UFC 187: 5 Fights for Dong Hyun Kim

Many of the UFC's divisions are filled with multiple contenders. The welterweight group is no different as it is strongly considered one of the deepest weight classes in the sport.

A number of fighters in the official UFC rankings are a threat to the title. Dong Hyun Kim currently sits in the No. 8 position, but after his winning performance against Josh Burkman at UFC 187, that position should change. Looking forward, these are fight suggestions for the Korean competitor.

Jake Ellenberger

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Jake Ellenberger is trying to rebuild his career.

Jake Ellenberger is working hard to rebuild his career. After three straight losses, the man known as "The Juggernaut" was close to losing his spot on the UFC roster. After defeating Josh Koscheck at UFC 184, it seems like Ellenberger is slowly positioning himself to go on a run. No. 9-ranked Ellenberger vs. No. 8-ranked Kim would be an interesting matchup.

Kim is a high-level judoka who uses the martial art to control positioning throughout his fights. Burkman tried to wrestle Kim at times and ended up in bad positions. Ellenberger is another wrestler who has the potential to score takedowns against any opponent. Pairing these two against each other would set up another judo vs. wrestling showdown in the Octagon.

Tarec Saffiedine

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Tarec Saffiedine is a forgotten man at welterweight.

Tarec Saffiedine is another man who tends to be forgotten within the UFC’s welterweight division. The former Strikeforce champion is coming off a recent loss to Rory MacDonald this past October and does not have any bouts booked. He is currently recovering from surgery, which has kept him inactive this year. If he is ready to return at some point during the third quarter of the year, a matchup against Kim would be compelling.

Kim has an aggressive style that has worked in his favor but has also caused problems. Saffiedine is aggressive as well, but in a different way. He cuts opponents down with vicious leg kicks and ties it into the rest of his striking. This fight would pit striker against grappler and create some back-and-forth action.

Demian Maia

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Mar 21, 2015; Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BRAZIL; Demian Maia (red gloves) competes against Ryan LaFlare (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Ginasio do Maracanazinho. Mandatory Credit: Jason Silva-USA TODAY Sports

Maia and Kim fought back at UFC 148. However, Kim was hurt 47 seconds into the fight and forced to retire due to a rib injury. He would then go on a four-fight win streak that would help him gain recognition in the division.

Maia has gone 4-2 since that fight and is currently ranked No. 6 in the division. The time is now for a rematch between these two competitors.

Maia is one of the most accomplished Brazilian jiu-jitsu players in the sport. Even though he hasn’t submitted an opponent since 2012, he still uses those skills to control where the fights take place. Kim uses a similar strategy with his judo. A full fight between Kim and Maia would appease the grappling fans within the MMA community.

Matt Brown

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Mar 14, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Johny Hendricks (red) fights Matt Brown (blue) in a welterweight bout during UFC 185 at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Matt Brown is an example of what a fighter can accomplish with hard work. At one point in time he had won just one of five fights and was close to being fired from the promotion. Instead, he went on a violent run that would see him win seven straight fights. Even though he’s recently lost two fights against two of the top three welterweights in Johny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler, he’s still ranked No. 5 within the weight class.

Kim has been reckless and violent in some of his recent fights. While that has helped him earn some wins, it is also a dangerous way to fight against Brown. This fight would excite fans because both men would oblige them with a slugfest that would probably leave someone on the floor.

Neil Magny

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Neil Magny is emerging as a contender at 170 pounds.

Neil Magny has been on quite the run dating back to 2014. On May 16, he earned his seventh straight win when he put away Hyun Gyu Lim in the second round at UFC Fight Night 66. He’s currently ranked as the No. 13 competitor in the division and is looking to move into the Top 10 in his next bout. Placing Kim against Magny would cement the winner as a competitor to watch in the near future.

Magny has continued to improve as a fighter in the cage. After losing two straight bouts, he reworked some of his skill set in a way that has helped him emerge as a prospect in the weight class. If he can defeat Kim, that would help him gain exposure in the sport. For Kim, it would be an opportunity for him to push for bigger fights within the division.