Ultimate Fighting Championship continued its busy May with its
latest card from the Meta Apex. Main eventing
UFC Vegas 117 was an exciting featherweight contender fight
between Arnold
Allen and Melquizael
Costa. The 13-fight card also featured key bouts that will
impact the bantamweight and light heavyweight divisions going
forward.
Here are the matches to make for the top five UFC Vegas 117
winners.
Arnold
Allen vs. Lerone
Murphy
Allen (21-4) got back into the win column by showing Costa (27-7)
that there are levels to mixed martial arts. With the win,”Almighty” is now 2-1 in his last three fights and there’s no
denying he’s a contender despite recent losses to Jean Silva,
Movsar
Evloev and Max
Holloway. I’d like to see the English fighter take on his
fellow countryman next in Murphy. “The Iceman” came up short in a
title eliminator to Movsar
Evloev but had won nine straight UFC fights prior to the loss.
Whoever emerges victorious will be in a great spot and just a few
fights away from another opportunity to earn a 145-pound title
shot.
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UFC Vegas 117 ‘Allen vs. Costa’ round-by-round scoring
Doo
Ho Choi vs. Sean
Woodson
“The Korean Superboy” extended his UFC win streak to three straight
fights at the expense of Daniel
Santos. Choi (17-4-1) showed off some
vicious body punches en route to the TKO victory. At 35,
there’s no time to waste, so let’s have the Korean knockout artist
take on Woodson next. “The Sniper” is coming off a loss to Dan Ige but had
put together four-straight wins prior to the setback. Woodson
(13-2-1) is always dangerous and would be a great test to see if
Choi can become a contender.
Juan
Diaz vs. Rinya
Nakamura
The hype train behind Malcolm
Wellmaker was further derailed by Diaz, who
tapped the bantamweight with a tight rear-naked choke. It was
an impressive UFC debut for Diaz (16-1-1), who is just 27.”Pegajoso” has earned a fight against another skilled 135er, such
as Japan’s Nakamura. “Hybrid” is 10-1 as a pro and has gone 4-1
since entering the UFC. A dangerous wrestler, Nakamura would test
how well-rounded Diaz is and it’d be a great learning experience
for both fighters.
Modestas
Bukauskas vs. Dustin
Jacoby
It wasn’t overly exciting, but Bukauskas turned away short-notice
UFC newcomer Christian
Edwards in a 215-pound catchweight fight. “The Baltic
Gladiator” will be moving back to light heavyweight after the split
decision victory, and he deserves another tough test as he’s won
five of his last six fights. I’d like to see the 32-year-old take
on another UFC vet in Jacoby next. “The Hanyak” has won three
straight fights, with knockouts of Julius
Walker, Bruno Lopes
and Vitor
Petrino being recently added to his resume. Jacoby (22-9-1) has
the hard-hitting power to make Bukauskas have to really work for a
victory, so let’s see who has more left in the tank.
Bernardo
Sopai vs. Santiago
Luna
Sopai made easy work of Timothy
Cuamba, who he battered with punches before
locking in a rear-naked choke for the submission victory. Just
25, Sopai (13-3) is now 2-1 inside the Octagon after losing his
promotional debut to Vinicius
Oliveira. I’d like to see the Swedish fighter take on another
young prospect next. Mexico’s Luna fits the bill nicely. 8-0 as a
pro, “Borderboy” is coming off UFC wins against Quang Le and
Angel
Pacheco. It’d be the biggest fight yet for the 21-year-old, and
whoever emerges victorious would be cemented as one to watch at
bantamweight.