MMA Fights to Look Forward to in June 2018

MMA Fights to Look Forward to in June 2018
May 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.



Jimmie Rivera vs. Marlon Moraes (UFC Fight Night: Rivera vs. Moraes, 6/1/18)- Rivera is riding a twenty fight win streak with his recent win being over Thomas Almeida by unanimous decision at UFC on FOX: Weidman vs. Gastlum on July 22nd. Moraes is riding a two fight win streak with his recent win being over Aljamain Sterling by KO at UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Ortega on December 9th. This fight could potentially be a title eliminator and face the winner of the upcoming Dillashaw/Garbrandt that will happen on August 4th unless Dillashaw wins and tries his flyweight shenanigans again. Both are riding good momentum with Rivera on a twenty fight win streak including a five fight win streak in the UFC which features a win over Hall of Famer Urijah Faber and a win over Moraes would be another good win for him and would further elevate his name. Moraes stumbled in his UFC debut but is making in-roads for himself with two wins including one over John Dodson and is coming off a memorable KO in his recent fight over Aljamain Sterling. Moraes is also building momentum and a win over a talented prospect like Rivera would be another notch on his belt and prove that the former WSOF Bantamweight Kingpin wasn't a big fish in a small pond.

Robert Whittaker vs. Yoel Romero (UFC 225, 6/9/18)- For the UFC Middleweight Championship and a rematch from UFC 213 back on July 8th. Whittaker is riding an eight fight win streak with his recent win being over Yoel Romero by unanimous decision at UFC 213 on July 8th. Romero is coming off a win over Luke Rockhold by KO at UFC 221 on February 11th. The Middleweight Championship being on the line is one reason to care about this. Second is the history as Whittaker already owns a win over Romero which means Whittaker doesn't want to lose to someone he's beaten while a loss could send Romero to no man's land. Third is a win is a must for both. For Whittaker, this is his first title defense and he became undisputed champion after GSP vacated the title so there are critics who probably think of Whittaker as a paper champion and he needs a win to prove he deserves the championship and isn't just champion just because the previous champion vacated it which led to him getting it since he was interim champion. For Romero, this could be his last chance at a UFC title as he's 41 and who knows how long he'll be fighting. A loss to Whittaker would take him out of title contention and he may not have the time to get back to a title shot.

Rafael dos Anjos vs. Colby Covington (UFC 225, 6/9/18)- For the UFC Interim Welterweight Championship. dos Anjos is riding a three fight win streak with his recent win being over Robbie Lawler by unanimous decision at UFC on FOX: Lawler vs. dos Anjos on December 18th. Covington is riding a five fight win streak with his recent win being over Demian Maia by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Machida on October 28th. The winner becoming the Interim Welterweight Champion which enough is something to look forward to. For dos Anjos, he also has the opportunity to make history because he is a former UFC Lightweight Champion and a win would see him become only the fifth fighter in UFC history to win a belt in two weight classes (after Randy Couture, BJ Penn, Conor McGregor, & Georges St-Pierre). Covington has been a star on the rise who has recently been making a name for himself with recent wins over Dong Hyun Kim & Demian Maia along with his mouth. Covington has a lot to gain as he would win the first title of his career and another big win with the dos Anjos win being the biggest of his career to date. Perhaps more importantly, it also would see him back up his trash talking which he needs to do because it's one thing to talk big but you have to prove yourself sooner or later. More importantly, the winner will meet Tyron Woodley for the undisputed championship at a later date.

Holly Holm vs. Megan Anderson (UFC 225, 6/9/18)- Holm is coming off a loss to Cris Cyborg by unanimous decision at UFC 219 on December 30th. Anderson is riding a four fight win streak with her recent win being over Charmaine Tweet by TKO at Invicta FC 21 on January 14, 2017. I've probably written this before but I gotta keep writing it as it's impossible to believe how far Holm has fallen. The woman who once was undefeated and slayed Ronda Rousey less than three years ago is now 1-4 in her last five fights and seems more and more like a "fifteen minutes of fame" case and that the final seconds of those fifteen minutes ticked off long ago. While Holm has lost to top fighters, there is no reason for her to be 1-4 in her last five. Holm needs to win if she wants to keep whatever relevance she has and to possibly rebuild. I have no idea where she goes if she loses but it won't be good. She won't get cut but it will kill any chance of her being considered a title contender ever again. Even with Anderson out for a long time, a win would be big as it would prove Holm could be on the comeback trail and still a threat. Like Holm, Anderson is also in need of a win but for different reasons. As mentioned, this is Anderson's debut and everybody wants to win their debut in a new organization but it's also important for Anderson as she is coming in with some hype and had enjoyed a lot of success in Invicta. Not to mention that Anderson was set to face Cyborg a year ago but pulled out and it prevented her from competing for the UFC Women's Featherweight Championship. A win would likely make her the next in line while a loss sets her back.

Joseph Benavidez vs. Sergio Pettis (UFC 225, 6/9/18)- Benavidez is riding a six fight win streak with his recent win being over Henry Cejudo by split decision at UFC The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions Finale on December 3, 2016. Pettis is coming off a loss to Henry Cejudo by unanimous decision at UFC 218 on December 2nd. Somewhat of an old guard vs. new blood type fight. Benavidez is in an interesting position as he hasn't fought in a year and a half so it will be interesting to see how he'll perform and if he'll begin to decline. Benavidez needs a win in order to prove he's still a top flyweight and he can't afford a loss to an up and comer or he may come off as someone who's best days are behind him and is now a gatekeeper. Despite Benavidez coming off a long layoff, this would be a huge win for Pettis and shoot him to the top of the rankings. If he wins decisively, he could realistically become the number one contender since UFC are desperately in need of fresh contenders for Demetrious Johnson. A loss would send him further down the ladder and mark the first losing streak of his career. It will also be interesting to see Benavidez proves he's still among the elite or if we'll see a changing of the guard.

Donald Cerrone vs. Leon Edwards (UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Edwards, 6/23/18)- Cerrone is coming off a win over Yancy Medeiros by TKO at UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Medeiros on February 18th. Edwards is riding a five fight win streak. His recent win was over Peter Sobotta by TKO at UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Volkov on March 17th. One reason this is here is the same as every other Cerrone match which is it should be fun since you can usually depend on Cerrone to bring the goods. Cerrone just snapped a three fight losing streak which is the biggest of his career to date and another loss could end any chance of him being in the title hunt ever again. After batting .500 in his first four UFC fights, Edwards is now enjoying a five fight win streak and on the rise in the UFC. A win over Cerrone would be great for him as it gives him a name win and guarantees him another big fight next time. A loss isn't as bad for Edwards but it's still a setback and could take a another fight or two before getting another chance at a name fight.

Ilima-Lei Macfarlane vs. Alejandra Lara (Bellator 201, 6/29/18)- For the Bellator Women's Flyweight Championship. Macfarlane is undefeated at seven wins with her recent win being over Emily Ducote by submission at Bellator 186 on November 3rd. Lara is riding a three fight win streak with her recent win being over Lena Ovchynnikova by submission at Bellator 190 on December 9th. Macfarlane has a lot on the line as she is not only became champion but the inaugural champion and she's currently undefeated. On top of that, she's become one of the more well known female fighters in Bellator and is one of the poster girls in the Women's Flyweight division but all of this would change with a loss. Lara has everything to gain as she is an unknown who only debuted in Bellator in December and has competed in smaller promotions. A win would be huge for her career as it would get her more notice as a Bellator Champion and she would also hand Macfarlane her first loss.

Adriano Moraes vs. Geje Eustaquio (ONE Championship: Pinnacle of Power, 6/16/18)- For the ONE Flyweight Championship. This is a rematch from ONE Championship: Rise of the Kingdom back on September 12, 2014. Moraes is riding a four fight win streak with his recent win being over Danny Kingad by submission at ONE Championship: Legends of the World on November 10th. Eustaquio is coming off a win over Kairat Akhmetov at ONE Championship: Global Superheroes on January 26th. This fight is interesting because Moraes is the flyweight champion and Eustaquio is the interim champion so the winner will be the undisputed champion which is something to look forward to. Moraes is riding high not only as the champion but handed inaugural champion Kairat Akhmetov and recent challenger Danny Kingad their first losses and while nobody wants to lose, it would be worse to lose just as you are riding a wave of momentum as champion while handing your last two opponents and to an opponent you previously beat nevertheless. For Eustaquio, he not only has a chance to be the undisputed champion but avenge that previous loss which would be great for him. He's also waited nearly four long years for this opportunity and he know he has to make the best of it. However, this could also be Eustaquio's last shot if he loses until Moraes loses the title since this would be the second time he would come up short. Eustaquio is coming off defeating former champion Kairat Akhmetov so the question is can he make it two for two and defeat another champion in Moraes or does Moraes make it two for two and win a second time?

Aung La Nsang vs. Ken Hasegawa (ONE Championship: Spirit of a Warrior, 6/29/18)- For the ONE Middleweight Championship. La Nsang is riding a three fight win streak with his recent win being over Alexandre Machado at ONE Championship: Quest for Gold on February 23rd. Hasegawa is coming off a win over Genpei Hayashi by submission at DEEP 82 Impact on February 24th. Like Moraes, La Nsang is on a big roll as he's not only enjoying a three fight win streak but has picked up two ONE championships in the middleweight and light heavyweight championships while becoming the first fighter in ONE history to win a belt in two weight classes simultaneously. La Nsang is another who has no intention of letting this ride end anytime soon. A loss would sting badly as his momentum will be derailed, would lose one of his championships, and only in his first title defense. Hasegawa has a lot on the line as the middleweight title being on the line would be big but it is also his debut in ONE so what better way to debut then not only a win but become a champion in the process. Hasegawa hasn't been champion in a couple of years being a former DEEP Megaton Champion but recently failed to win the DEEP Welterweight Championship after reaching the finals of a tournament for it. Now, he has the opportunity to wear gold again and a win over a two divisional champion in La Nsang would be great for his career and get more eyes on it outside of Japan. A loss isn't the end of the world but nobody wants to stumble out of the gate in their debut for an organization and Hasegawa doesn't want to come off as a big fish in a small pond or someone who can't take the next step especially after suffering the first loss in his career in his, to date, one and only appearance in Rizin. A loss also means he'll need to get a few wins before getting a rematch so it could take him as much as a year or more.