Dustin Poirier was able to win a unanimous decision victory over Dan Hooker in the main event of UFC on ESPN 12. Meanwhile in the co-main event, we witnessed Mike Perry, with just his girlfriend in his corner, earn himself a unanimous decision victory against Mickey Gall. Today we will look into what’s next for the cast of UFC on ESPN 12.
Dustin Poirier
This fight was Poirier’s first fight back since losing to UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in September of 2019. Poirier outworked Dan Hooker in the later rounds of their main event bout this past Saturday night. Pushing him one step closer to challenging for the lightweight title once again. Next in line for that title is Justin Gaethje so a perfect fight to make for the end of the year would be Poirier versus Tony Ferguson who just lost to Gaethje in his last fight. It’s a fight that is gaining traction as ESPN’s Ariel Helwani tweeted after the fight that this should be the match to make.
Poirier’s Next Fight: Tony Ferguson
Dan Hooker
Although he lost this past Saturday, Dan Hooker should have no trouble finding his next fight because lightweight is absolutely stacked right now. Paul Felder even tweeted after the fight that he would come out of retirement and return to the UFC to fight either man in Saturday’s main event. Hoooker’s best options seem to be a rematch with Paul Felder or taking on fellow rising prospect Charles Oliveira.
Both fights come with great opportunity and risk. For people who believe in superstitions, anyone who has ever beat Paul Felder has lost their next fight. If Hooker believes in this, a Felder fight could be a lose-lose situation. If he wins the possibility of him losing his next fight looms, and if he looses it just pushes him further back in the rankings. Oliveira is no less dangerous however. A win over Oliveira could help him a little in the rankings. A loss would send him tumbling down the ladder.
Hooker’s Next Fight: Charles Oliveira
Mike Perry
Mike Perry shocked the world on Saturday night by only having his girlfriend in his corner. No coaches no teammates just his Latory Gonzalez telling him that “you’re doing great.” It seemed to work as he was able to get a decision win over Micky Gall. Perry made a statement after the fight that he wants to get teammates and a team in due time. It is being said that American Top Team in Florida is opening their doors to Perry after Perry said he wanted to train with Yoel Romaro. If Perry decides to stay at welterweight we would like to seem him fight Diego Sanchez next.
Sanchez was the last man to beat Gall before Perry did so on Saturday. This makes for a great match-up as we just witnessed Perry out grapple and overpower Gall on the ground. Gall, who is a black belt in Jiujitsu. We can tell Perry has improved his grappling so a good test for his grappling would be Diego Sanchez. That along with the fact that almost nobody except for Sanchez is as crazy as Perry makes for an insane build-up and fight.
Perry’s Next Fight: Diego Sanchez
Who do you think these fighters should be fighting next? Let us know in the comment section down below.
