UFC Vegas 94 wasn’t exactly blowing anyone’s socks off on paper, and the preliminary card opened with a string of fights going the distance – but then the main card arrived, producing five finishes in six bouts, and four Performance of the Night bonuses. Among them, Virna Jandiroba cashed in for putting away fellow Brazilian standout and former title challenger Amanda Lemos. Where does that leave Jandiroba, a former Invicta FC champ? We’ll do our best to play matchmaker.
Virna Jandiroba
After her dominant win over fellow countrywoman Amanda Lemos on Saturday, BJJ black belt Jandiroba called for her title shot. After four straight wins, she deserves it. Champ Zhang Weili has been largely dominant in her second reign but a slick grappler like Virna, who can finish the fight suddenly from a variety of positions, presents a new and interesting challenge.
Jandiroba’s Next Fight: Zhang Weili
Steve Garcia
Steve Garcia ran roughshod over South Korea’s Seung Woo Choi in the UFC Vegas 94 co-main event, improving his UFC record to 5-2 with all wins coming by KO/TKO. After a four-fight winning streak he deserves his shot at a fringe ranked opponent. Nate ‘the Train’ Landwehr is such an opponent and also possesses a similar willful recklessness that creates insane fights. Putting him with Garcia, who has the same trait, seems like a surefire ‘Fight of the Night.’
Garcia’s Next Fight: Nate Landwehr
Kurt Holobaugh
Kurt ‘the Hurt’ had a rough start to his second stint in the UFC after re-entering the promotion by winning ‘The Ultimate Fighter,’ but he rebounded from his loss to Trey Ogden with a valiant victory over Kaynan Kruchewsky at the Apex.
Holobaugh is not going to be challenging for lightweight gold anytime soon but is a great entertainment piece in the division. Pitting him up against fellow veterans, like Michael Johnson, for fun fights is the perfect route to go down.
Holobaugh’s Next Fight: Michael Johnson
Bruno Silva
Bruno Silva was getting his butt handed to him by Cody Durden before launching a brilliant uppercut that changed the trajectory of both of their careers. Now with four wins on the trot, all by finish which is a huge accomplishment at flyweight, Silva is likely to take over Durden’s #14 flyweight ranking.
Matheus Nicolau is ranked tenth in the division and is coming off of two losses which ended his six-fight winning streak. Having lost by knockout in his last two fights, he will have to adjust against a big hitter like Bruno, but Silva will also have to change his approach after Cody Durden was able to beat him comprehensively for a round-and-a-half.
Silva’s Next Fight: vs Matheus Nicolau
Doo-ho Choi
‘The Korean Superboy,’ best known for his Hall of Fame fight with Cub Swanson, got his first win in eight years on Saturday. A three-fight losing streak had begun it, but he has also not lost since 2019; his mandatory South Korean military service and a draw with Kyle Nelson last year occupied him since then.
Now with a win under his belt against a skilled fighter like Bill Algo, Choi can fight almost anyone unranked in the division. One fun one would be him against budding prospect Fernando Padilla, who is also must-watch TV every time he competes. If Choi can derail the hype train then he might pick up some stream of his own.
Choi’s Next Fight: Fernando Padilla
Hyder Amil
Hyder Amil, and his combat partner Jeong Yeong Lee, shocked the world when they swung at each other with zero regard for their own safety in the fight that opened UFC Vegas 94’s main card. Amil absorbed some crazy shots and went on to finish Lee, earning $50,000 extra dollars in the process.
Now at 2-0 in the UFC (10-0 overall) Hyder can face a fighter like Muhammad Naimov. The Tajik fighter was in the same spot as him not long ago, having won his first few UFC fights, but a loss to Felipe Lima halted his momentum. A well-rounded martial artist like Naimov would also just be an appropriate test for Amil, and has a similar level of experience under his belt.
Amil’s Next Fight: Muhammad Naimov
