10 Must-See MMA Fights in the Month of November
With Cain Velasquez pulled from his scheduled title defense against Fabricio Werdum, we are now heading into a month in which a Bellator MMA bout between UFC veterans Tito Ortiz and Stephan Bonnar could be talked about more than any other matchup.
Although Ortiz and Bonnar are past their primes, both are still big names among casual MMA fans. From a sporting view, a bout between the two means almost nothing, but Bellator MMA will likely get a large audience to tune in by using Ortiz and Bonnar as headliners.
There are elements that make that bout intriguing, but many other matchups in November should prove to be more meaningful to hardcore MMA followers. Here are 10 must-see MMA fights scheduled to go down in November.
Justin Gaethje vs. Melvin Guillard
1 of 10
Although Justin Gaethje and Melvin Guillard aren't headlining WSOF 15 on November 15, their lightweight title bout is the most interesting matchup the promotion has put together for this coming month.
Yushin Okami will challenge David Branch for the WSOF middleweight title in the WSOF 15 main attraction. However, that bout is widely expected to be a mismatch in which Okami should be able to shut Branch down and claim the belt with takedowns and top control.
Meanwhile, Gaethje and Guillard should produce a much more competitive and entertaining stand-up bout. Undefeated in 12 MMA appearances, WSOF champion Gaethje will probably be tested more than he ever has been opposite Guillard, a former contender in the UFC 155-pound class.
Mauricio Rua vs. Jimi Manuwa
2 of 10
With losses in three of his past four outings, Mauricio Rua is not the fighter he once was.
That said, a knockout against James Te Huna and a strong start against Dan Henderson proved Shogun is still very dangerous. A November 8 bout with Jimi Manuwa should provide Rua with a chance to rebound back into title contention.
At the same time, Manuwa will be given a second straight opportunity to test himself against a Top 10 light heavyweight. Following a knockout loss to Alexander Gustafsson in March, Manuwa figured to see a big step down in competition, but he'll now meet a former UFC champion.
It's an important matchup for both Rua and Manuwa, and it should also be highly entertaining. The 205-pounders both like to stand and aggressively look for knockouts.
Bobby Green vs. Edson Barboza
3 of 10
With a 4-0 record inside the Octagon, Bobby Green has emerged as a contender in the lightweight division. Having gone 8-2 in 10 UFC appearances, Edson Barboza is also among the best in the 155-pound class.
Green most recently defeated Josh Thomson, and Barboza stopped Evan Dunham in his latest outing. When the two meet on November 22, it's possible the winner will earn a spot in a title-shot eliminator with a Top Five lightweight contender.
Beyond the title contention implications, this is a matchup that promises to get fans out of their seats. Green and Barboza rarely find themselves in boring fights and should put on a great show.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Jake Ellenberger vs. Kelvin Gastelum
4 of 10
With losses to Robbie Lawler and Rory MacDonald in back-to-back bouts, Jake Ellenberger could be on gatekeeping duty for his next couple appearances. While that's bad news to him, it results in an interesting matchup with Kelvin Gastelum.
Gastelum, the winner of The Ultimate Fighter 17, has started his MMA career with nine straight wins. With victories over Rick Story and Uriah Hall, Gastelum has earned a shot at a Top 10 welterweight, and he'll get one when he meets Ellenberger on November 15.
Both good wrestlers, Ellenberger and Gastelum should match up well against one another. It will also be interesting to see whether Gastelum can become a serious title contender at only 23 years old.
Luke Rockhold vs. Michael Bisping
5 of 10
He's only one fight removed from a loss to Tim Kennedy, but Michael Bisping will always be in the hunt for a title shot as long as he's winning. Due to his star power, a win over Luke Rockhold on November 8 could conceivably put him in position to challenge for a championship depending on other factors.
In his past 12 bouts, Rockhold has only lost to Vitor Belfort in Brazil. The former Strikeforce champion has won two in a row, making him one of the leaders in the race to earn a shot at the middleweight belt.
Well-rounded middleweights, Rockhold and Bisping should put on a competitive contest. If one wins very impressively, title-shot talks could follow.
Ricardo Lamas vs. Dennis Bermudez
6 of 10
Since losing to Diego Brandao in the TUF 14 finals, Dennis Bermudez has won seven straight fights. It's taken a while, but a submission win over Clay Guida in his most recent outing has earned Bermudez a test against an elite 145-pounder.
A recent title challenger, Ricardo Lamas rebounded from his loss to Jose Aldo last time he stepped into the Octagon, beating Hacran Dias on the scorecards.
Like Bermudez, Lamas is an aggressive and well-rounded wrestler. On November 15, he should provide a good test to determine whether The Menace is ready to challenge the 145-pound champion.
Ian McCall vs. John Lineker
7 of 10
Ian McCall entered the UFC as a leading candidate to capture the 125-pound championship. He hit some early speed bumps, but Uncle Creepy is now back on track with two straight victories.
One of the more talented fighters in the flyweight division, John Lineker has also had some ups and downs. The Brazilian recently rebounded from a loss to Ali Bagautinov by stopping Alptekin Ozkilic, though.
Given the lack of depth in the 125-pound class, there is a very good chance the winner of a November 8 bout between McCall and Lineker could earn a title shot. All eyes should be on this important flyweight matchup.
Cub Swanson vs. Frankie Edgar
8 of 10
With six straight wins, Cub Swanson has arguably already done enough to earn a shot at the featherweight championship. The former WEC title challenger has won six in a row, all against proven veterans.
Despite his impressive run, Swanson has to get through another incredibly tough task on November 22. The Jackson-Wink MMA product will meet former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar, who has won two in a row since losing to Aldo.
Conor McGregor has gained a ton of attention, but the winner of this bout between Swanson and Edgar would probably be a more deserving title challenger. With a memorable win, it's very possible either man could surpass the Irishman and meet Aldo in a rematch.
Will Brooks vs. Michael Chandler
9 of 10
With Eddie Alvarez moving to the UFC roster, Michael Chandler lost one epic trilogy, but he may be getting started on another one with Will Brooks.
At Bellator 120, Chandler was surprisingly defeated by Brooks, who captured the 155-pound crown with the win. Now, Chandler and Brooks are set to do it again on November 15.
Should Chandler exact revenge, it could set up a huge rubber match for Bellator MMA. On the other hand, Brooks could become recognized as the best non-UFC lightweight by beating Chandler two times.
Fabricio Werdum vs. Mark Hunt
10 of 10
It's not against Cain Velasquez, but Fabricio Werdum will still battle for UFC gold on November 15.
With Velasquez forced to withdraw due to injury, UFC brass opted to reintroduce an interim title in the heavyweight division. Replacing Velasquez at UFC 180 will be Mark Hunt, a fighter who nearly had his contract bought out by the UFC only a few years ago.
However, in his past seven outings, Hunt has only lost to Junior dos Santos. With that run, The Super Samoan has done enough to earn a shot at Werdum and the interim championship.
Werdum has more momentum going for him, though. The Brazilian has won four straight fights, including a submission against legendary grappler Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
