MMA Fights To Look Forward To In February 2018

MMA Fights To Look Forward To In February 2018
January 27, 2018
By Ryan Porzl

Note that at 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.



Lyoto Machida vs. Eryk Anders (UFC Fight Night: Machida vs Anders, 2/3/18)- Machida is riding a three fight losing streak. His recent loss was to Derek Brunson by KO at UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Machida on October 28th. Anders is undefeated at 10-0 with his his most recent win being over Markus Perez by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Ortega on December 9th. The former Light Heavyweight Champion is in a must win. While I'm not sure if he'll get cut or retire with another loss, the calls for retirement will get louder. Along with the losses, Machida has not looked good in years as his three losses against Rochold, Romero, and Brunson were all brutal and it doesn't help he also went through a drug suspension. A win can allow Machida to get his career above water but a loss could be it for him. Though Machida is far past his prime, Anders can benefit from a win over the legend as it would big his first "name" win and elevate his stock. He not only wants to get the first "name" win of his career but he doesn't want to lose now that he's taking that next step and he doesn't want to lose to an aging legend who's best days are behind him.

Yoel Romero vs. Luke Rockhold (UFC 221, 2/11/18)- For the UFC Interim Middleweight Championship. Romero is replacing Robert Whittaker. Romero is coming off a loss to Robert Whittaker by unanimous decision at UFC 213 on July 8th which snapped an eight fight win streak. Rockhold is coming off a win over David Branch by submission at UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Branch on September 16th. The winner of this fight becomes the UFC Interim Middleweight Champion which guarantees a title shot against Whittaker once he recovers but there's more than that. Romero is coming off a loss to Whittaker which marked his first loss in the UFC and prevented him from not only becoming Interim Champion but the undisputed champion which Whittaker became upon Georges St-Pierre relinquishing the title. A win not only grants him a title shot but the opportunity to avenge the only loss of his UFC career (Romero only lost once before against Rafael Cavalcante in Strikeforce). Unlike Romero, Rockhold is a former UFC Middleweight Champion, knows what it's like to be champion, and would love to be champion once again. Rockhold was already supposed to face Whittaker before Whittaker got hurt so the last thing he needs is to lose his title shot right before he was supposed to challenge for the title. A win puts both men one step closer to the title while Romero gets one step closer to avenging his previous loss all the while becoming champion while Rockhold gets one step closer to the championship he once held.

Donald Cerrone vs. Yancy Medeiros (UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Medeiros, 2/18/18)- Cerrone is currently riding a three fight losing streak. His recent loss was to Darren Till by TKO at UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Till on October 21st. Medeiros is riding a three fight win streak. His recent win was over Alex Oliveira by TKO at UFC 218 on December 2nd. Like Machida, Cerrone is in a must win situation. From the looks of things, time may be running out for the Cowboy whose style in the octagon and busy schedule may be finally catching up with him. Cerrone is going on 35 which may not be the oldest age but he's also been fighting for eleven years in Mixed Martial Arts, has over 43 MMA fights, 13 amateur kickboxing fights, 29 kickboxing fights, and one boxing fight. Cerrone is also known for his schedule as he fights no less than three fights a year which means he's adding mileage to his body. A win over Medeiros gets Cerrone back in the winners circle and possibly get back on a win streak but a loss should send Cerrone on a soul searching mission and really make him evaluate his future. Medeiros is on a roll with three wins and has been streaking since moving up to welterweight. A win over Cerrone should put him in the mix while a loss is a big setback since it not only snaps his win streak but he'll to someone who is on a losing streak even if it is Cerrone.

Derrick Lewis vs. Marcin Tybura (UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Medeiros, 2/18/18)- Lewis is coming off a loss to Mark Hunt by TKO at UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs Hunt on June 11th. Tybura is coming off a loss to Fabricio Werdum by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Tybura on November 19th. This is a fight between two up and comers who have great potential but are coming off losses to top fighters. Lewis had a six fight win streak going before being upset by Mark Hunt while Tybura had a three fight win streak before losing to Fabricio Werdum. Both men are coming in looking for a win with the hope of getting another shot at a big name that can take their careers to the next level. This is probably a must win for Lewis who not only lost an upset to Hunt but pulled out of a fight against Werdum last fall due to a back injury. Following the Hunt loss, he even thought about retirement. A loss to Tybura can have him questioning his MMA future and if he can see a light at the end of the tunnel especially with his back problems.

Josh Emmett vs. Josh Stephens (UFC on FOX: Emmett vs. Stephens, 2/24/18)- Emmett is riding a two fight win streak with his most recent win being over Ricardo Lama by KO at UFC on FOX: Lawler vs. dos Anjos on December 16th. Stephens is riding a two fight win streak with his most recent win being over Doo Ho Choi by TKO at UFC Fight Night: Stephens vs. Choi on January 14th. Emmett is coming off the biggest win of his career to date by defeating the former title contender Lamas and he'll obviously not want to lose now that he's getting his name out there. A win over Stephens continues to move him up the ladder and possibly put him a fight or two away from a title shot. With a three fight win streak, Stephens obviously doesn't want to become a stepping stone the same way Lamas has. Also, this would put Stephens on a four fight win streak which could put him in the mix should he be victorious.

Roy Nelson vs. Matt Mitrione (Bellator 194, 2/16/18)- This is a first round fight in the Bellator Heavyweight Championship Tournament. This is also a rematch from The Ultimate Fighter Finale: Team Carwin vs. Team Nelson from December 15, 2012. Nelson is coming off a win over Javy Ayala by unanimous decision at Bellator 183 on September 24th. Mitrione is riding a three fight win streak with his most recent win being over Fedor Emelianenko by KO at Bellator NYC on June 24th. Seeing as how this is a first round fight in the heavyweight title tournament, a win is important as the winner advances and becomes one step closer to the Bellator Heavyweight Championship while the loser is out. The fact these two fought before makes this even more interesting. A win for Mitrione avenges that previous loss while a win for Nelson proves his previous win was not a fluke. Mitrione has a lot more going for him as he's 3-0 since coming to Bellator and is coming off the biggest win of his career to date when he defeated Fedor while being one of the favorites to win this tournament. Mitrione has a lot going for him and he can't afford a loss especially in the first round of a tournament many peg him to win. For Nelson, a win not only moves him forward but it'll open a lot of eyes on him if he can defeat one of the favorites.

Patricky Freire vs. Derek Campos (Bellator 194, 2/16/18)- This is a rematch from Bellator 117 on April 18, 2014. Freire is riding a two fight win streak with his recent win being over Ben Henderson by split decision at Bellator 183 on September 24th. Campos is riding a four fight win streak with his recent win being over Brendon Girtz by TKO at Bellator 181 on July 14th. This fight could be an eliminator fight as Michael Chandler will rematch Brent Primus. Campos is on a big win streak and coming off winning his rubber fight with Girtz. Defeating Freire would not only be his biggest win to date but it allows him to avenge a big loss and potentially gets him either a title shot and a possible rematch against Chandler which would allow him to avenge another loss. Patricky has never been as consistent as his younger brother but has enjoyed success during his Bellator run and now has more momentum then he probably ever has with back to back wins over lightweight legends like Josh Thomson and Ben Henderson. A win over Campos could possibly get Freire another shot at the lightweight title while a loss would sting badly as it not only keeps him away from the title but it would hurt to lose to a guy he previously TKOed. Like Campos, Freire has scores to settle with Chandler and if he wins, maybe he'll run into him again and maybe third time will be the charm.

Liam McGeary vs. Vadim Nemkov (Bellator 194, 2/16/18)- McGeary is coming off a loss to Linton Vassell by submission at Bellator 179  on May 19th. Nemkov is riding a three fight win streak with his recent win being over Philipe Lins by KO at Bellator 182 on August 25th. After going undefeated in his first ten fights, McGeary now finds himself 1-2 in his last three fights. After looking unbeatable for so long, McGeary now struggles to put together a win streak which would allow him to challenge for the light heavyweight championship. A win over Nemkov gets McGeary back on his winning ways and on the comeback trail. A loss would be the first losing streak of his career. Nemkov won his debut fight in Bellator and would obviously look forward to continue to climb the ladder. Despite McGeary coming off a loss, Nemkov can gain a lot from defeating a former champion while a loss could result in Nemkov having to climb back before getting another fight like this. Also, with Ryan Bader in the Heavyweight Championship Grand Prix, now is the time for both to begin or continue win streaks and build themselves up so they'll have an argument for the next crack at Bader when he returns.