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MOORE: Top Fights to Make After UFC Fight Night 50 "Jacare vs. Mousasi II"
Sep 6, 2014 - 8:00:23 PM MOORE: Top Fights to Make After UFC Fight Night 50 "Jacare vs. Mousasi II"

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By: Dan Moore, MMATorch UK Columnist

UFC Fight Night 50 was a thoroughly enjoyable main card, and the bitter taste of UFC 177 has finally disappeared. Compared to last week, choosing fights to make this week was a walk in the park. There were plenty of choices, and several of the fighters below have at least two or three really good options that make sense.


MAIN CARD WINNERS


RONALDO SOUZA (21-3 1 NC, 4-0 UFC) - Another world class performance from Ronaldo Souza, and finally revenge for the loss to Gegard Mousasi back in 2008. This is a man who poses a serious threat to the reign of Chris Weidman, more so than the man who goes next. Watching Jacare do his thing on the mat is a joy to behold. He's dominant, dangerous, and always one quick move away from getting the win.

Jacare is a machine and the UFC would be crazy to not book him in a fight against the winner of the title fight between Weidman and Belfort. Dana White won't confirm his status as No. 1 contender, but there's no one out there as deserving. Admittedly he's going to have to wait a while, and plenty of things could go wrong, but no point wondering about ifs, buts, and maybes. Give Jacare his title shot and let him do the rest.

Next Fight vs. Winner of CHRIS WEIDMAN vs. VITOR BELFORT


BEN ROTHWELL (34-9, 5-3 UFC) - Barely anyone gave him a chance, and he rammed it right in the face of not only Alistair Overeem, but everyone who doubted him. A fired up Ben Rothwell is a fun guy to watch. He looks and moves like he lives on his couch drinking Duff beer during a training camp, but the man can certainly hit hard and do damage.

Post fight reports of a broken arm seem premature, but there's still damage that will need to heal. He's almost certainly going to be highly ranked after this win and there are plenty of potential opponents. A rematch with the winner of Nelson vs. Hunt sounds good, or preferably Stipe Miocic providing the UFC doesn't book him against Junior dos Santos next.

Next Fight vs. STIPE MIOCIC


MATT MITRIONE (8-3, 8-3 UFC) - When Mitrione has a purpose and an opponent to motivate him, he's a different fighter who's thoroughly enjoyable to watch. It also helps when his opponent has nothing else in his locker other than to stand and brawl. I'm talking about you, Derrick Lewis.

Mitrione is never going to be good enough to challenge the best in this division, but he's a valuable asset to keep around. He's a popular guy, and most of his fights don't get past the first round, which is what we all want to see from the big guys. 

The winner of Rosholt vs. Oliynyk is where Mitrione's level is at right now, but they don't fight until late November. If Mitrione wants to fight again this year, Anthony Hamilton is ready and waiting in the small pool of available heavyweights who aren't ranked, and are therefore beatable by Mitrione.

Next Fight vs. ANTHONY HAMILTON


JOE LAUZON (24-9, 11-6 UFC) - Lauzon is now the all time record holder for most fight bonus honors in the UFC. Incredibly he's received bonuses on thirteen separate occasions, and after last night, that took him ahead of Anderson Silva. He is value for money every time he steps into the Octago,n and is a stellar challenge for any talented up and comers who see him as a stepping stone.

If the cut above Michael Chiesa's eye was caused accidentally, I'd have no hesitation in suggesting a rematch. However, it was caused by Lauzon's knee, and it was delivered with intent. I have no argument with anything that happened. It's a shame it stopped when it did, because I wanted it to go on and on. Great fight, but Chiesa got beat, end of story.

It won't surprise me in the slightest if the UFC book this fight again, but I prefer they don't. I wrote last week that Tony Ferguson deserves a step-up in talent, and I still believe a fight with Lauzon makes sense. There's no reason to doubt Lauzon and Ferguson can win 'Fight of the Night' honors in their own right.

Next Fight vs. TONY FERGUSON


PRELIMINARY CARD WINNERS


JOHN MORAGA (15-3, 4-2 UFC) - Second best for the early phases of his fight, and Moraga pulls that out of the bag. Justin Scoggins didn't heed the warning when Moraga almost choked him out in the first round. It only takes a second to undo minutes of good work, and Scoggins showed his inexperience. Fair play to Moraga for staying composed enough to take full advantage of a small weakness he targeted from the start.

Moraga wants to fight in Phoenix later this year, and unless he picked up an injury last night, there's no other reason why that shouldn't happen. Everyone above him in the rankings save Jussier Formiga is either already committed to a fight or injured. Ian McCall or John Lineker will fight Demetrious Johnson next, and the winner of Moraga vs. Formiga would stand a good chance to go after.

Next Fight vs. JUSSIER FORMIGA


NOTABLE LOSERS


GEGARD MOUSASI (35-5-2, 2-2 UFC) - Mousasi always looks like he would rather be anywhere else other than inside the cage. Last night it was more apparent then ever. At one stage I thought Mousasi was going to get out his travel pillow and take a quick nap.

It's like he knew Jacare would take him down and submit him sooner or later, so exhausting excessive energy just wasn't worth the bother. That's a 50% win rate in the UFC, and a bang on his head where he's hit his ceiling. Mousasi is destined to be too good for most, and not good enough for the very best.

In a division that has Francis Carmont as a ranked fighter, there's no chance of him dropping too far down the ladder of relevance. If he takes some time off, the loser of Michael Bisping vs. Luke Rockhold sounds good as a next opponent. C.B. Dollaway, Costas Philippou, and Thales Leites could all do with a big name next but those names probably aren't big enough for Mousasi to get motivated.

Next Fight vs. Loser of LUKE ROCKHOLD vs. MICHAEL BISPING


ALISTAIR OVEREEM (37-14 1 NC, 2-3 UFC) - Barring the first round win over a spent Brock Lesnar, the dividend return from Overeem has been embarrassingly small for the UFC. This was supposed to be the fight that started him off on a winning run, yet it all ended in tears for the Dutchman.

The amount of money he is currently earning doesn't equate to good value. Overeem needs to pull his finger out and bounce back with a win. Name value alone means he is a high value target and the risk/reward ratio is favoring reward for any fighter in need of a big scalp. A fight with the loser of the Roy Nelson vs. Mark Hunt fight at UFC Fight Night 52 would be entertaining, but I'm not putting any money on Overeem winning it.

Next Fight vs. Loser of ROY NELSON vs. MARK HUNT


JUSTIN SCOGGINS (9-2, 2-2 UFC) - Scoggins is a real talent, but you can't buy experience, and it cost him dearly last night. He was comfortably beating John Moraga, didn't learn his lesson from an earlier scare, then took the bait all over again before being submitted.

After two frustrating losses against ranked opponents, it's time to take things back to basics. At only 22 years old, there's plenty of time and potential for Scoggins to eventually make his mark. Either Paddy Holohan or Louis Gaudinot will provide tricky opposition next, but Scoggins is more than good enough to avoid a hat-trick of defeats.

Next Fight vs. Loser of PATRICK HOLOHAN vs. LOUIS GAUDINOT


I'm back for another 'Fights to Make' article next weekend after UFC Fight Night 51: Silva vs. Arlovski

Follow me on Twitter, @MMATorchDan