Every Monday after an MMA fight weekend, The Post’s Marc Raimondi will take a look at the next potential matchup for the fighters who competed.
This week, he breaks down the competitors from Saturday’s UFC on FOX 7: Benson Henderson vs. Gilbert Melendez.
BENSON HENDERSON (def. Gilbert Melendez via split decision)
Henderson barely beat Melendez on Saturday night. Some people think he didn’t win at all. Henderson landed his trademark leg kicks regularly, but wasn’t able to bully Melendez with wrestling like he did with Nate Diaz in December.
He won’t be able to do that to “The Bully” either. UFC president Dana White announced after the fight that the winner of next month’s match between Gray Maynard and TJ Grant will get the next shot at Henderson’s belt. Makes sense. Maynard, whose nickname is apt, is arguably the best wrestler in the division and has heavy hands. That will make life difficult for Henderson.
Monday Matchmaker’s pick: Gray Maynard-TJ Grant winner
GILBERT MELENDEZ (lost to Benson Henderson via split decision)
How must it feel to be Melendez? He waited seven years to get his chance at the UFC title only to fall heartbreakingly close in a split decision – a controversial one at that. Melendez shouldn’t be that crushed, though. He’ll need just a win or two to get back to title contention.
That first fight should come against Joe Lauzon, who is coming off a loss to Jim Miller in December. It would be a thrilling fight and a winnable one for Melendez. A step back in the right direction.
Monday Matchmaker’s pick: Joe Lauzon
DANIEL CORMIER (def. Frank Mir via unanimous decision)
Cormier didn’t think he had a good performance, yet he dominated Mir for three rounds, pushing a much bigger man across the cage for 15 minutes. The next logical step for Cormier is a shot at the heavyweight title – there’s just one problem. He won’t fight champion Cain Velasquez, because the two train together at American Kickboxing Academy.
The other option? Drop down to light heavyweight and challenge champion Jon Jones. Of course that’s assuming Jones will beat Sonnen on Saturday in Newark. He probably will and Cormier could be his toughest challenge to date due to his Olympic wrestling pedigree.
Monday Matchmaker’s pick: Jon Jones-Chael Sonnen winner
FRANK MIR (lost to Daniel Cormier via unanimous decision)
I saw people say on Twitter on Saturday night that Mir’s time was running out in MMA. What? I thought Mir’s standup looked as good as it ever has and he hung in with a very talented Cormier the entire fight. His cardio was solid and he did some good things throughout. The switch to Jackson’s Gym has agreed with the big man.
Mir has been around since 2002 and has fought just about every top heavyweight in the UFC. Stefan Struve is coming off a devastating knockout loss to Mark Hunt in March. Matching those two together makes sense.
Monday Matchmaker’s pick: Stefan Struve
JOSH THOMSON (def. Nate Diaz via second-round TKO)
No one looked better at UFC on FOX 7 than Thomson, who was one of the most exciting fighters in Strikeforce. He’s a legitimate contender at lightweight in the UFC now. And there’s no better fight for him than Diego Sanchez. Both are veterans still trending upward. And both are ridiculously entertaining to watch.
Monday Matchmaker’s pick: Diego Sanchez
NATE DIAZ (lost to Josh Thomson via second-round TKO)
Maybe Diaz was right to want to move back to welterweight after this fight. There just aren’t many lightweights who make sense next for him. Diaz is still elite and he’s a draw. There aren’t many guys like that who he hasn’t fought. The best I can come up with is the loser of next month’s bout between middling veterans Rafael dos Anjos and Evan Dunham.
Monday Matchmaker’s pick: Rafael dos Anjos-Evan Dunham winner
MATT BROWN (def. Jordan Mein via second-round TKO)
Brown has had a career resurgence at 32 years old. There’s a perfect fight for the exciting veteran on the horizon, but it’s contingent on health. Dan Hardy would be an excellent dance partner for Brown if he comes back from his heart ailment.
Monday Matchmaker’s pick: Dan Hardy
CHAD MENDES (def. Darren Elkins via first-round KO)
Mendes is close to a featherweight title shot, but Jose Aldo is tied to Anthony Pettis in August. Clay Guida makes plenty of sense – both are excellent wrestlers and it would be an interesting stylistic matchup.
Monday Matchmaker’s pick: Clay Guida
JOSEPH BENAVIDEZ (def. Darren Uyenoyama via second-round TKO)
John Moraga was supposed to get the next shot at flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson. He shouldn’t anymore. Benavidez has already lost to Johnson, but he’s now won two straight in impressive fashion.
Monday Matchmaker’s pick: Demetrious Johnson
