Matches to Make After UFC on ESPN 48

UFC on ESPN 48 featured one of the most mystifying main event matchups in recent memory between Sean Strickland and Abusupiyan Magomedov. On the one hand was the reliable Top 10 middleweight contender Strickland, fighting for the seventh time in the last 14 months, calling to mind the always-ready Donald Cerrone. After being knocked out by a left hook in half a round by future champion Alex Pereira and losing a split decision to Jared Cannonier that could have gone either way, Strickland righted the ship by soundly outpointing talented young contender Nassourdine Imavov. On the other hand was Magomedov, who had spent a grand total of 19 seconds in the UFC. Not a champion in any other major promotion, Magomedov hadn't even fought since 2020 until recording a quick stoppage of Dustin Stoltzfus at UFC Fight Night Paris. No one knew what he had to offer as a late replacement for Kelvin Gastelum in the main event.

Magomedov started strong, first eye-poking Strickland and then winning the first round with textbook striking. However, he tired severely in the second stanza, leading to Strickland destroying him with a barrage of punches late in the round. It was the first stoppage in a UFC main event in six cards across nearly two months.

In the co-main, highly skilled veteran Damir Ismagulov battled the dangerous Grant Dawson. Ismagulov had started his UFC tenure a perfect 5-0, part of an amazing 19-fight winning streak, before being out-pointed by Arman Tsarukyan in December. Initially retiring, he came back against Dawson, who had yet to face defeat in the UFC, with seven wins and a draw at featherweight and lightweight. Dawson's last outing was a mixed bag. On the positive side, he submitted previously undefeated former Olympic silver medalist wrestler Mark Madsen in the third stanza, the biggest win of his career. On the downside, he missed weight by a significant 1.5 pounds, the second time he had done so in his UFC tenure. There were no disclaimers for Dawson this time, as he scored a pure triumph, utterly dominating Ismagulov with his grappling for 15 straight minutes, including a 10-8 opening stanza, garnering the easy judges' verdict.

Elsewhere, undefeated Michael Morales kept his perfect record intact despite his toughest test from Max Griffin. Griffin took the opening frame, but Morales won a pitched battle in the next two stanzas, edging out the cards 29-28 across the board. Here are several interesting battles that can be booked after “UFC Vegas 76.”

Sean Strickland vs. Derek Brunson

Strickland has been doing a fine impression of Donald Cerrone's anytime anywhere routine, so why not continue it against venerable contender Derek Brunson? Brunson is ranked #8, just one spot behind Strickland, and is an exciting foe win or lose, with a deadly left hand and excellent wrestling and ground-pound. Will Strickland out-strike him while stopping the takedown, or will Brunson score one last big victory in a terrific career either through his fists or grappling? I would love to see this one.

Grant Dawson vs. Mateusz Gamrot

Dawson decisively defeated No. 12 ranked Ismagulov and should finally get a crack at a top contender. Why not seventh-ranked Gamrot, who has won a highly controversial decision over No. 8 Arman Tsarukyan over 5 rounds and also won a close, though deserved verdict over No. 10 Jalin Turner? At 32, Gamrot will likely never be a top title contender, but he will be a fine test to see if the 29-year-old Dawson can be. This may seem like a big step up in the rankings, but Gamrot is a perfect 8-0-1 in the UFC. Records like that should be deserving of a serious contender.

Michael Morales vs. Randy Brown

Morales is a tremendously talented and exciting prospect, but his fight against Griffin showed he isn't a top fighter yet. At 24 years old, he still has plenty of time to develop and shouldn't be rushed. Thus, an excellent test would be skilled veteran Brown, who has won five of his last six, only being stopped by another blue-chip prospect in Jack Della Maddalena. Brown is a durable foe who has solid grappling with nice clinch takedowns and decent striking, which may test Morales in both areas. He will also give Morales a different look, being three inches taller and almost matching Morales' gargantuan 79” reach with his own wingspan measuring 78 inches. Lastly, this will be a fun fight for the crowd. Brown has never wilted from going toe-to-toe against an opponent, dangerous strikers included, being perfectly willing to go out on his shield, while sometimes inflicting the same on his foes.