in the finals of the Rizin Openweight Grand Prix this past New Year's Eve which was the first loss of his young career. Dos Santos is a long time journeyman who has fought 56 MMA fights mostly in his native Brazil. His biggest claim to fame is a loss to Josh Barnett in 2010 at the first Impact FC event and once was signed to the UFC in 2012 but never fought there after being pulled from his UFC 153 fight against Gabriel Gonzaga after testing positive for Hepatitis B and later requested his release after being treated. At 36 years old and 56 fights, Dos Santos doesn't have much time left if he wants to make it to a national stage. A win for Aliakbari gets him back in the winners circle while a win for Dos Santos punches his ticket to a potential full time gig in Rizin.

Eduard Folayang vs. Ev Ting (ONE: Kings of Destiny, 4/21/17)- This is for the ONE Lightweight Championship. Folayang is coming off the biggest win of his career to date at ONE: Defending Honor back in November when he defeated Shinya Aoki to win the ONE Lightweight Championship and is currently riding a three fight win streak. Ting is currently riding a four fight win streak which includes wins over former Featherweight champion Honorio Banario and former Featherweight title contender Eric Kelly before moving up to Lightweight. Folayang has had a long hard journey to the title as he main evented the first ONE event on September 3, 2011 and was pegged as a future champion but had many ups and downs before winning the title after five long years. Now, he's not only the champion but coming off a big win over Aoki and the last thing he wants is to lose now. Ting has never been a champion and this is his chance while scoring the biggest win of his career to date if he unseats Folayang. Folayang is also one of those fighters who gives it his all so it should also be a fun encounter.