Every Monday after an MMA fight weekend, The Post’s Marc Raimondi will take a look at the next potential matchup for the fighters who competed.
This week, he breaks down the competitors from Saturday’s UFC on FX 8: Vitor Belfort vs. Luke Rockhold.
VITOR BELFORT (def. Luke Rockhold via first-round KO)
Belfort might be on TRT, but his résumé at this point is inarguable. He’s knocked out Michael Bisping and Luke Rockhold this year, finishing two of the top contenders in the middleweight division. No one else at 185 pounds can boast that, which means one thing – it’s time for another title shot.
Since 2007, Belfort has only lost to middleweight champion Anderson Silva and light heavyweight champ Jon Jones. Though he was KO’d by Silva with a highlight reel front kick, a rematch would be marketable, that is if Silva is able to beat Long Island’s Chris Weidman in July. The real question is where will Belfort fight next. The Nevada State Athletic Commission likely will not give him a TRT exemption.
Monday Matchmaker’s pick: Anderson Silva-Chris Weidman winner
LUKE ROCKHOLD (lost to Vitor Belfort via first-round KO)
Want to know who was the best middleweight not in the UFC over the last few years? Matching up Rockhold with former Bellator champion Hector Lombard would be a fantasy fight. Rockhold is still just 28, very versatile and technically sound. He should remain near the top of the division for quite some time. A win over Lombard would put him right back in title contention. Plus, it would be an intriguing standup battle.
Monday Matchmaker’s pick: Hector Lombard
RONALDO SOUZA (def. Chris Camozzi via first-round submission)
Souza’s jiu-jitsu is the great equalizer against anyone in the division. And the most intriguing matchup for him at middleweight is someone who will probably want to get him to the ground. Yushin Okami is a suffocating grappler. But how will he fair against someone with the explosive submissions of Souza. That is an incredibly interesting stylistic matchup, especially given that it’s likely to end up on the canvas.
Monday Matchmaker’s pick: Yushin Okami
RAFAEL DOS ANJOS (def. Evan Dunham via unanimous decision)
No, dos Anjos probably didn’t deserve to win Saturday night. But the judges saw something other onlookers didn’t. It wasn’t like the Brazilian was outclasses by Dunham – it was a close fight – but he was beaten to the punch multiple times. There are plenty of entertaining fights for him in the loaded lightweight division. Pat Healy is coming off a win over Jim Miller that was turned into a no contest when he tested positive for marijuana. Healy-dos Anjos makes sense as two guys on the upswing with asterisks next to their last fights.
Monday Matchmaker’s pick: Pat Healy