UFC 303 noticed the dominant gentle heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira retain his title in devastating vogue with a second-round head kick knockout over former champion, Jiri Prochazka.
After all, we now have ask the query.. What’s subsequent? AndyHickeyMMA on X (previously Twitter) analyzed the type of fighters ranked at gentle heavyweight.
I analyzed the type of the fighters ranked at LHW.
Prochazka(1), Hill(3) & Blachowicz(4) are all coming off losses to Alex Pereira.
The #1 contender is clearly Magomed Ankalaev. pic.twitter.com/qhUM81HstV
— Andy Hickey MMA (@AndyHickeyMMA) July 1, 2024
We’ll use this to find out who ought to battle who at 205lbs.
Matchmaking the Mild Heavyweight Division
Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev
The champion, Alex Pereira’s subsequent defence must be Magomed Ankalev. The Russian has been undefeated since his debut and arguably gained his vacant title bout towards Jan Blachowicz. He’s an fascinating stylistic match-up for Poatan as Ankalaev prefers to strike together with his opponents, nevertheless, is greater than able to taking the battle to the bottom.
Guys imagine me everybody, I’ll knock out @AlexPereiraUFC I don’t have to take him down, this man his chin is gone however I do know he’s very harmful
— Magomed Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM) June 30, 2024
After all, there’s an argument that primarily based on his fights towards the present high 5 (no wins and a single draw) that he doesn’t deserve the shot. With that being stated, there isn’t actually another choice.
Jamahal Hill vs Carlos Ulberg
This was booked for UFC 303, nevertheless, each males needed to withdraw from the battle as a consequence of damage. That is an especially fan-friendly battle as each males want the stand-up sport and have one-punch knockout energy.
Jamahal Hill is the previous champion and UFC 300 headliner, nevertheless, did lose his final battle to Pereira in beautiful vogue. Carlos Ulberg, however, has gained his final six, together with ending his final 5. On high of that, he has 4 first spherical knockouts, together with a 12 second knockout final day out.
Regardless of the discrepancy of their rankings (Hill at #3 and Ulberg at #11), the type of each males makes this one make sense.
Khalil Rountree vs Nikita Krylov
Khalil Rountree has seen considerably of a profession revival as of late. Having dropped a disappointing choice to Marcin Prachnio in 2021, Rountree has gained 5 straight, which has seen him notch 4 finishes and three efficiency of the night time bonuses. His final was his most emphatic when he brutalised former title challenger, Anthony Smith to a third-round TKO.
WHAT A KNOCKOUT! 💥
Khalil Rountree Jr. placed on an unimaginable efficiency towards Anthony Smith 👊#UFCVegas83 pic.twitter.com/LUlKN0yYjM
— UFC on TNT Sports activities (@ufcontnt) December 10, 2023
Krylov is the practically man of the division. Having accomplished fairly effectively in his first UFC stint going 6-3, his second stint has seen him go 5-4, nevertheless, this features a three-fight successful run and has seen him rise to #6 within the division.
A battle between Krylov and Rountree is a mix of kinds, the place Krylov will look to take the American down, whereas Rountree will look to maintain it standing. The winner of this one would crack the highest 5 and knock on the door of the title discuss.
Jiri Prochazka vs Jan Blachowicz
Each of those males have confirmed to not be championship-level. Sure, they’re each former champions, nevertheless, father time waits for nobody and sadly for each males, they each maintain losses (in Prochazka’s case, two) to the champion. It’s time for Prochazka to sit down out for some time and absolutely let his wounds heal. He’s suffered two knockout losses in seven months and in between that, went to warfare with Aleksandar Rakic the place he took quite a lot of harm. That is off the again of coming off main shoulder surgical procedure.
For Blachowicz, he’s and not using a convincing win since 2021. He beat Rakic as a consequence of an damage, drew with Ankalaev and misplaced to Pereira. He too has needed to have surgical procedure which has saved him out for a chronic time frame. Let each males get wholesome and stick them in a essential occasion someplace in Europe.
Aleksandar Rakic vs Volkan Oezdemir 2
Rakic and Volkan Oezdemir first met in 2019 when No Time got here away with a break up choice victory over three rounds. Since then, Rakic has gone 2-2 and Oezdemir 3-3. With that being stated, Rakic is 0-2 in his final two with Oezdemir going 2-0, each within the first spherical.
Regardless of the discrepancy of their rankings, their historical past and kind make this one a logical match-up. Guide it, once more, someplace in Europe.
