Justin Gaethje, UFC 291 media day Credit score: Eddie Regulation/Cageside Press
Dan Hooker was sadly compelled out of his battle with Justin Gaethje on March eighth at UFC 313. It was set to be a 5-round co-main occasion and one of the extremely anticipated fights on the upcoming UFC schedule. With the cardboard not having an apparent battle that may function the brand new co-main occasion, all indicators level in direction of the promotion discovering a alternative as a substitute of simply re-booking it at a later date. In that case, who ought to Justin Gaethje in lower than two weeks? Listed here are who I consider to be the 5 absolute best choices on the market.
Joel Alvarez
The Spaniard has quietly been one of the thrilling lightweights within the UFC ever since he got here in. His solely losses got here in opposition to Damir Ismagulov in his promotional debut and to present number one contender Arman Tsarukyan. He finds himself on a three-fight win streak and coming off a spectacular end of Drakkar Klose in December. He’s precisely the kind of fighter the followers would like to see face the perfect of the division.
Nonetheless, there are explanation why he sits at quantity 5 on this listing and never increased. He’s been rumoured to be preventing Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 315 in Could; so there could also be explanation why he’s taking a look at a return in spring, making March eighth a non-option for him. He’s additionally at the moment unranked, which could make it laborious for the UFC to persuade Gaethje to take that battle. Lastly, he must weigh-in in 9 days, and he has had hassle making 155 kilos up to now, even with the one-pound allowance.
Jean Silva
“Didn’t Jean Silva just a few days ago?” He certain did, however that hasn’t stopped him up to now.
Apart from coaching at Combating Nerds and having completed each UFC battle he’s been in, the most important purpose Silva made a reputation for himself final yr was due to what he did in the summertime. He knocked out Charles Jourdain at featherweight on June twenty ninth, then proceeded to get a health care provider’s stoppage win over Drew Dober at light-weight on July thirteenth. That could be a 14-day turnaround, exactly what could be requested of him once more, right here. The quick discover recreation is less complicated to play for unranked fighters as a result of the stakes are totally different, which means Silva remains to be within the place the place he may settle for this co-main occasion alternative in opposition to a fan-favourite and nonetheless see his inventory go up within the occasion of a loss.
There’s quite a bit to achieve right here for Silva, it might simply be a matter of whether or not his physique will permit him one other fast turnaround. Nobody would blame him for turning this down. His smaller dimension and larger title may make it simpler for the UFC to persuade Gaethje to just accept the Silva battle than the Alvarez one.
Mateusz Gamrot
Not the sexiest of picks, however one which does make extra meritocratic sense than the primary two. Gamrot, sitting at #8, preventing #3 Gaethje regardless of coming off a loss could be unusual. Nonetheless, he was unbeaten in three consecutive bouts earlier than that. Weirdly sufficient, this wouldn’t be the primary time Gamrot has bailed the UFC out after Hooker pulled out of a battle as he got here in on quick discover to defeat Jalin Turner at UFC 285. Gamrot was additionally the official backup at UFC 294 when Charles Oliveira pulled out ten days earlier than the occasion and he was nonetheless handed over by the promotion. It would time for the UFC to do him a stable, now. Moreover, Gamrot’s battle with Hooker final August was not solely completely entertaining, however an especially shut cut up choice that really may’ve gone both method. So in a way, he was one spherical on one decide’s scorecard away from doubtlessly discovering himself on this spot anyway.
On the Gaethje aspect of issues, he’s spent his whole coaching getting ready for Hooker. Gamrot’s type is such a large distinction that nobody would fault him for no less than asking for a striker in trade for staying on the cardboard and saving the occasion.
Renato Moicano
Moicano, who has already thrown his title within the hat on social media, finds himself in an analogous spot to Gamrot. He’s additionally coming off a loss and ranked fairly just a few spots under Gaethje. The Brazilian has accomplished a superb job rising his title among the many fanbase on social media. He now has a a lot larger presence within the sport than the Polish fighter. Regardless of additionally being a grappling-first fighter, it’s his stature that will give him an edge within the Gaethje sweepstakes.
Enjoyable reality: Nearly three years in the past to the day, Moicano was accepting a brief discover battle to avoid wasting a Pay-Per-View co-main occasion in March.
Rafael Fiziev
The person they name “Ataman” was the one Moicano was filling in for 3 years in the past. Wouldn’t or not it’s excellent if this time it was Fiziev’s flip to come back in on quick discover? He was the primary to hop on social media to say he could make the date.
Fiziev suffered an unlucky leg harm in his major occasion in opposition to Gamrot in September of 2023. It was an unsatisfying and inconclusive ending to the battle; nobody actually sees it as a loss on his report. Earlier than then, he misplaced a majority choice to Gaethje himself. Nonetheless, what lots of people neglect is that Fiziev was poked badly within the eye, a foul that clearly affected him, but no level was taken. Most significantly, regardless of the attention poke, 10 of the 27 media members scored that battle for Fiziev on mmadecisions.
Fiziev has been vocal about his restoration being completed and has been fishing for fights because the fall. What we’ve on our arms is an thrilling, hungry contender in his prime who was on a six-fight win streak earlier than a disputable choice loss and an harm stoppage. He’s by far essentially the most deserving of any of the potential names on the market. Their first assembly received ‘Fight of the Night’ honours and I’m certain Justin Gaethje, of all folks, wouldn’t thoughts one other bonus on his report. Let’s run it again, this time for 5 rounds.
