What’s Next For The Losers At UFC Boise?

What’s Next For The Losers At UFC Boise?

By Alex Conway

Blagoy Ivanov

I wouldn’t call Blagoy Ivanov’s UFC debut a disappointment simply because he was fighting a former champion whose last fight was a title fight defeat to the recently disposed Stipe Miocic. Junior dos Santos would be a tall order for any fighter at any time, let alone for Ivanov in his promotional debut.

The only criticism that could be lobbed Ivanov’s way is that he got away from the style of fighting that he had made his name on for American audiences in World Series of Fighting. We didn’t see a ton of his aggressive attacking style against the measured striking of dos Santos. We didn’t even see any grappling from the guy who once beat Fedor Emelianenko in combat sambo. The former champ was able to manage the distance and pace of the fight and Ivanov was unable to do anything to really disrupt it.

I’d like to see Ivanov take on an action fighter in his next outing, someone who will allow UFC fans to see why the promotion was willing to sign and throw Ivanov into a main event his first time out. I’d go with Justin Willis or Chase Sherman for Ivanov because both of those guys like to get busy and it would be a fun stylistic matchup for the Bulgarian.

Zak Ottow

Ottow looked good until it was all over. Ottow was able to work from top control most of the first round and was able to push the young Sage Northcutt around and up against the cage.

But then Ottow got too predictable in rushing in and Northcutt was able to catch him with a jab that stunned Ottow and once the vet hit the ground, Northcutt was able to finish him off with hammer-fists.

Ottow is a serviceable test for any rising prospect in the UFC’s welterweight division. A fight with fellow Boise Idaho participant Randy Brown would make sense.

Dennis Bermudez

It wasn’t that long ago that Dennis Bermudez was a finalist on The Ultimate Fighter and was one of the bright young prospects in the UFC’s featherweight division.

Now the former top 10 featherweight is riding a four-fight losing streak and fading fast in the increasingly crowded 145-pound ranks.

Bermudez was never completely outgunned against Rick Glenn in his split decision loss, and that’s been the case for most of his losses, so it’s hard to say what exactly isn’t going right for the New Yorker.

Maybe a high-profile fight against an exciting prospect like DooHo Choi would get Bermudez ignited again. There is a good chance he gets knocked out, but the idea of that happening might force him into a do-or-die situation career wise that brings out the best in Bermudez.

Randy Brown

The former Dana White Lookin for a Fight fighter ended up on Niko Price’s highlight reel. Brown got stuck in an awkward entanglement during a grappling exchange in the second round. What looked like a leg lock attempt turned into a chance for Price to throw punches at Brown’s exposed face while Brown was attempting to free his legs.
This led to Brown ending up unconscious and referee Herb Dean calling off the action.

Brown had won three of his last four including a win over Mickey Gall last November at Madison Square Garden. The UFC is returning to New York again this November and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Queens native take up shop on that card.

I believe a fight with Erick Silva or Max Griffin would be a nice rebound fight for Brown. Someone with a name that is a manageable task would suit him fine.

Myles Jury

Myles Jury was on the wrong end of the Chad Mendes redemption story, suffering a first round knockout at the hands of the former featherweight title challenger.

It’s Jury’s first loss at 145 pounds, and even though Jury has largely been a successful fighter during his UFC tenure, he hasn’t been especially active.

If he’s looking to get back at it quickly and make a run at the title, he’ll need a high-profile rebound fight. Even though he was buried on the prelims and lost his fight against Alexander Volkanovski, Darren Elkins has amassed a quiet cult following after wins over Michael Johnson and Mirsad Bektic among others.

A scrap between Jury and Elkins would put the winner of that potential matchup back on track in a hurry.

Marion Reneau

The 41-year-old Reneau had been impressive in her last few fights, with a submission victory late in her last fight against Sara McMann as the crown jewel.

Her four-fight unbeaten streak came to an end when she lost a unanimous decision to Cat Zingano Saturday night. Reneau was too content to play the game off her back and Zingano was able to do enough to take the judge’s scorecards and move forward in the division.

Reneau is fortunate that the bantamweight division is thin. It also appears that current UFC bantamweight queen Amanda Nunes won’t be defending her title anytime soon as it seems she’ll be fighting for the featherweight title next against Cris Cyborg, with that fight possibly taking place as late as December.

By the time Nunes returns to 135 pounds, Reneau should have gotten a fight or two in and had the chance to get back on a winning streak. A fight with Germaine de Randamie or Lina Lansberg look like good opportunities to get a winnable fight for the schoolteacher from California.