UFC Fight Night Results: 5 Fights for Lorenz Larkin
Lorenz Larkin looked fantastic with his win over Santiago Ponzinibbio at UFC Fight Night 70—so much so that he was able to walk out with a performance bonus of $50,000.
This is his second straight win via knockout since moving down to welterweight. It will be interesting to see how Larkin will fare in this weight class in the future. With that in mind, here are five fight suggestions that will help build intrigue in what he has to offer at this point of his career.
Neil Magny
1 of 5
Neil Magny has been on a tear for the last year. Since February 2014, he’s racked up seven straight wins. He’s set to face Demian Maia at UFC 190, which is Magny’s opportunity to step up into the higher ranks of the division. However, if this fight were to fall apart for some reason, Larkin vs. Magny would be a compelling fight for both men.
Larkin is aggressive with his striking and uses it to pick opponents apart before going for the finish. Magny, on the other hand, is concise in his attacks and controls the range over his opponents. It would be interesting to see if Magny could impose his terms on Larkin for a whole fight.
Tarec Saffiedine
2 of 5
Tarec Saffiedine is the last man to hold the Strikeforce title, but he has flown under the radar since moving over to the UFC. He’s ranked in the No. 8 position within the welterweight division, as his recent loss to Rory MacDonald pushed him down the ladder a bit. Pairing him with Larkin will give both men the opportunity to inject some excitement into the division.
Saffiedine uses leg kicks to deter his opponent from attacking him aggressively. Larkin used leg kicks in his most recent win the same way. Putting these two fighters in the cage would create an opportunity for a striking showcase that the fans might enjoy. The winner would have a good opportunity for bigger matchups in the near future.
Dong Hyun Kim
3 of 5
Dong Hyun Kim is an ultra-aggressive competitor who has changed his style since joining the UFC. He’s ranked as the No. 7 welterweight in the organization. As the UFC continues to work to expand its reach in Korea, he is certainly a face the company can push forward. A bout against Larkin would be a great way to start for both men.
One aspect of this fight worth watching is how Kim’s judo abilities would play into the contest. He has shown the ability to take opponents down and control them. Larkin hasn’t faced another competitor who has that skill set. If Larkin could adjust, it would be his chance to take an important win.
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Rick Story
4 of 5
Rick Story was once the darling of the welterweight division. While he was never able to turn that momentum into a title shot, he still has a position within the Top 15 of the division, as he sits in the No. 10 position. He’s slated to face Erick Silva in August, and the winner of that fight would be a great next challenger for Larkin.
The question as to whether or not Larkin is ready to face a wrestler would resurface during this fight. Story has shown that he can control the positioning of the fight when needed with takedowns. Even though he doesn’t have the high-level pedigree that other welterweights may have, he’s still been effective in the cage. If Larkin can remain on the feet, this would be his fight to win, but that is a big question that he would need to answer.
Erick Silva
5 of 5
Erick Silva is a dynamic striker who can land vicious strikes from nearly any angle. His aggressive style has made for some interesting fights, but it's also cost him. He would most likely come into a fight with Larkin in the same way, but doing so would raise a lot of concerns.
Larkin has the ability to land with both accuracy and power, just like Silva. The question would be who would land the most significant volume and be able to hurt the other. Either way, this is the type of fight that would excite fans the moment it was announced.
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