UFC TUF 21 Finale: 5 Fights for Jorge Masvidal
Jorge Masvidal took a major risk on Sunday when he moved up to welterweight to compete against Cezar Ferreira. The risk paid off when he defeated the Brazilian in the first round via knockout. Now, he’s in a peculiar position as to whether he should stay at 170 pounds or move back down to welterweight. With that question in mind, here are suggestions for five fights to further Masvidal’s career.
Benson Henderson
1 of 5
Benson Henderson is in a very similar situation as Masvidal. The former lightweight champion recently won a fight against Brandon Thatch after taking a last-minute bout at welterweight. The No. 6-ranked lightweight can make a run at 170 pounds or remain a viable contender at 155 pounds if he so chooses. With that in mind, he would be an interesting challenge for Masvidal.
Masvidal is a technical striker and has elusive movement around the cage. He would have to stick and move against Henderson to avoid Smooth’s ability to score takedowns by overpowering his opponents. If Masvidal can keep moving while scoring with his boxing, this will be an opportunity to earn the biggest win of his career.
Tony Ferguson
2 of 5
Tony "El Cucuy" Ferguson is on a five-fight win streak. He’s facing Josh Thomson at UFC Fight Night 71. This is an opportunity for him to defeat a former champion and push his way into the Top 10 of the weight class. If he's victorious and Masvidal makes the move back down, this is a fight worth watching.
Ferguson uses a boxing-based game, much like Masvidal. However, they both have underrated grappling games that may come into play in this fight. It would be interesting to see which level the MMA game is played on, as both men are competent in every aspect of the sport.
Josh Thomson
3 of 5
As mentioned, Thomson is fighting Ferguson in July, which is an important bout for both men. Thomson is on a two-fight losing streak and needs this win to not only remain relevant, but perhaps remain in the sport as a whole. If he finds a way to defeat Ferguson, giving him a bout against Masvidal is a move in the right direction.
Thomson is another dynamic fighter who has crisp boxing and movement within his style. He doesn’t mix in the ground aspects of mixed martial arts too often and would perhaps struggle against a fighter who is as offensive-minded as Masvidal. However, the longer this fight is on the feet, the more exciting it would be for fight fans.
Gunnar Nelson
4 of 5
Gunnar Nelson is a highly touted grappler who is flying under the radar within the UFC. He recently defeated Thatch at UFC 189 to get back on the winning streak. He’s currently ranked No. 15 as a welterweight and would be a great way to introduce Masvidal to that group of competitors.
Masvidal would have the advantage on the feet in this contest. The question is whether Nelson can get the fight to the floor. If he was able to do so, Masvidal would be in a lot of trouble. However, Masvidal has shown ample takedown defense in past contests, which would be vital to him getting this win.
Matt Brown
5 of 5
Matt Brown is violence personified in the Octagon. The No. 5 welterweight continues to excite fans with the way he fights each time he’s in competition. Placing him against Masvidal would be the type of fight that would get fans and media experts excited just to watch, regardless of the outcome.
This would be a fight that would be contested on the feet. Masvidal called out Brown after his win on Sunday, and Brown was recently victorious over Tim Means at UFC 189. If UFC matchmakers listen to Masvidal, it would set up a fight with two men who stay in the pocket to exchange strikes. Brown would have the advantage in that area, but that doesn’t mean Masvidal does not have the skill set to walk out of the cage with a win.
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