The UFC kicked off their 2024 at the Apex in Las Vegas, with UFC Vegas 84 leaving Johnny Walker, Gabriel Benitez and others in need of regrouping. New year, same old story — it’s time to play matchmaker for the losing side of the Fight Night card!
Johnny Walker
Johnny Walker’s chin issues came back to haunt him in his rematch with Magomed Ankalaev in UFC Vegas 84’s main event. After holding his own in the first, the second round saw Walker unconscious on the canvas, ending his recent streak of success. His three fight winning streak before the first Ankalaev fight still got him into the top end of the light-heavyweight rankings, but he will need to string a few wins together now if he wants a title shot.
Now is the time for Walker to have another rematch, this time against Khalil Rountree Jr. In his UFC debut in 2018, Walker KOed Rountree in impressive fashion. Khalil has reinvented himself since then and strung together a long winning streak, like Johnny. He now finds himself ranked 8th at light-heavyweight and in position to fight a top contender like Walker.
Walker’s Next Fight: Khalil Rountree Jr. 2
Gabriel Benitez
Gabriel Benitez fell to 7-7 in the UFC when he lost to the ageless wonder Jim Miller in Saturday’s co-main event. Benitez has had a mostly successful UFC career, but has clearly slowed down with age and is now 2-5 in his last seven bouts. Every fight in the UFC lightweight division is difficult, and that will not change in Benitez’s next outing.
Yet there are other matchups out there which may be more winnable, such as Yanal Ashmouz. Ashmouz is 1-1 in the UFC, and youth against experience would be the narrative going into this fight. If Benitez loses this one, then his job may start to be in jeopardy. Similarly, Ashmouz will need to stay above the .500 line in order to start his UFC run off right.
Benitez’s Next Fight: Yanal Ashmouz
Ricky Simon
Ricky Simon lost his second fight in a row, falling to Mario Bautista by decision, at UFC Vegas 84 on Saturday. After a five-fight winning streak got Ricky into the top fifteen at bantamweight, this second loss in a row may send him out of the rankings entirely after coming into the fight ranked thirteenth. Even if he holds onto a number next to his name he will have to fight another unranked challenger next.
One of the hottest rising prospects at bantamweight right now also fought on this card, as a matter of fact. Farid Basharat impressed as he outdueled fellow talented prospect Taylor Lapilus to a decision victory. Farid, just like his brother, is undefeated in the UFC and as a professional, and is one of the fighters who may be deserving of a shot at a ranked opponent. His well-rounded style also perfectly compliments Simon’s, which should make for a diverse and entertaining fight between them, just like Simon vs Bautista.
Simon’s Next Fight: Farid Basharat
Phil Hawes
Phil Hawes is an enormously talented wrestler and a good technical striker at his best. He generally has a good game plan for his fights, but when he fights hard hitters it all comes undone because of his inability to absorb the biggest shots. He has been knocked out in all but one of his career losses, many of which he was winning until an opponent was able to catch him off-guard.
Due to his skills, Hawes would be an excellent coach, and after this recent fight there were many figures calling for him to retire and become just that. He has now been knocked out three times in a row, and four times in his last five fights. All of those losses have come in the first round and its getting to a point where its uncomfortable, because fans know what to expect and the shots are hurting him worse each time. Phil crying on the mat after waking up from being unconscious added to the discomfort. Phil Hawes can have a great career in martial arts, but it is time to think about retiring from being an active fighter.
Hawes’ Next Fight: Retirement
Andrei Arlovski
Andrei Arlovski is impressing a lot of people by still showing up and collecting a sizable paycheck at forty-four years of age in the UFC’s heaviest division, but that does not mean his fights are worth that bill to the promotion. As recently as 2022 he was on a winning streak, but now after three losses in a row where he did not put on a good performance it is time for him, too, to think about retirement. With his expensive contract the UFC also will be thinking about cutting him – if it financially makes sense.
There are a series of heavyweights who the former champion could potentially compete against however, such as Chris Barnett. Barnett always puts on a show with his wild style and fun personality, and it may be just what is needed to inject some life into an Arlovski fight.
Arlovski’s Next Fight: Chris Barnett
