UFC 192 was filled with important fights - for champions, contenders and prospects alike. With the results now officially in the books, it’s time to do some armchair matchmaking for the fighters. We’ve thrown in some projected odds for these matchups, but you can also check out our sportsbook now to bet on currently scheduled fights.
Let’s get to it.
DANIEL CORMIER vs. RYAN BADER
PROJECTED ODDS: Cormier at -220, Bader at +175
If and when Jon Jones is reinstated by the UFC, he’ll obviously leapfrog Bader as the rightful “No. 1” contender to rematch Cormier. But with his timetable still unknown, Bader makes the most sense right now. The pair already hate each other, with Bader infamously crashing one of Cormier’s press conferences and nearly coming to blows.
What’s more, “Darth” is on a five fight winning streak that includes wins over top guys like Ovince St. Preux, Phil Davis and Rashad Evans. Even before UFC 192, DC publicly stated that the Power MMA representative is the most deserving title challenger at 205. That viewpoint is even stronger now after Bader cruised through Evans.
ALEXANDER GUSTAFFSON vs. RASHAD EVANS
PROJECTED ODDS: Gustaffson at -250, Evans at +190
Both men lost their respective bouts this past Saturday, and each have good reason to face each other. For former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans, it would be a chance to chalk up a lackluster appearance to ring rust and prove that he still belongs in the title picture. Beating Gustaffson, who pushed both Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier to the brink, would give him more than enough credibility to keep facing top-10 fighters.
Despite coming out on the wrong end of a split decision, Gustaffson’s stock drops minimally, if at all. The Swede was a clear underdog going into the bout, nearly pulled off an upset before running out of gas. If he can convincingly beat Evans, his status as a top-4 contender would be safe.
SAGE NORTHCUTT vs. NATE DIAZ
PROJECTED ODDS: Northcutt at +300, Diaz at -325
I know, I know, a fighter of Nate Diaz’ caliber is too much, too soon for the young Northcutt. But it would be fascinating to watch the mean-mugging Diaz in the prefight buildup against the ridiculously positive Northcutt. The 19-year old has an electric arsenal of strikes, off-the-charts athleticism and a youthful charisma that seems destined for stardom. It’s likely the UFC builds him up slowly, which is a good thing, meaning he’ll probably get matched up against a mid-tier guy with some name recognition - maybe a guy like Cole Miller would do.
RUSLAN MAGOMEDOV vs. MATT MITRIONE
PROJECTED ODDS: Magomedov at -110, Mitrione at -140
At 28 years old, Magomedov is a baby in the context of the aging heavyweight division. After notching the most significant victory of his career against Shawn Jordan, it’s time to see how he’d fare against a top-15 opponent. Mitrione is exactly the type of hard-hitting fighter that would force the sometimes passive Magomedov to fight, and how he responds to that adversity would say a lot about his ceiling.
JULIANNA PENA vs. ALEXIS DAVIS
PROJECTED ODDS: Pena at +120, Davis at -110
The bantamweight is in always in need of challengers for Ronda Rousey. Pena isn’t there yet, but she deserves a top-5 opponent after handling Jessica Eye with ease. Davis is a victim of Rousey’s, and as a former title challenger she has some credibility in the division. If Pena, unbeaten in three octagon appearances, can put away Davis, she’d be just a fight or two away from a title challenge.
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