Five Bouts To Make For Irish UFC Fighters

After Joseph Duffy got a wonderful knockout against Jake Lindsey in his UFC debut this past Saturday night he became the fifth Irish fighter in the UFC awaiting a match up, with Conor McGregor, Ais Daly and Cathal Pendred all having opponents scheduled for the coming months. So what better time to step into the shoes of Joe Silva and Sean Shelby to pick out who could be next for the three Dubs and two Ulstermen currently without a next face to stick on the dartboard.

5 – Paul Redmond vs. Jim Alers

After a short notice featherweight debut in January against Mirsad Bektic, Paul Redmond will be looking to make a statement in his next outing by coming in on weight and performing up to the level he has shown he is capable of on the European circuit in the last few years. Against former Cage Warriors champion Jim Alers, Redmond would be up against a solid athlete who was a stand-out in his time fighting on this side of the pond and who is also coming off of a loss. It would be another tough test for “Redser” but a good match of styles which could make for a really exciting battle if it hit the ground.

4 – Paddy Holohan vs. Wilson Reis

Now 2-1 in the UFC and with a growing reputation amongst both the fans and the UFC brass, it could be time for a Paddy Holohan step up against a ranked opponent. In steps Wilson Reis. The Brazilian is currently #13 in the UFC rankings and, having fought Holohan’s teammate Owen Roddy in 2012, is already known to Irish fans. Like the Roddy fight, this match up has the makings of another barn burner in all areas.

3 – Norman Parke vs. Joe Lauzon

After disappointing performances from both men in their last respective fights, and an ongoing Twitter beef between the pair, this fight seems like a no-brainer to make. Parke is bordering on the UFC top 20 after a good start to his UFC career while Lauzon is probably at a similar level on his way down. Parke has been looking for an exciting fight after a few aesthetically not-so-pretty opponents and, bonus addict, Lauzon would fit that bill perfectly.

2 – Joseph Duffy vs. Beneil Dariush

UFC 185, this past weekend, was an unbelievably stacked card with high level championship level fighters throughout – and that made these two lightweight prospects standing out even more impressive. Duffy was quick to get the KO while Dariush demolished his opponent before getting the submission in the second. The timing is perfect to match them up and with lightweight being the most competitive of all the divisions, it isn’t unusual for two top prospects to be matched.

1 – Neil Seery vs. Ali Bagautinov

Just like Holohan, Neil Serry is also 2-1 in the UFC after putting on two fantastic wining displays ina row which have quickly turned him into a fan favourite. Since he signed for the UFC, Seery has asked for a big step up in challenge and a fight with former title challenger Ali Bagautinov (who returns from suspension this summer) is just that. On the feet this one could be an absolute war as both men love to throw bombs while on the floor the massively active Seery will force the Russian to be active.