AFTER TONIGHT’S 12-BOUT card at the Frank Erwin Centre in Austin, Texas, the UFC will take a two-week hiatus before a glut of eight shows which will conclude on 31 January next year.
While the main event between two featherweights ranked in the top three, Cub Swanson and Frankie Edgar, is of the most intrigue and significance, there are a number of other meaningful contests with oodles of potential for compelling carnage.
Here are five key areas of discussion prior to show time:
Another twist in the featherweight division’s narrative beckons
Never before has the 145lbs weight class been the source of such heated conjecture and, with two of its best set to throw down over five rounds, anticipation couldn’t be higher.
There is a very valid argument to be made that Cub Swanson has done more than enough to warrant the next shot at Jose Aldo’s crown, but the powers that be have decreed that he must first navigate former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar.
Stylistically, this one has all the hallmarks of a classic: the juxtaposition of Swanson’s explosiveness and unorthodox striking, against the evasive, perpetual movement of the well-rounded Edgar makes for a salivating proposition.
On paper, at least, the scales might just tip in the latter’s favour. The fight is scheduled for 25 minutes, a distance he has completed on no fewer than six occasions, while Swanson has only managed the feat once, in his latest victory over Jeremy Stephens.
If it goes into deep waters, which Edgar’s bouts tend to, the disparity in experience may prove telling.
Furthermore, Swanson has much more at stake. It’s been over five years since he fought for a title, when he spectacularly lost to Aldo in just eight seconds at WEC 41. Thus, the knowledge that coming up short against Edgar could condemn him to another lengthy wait for such a chance may be psychologically cumbersome.
A co-main event with fight night bonuses written all over it
One thing lightweights Edson Barboza and Bobby Green certainly have in common is that they’re rarely boring – in Green’s case this attribute extends to outside of the cage. Plying their respective trade in what is arguably the UFC’s most talent-rich division, it’s almost a prerequisite for them to continue this trend to distinguish themselves from the chasing pack.
Barboza is one the most cultured practitioners of Muay Thai in the game while Green is an incredibly gifted athlete and accomplished wrestler, currently chasing his 10th consecutive win. Expect fireworks.
Brad Pickett must beat Chico Camus to stay relevant in the flyweight division
England’s Pickett has been fighting professionally for over a decade, during which time he has competed under the banner of four different promotions and in the same amount of weight classes. Late last year he took the decision to drop from bantamweight to flyweight for one last tilt at a world championship. So far, the results have been mixed.
His debut at flyweight was intended to be against Ian McCall at UFC FN 37 in London this past March but McCall was forced to withdraw through injury. On two weeks’ notice Ireland’s Neil Seery stepped into the breach and gave Pickett such a difficult time in the boxing range that he was forced to resort to takedowns to secure a unanimous decision win.
When he and McCall did cross paths in Dublin last July, Pickett was thoroughly outclassed. At 35, and ranked number 10, failure to beat Camus would signal curtains for Pickett’s title aspirations.
Joseph Benavidez continues on his third run at the 125lbs title
Like Chad Mendes, his Team Alpha Male stablemate, Joseph Benavidez has the ignominious distinction of two failed shots before the age of 30. Twice, at UFC 152 and UFC on Fox 9, he has come up short against the champion Demetrious Johnson.
However, his competitive instincts remained intact and he bounced back with a first-round submission win over Tim Elliot at UFC 172. It’s imperative he harnesses this momentum against a dangerous Dustin Ortiz.
Matt Wiman returns to the octagon after almost two years on the sidelines
Matt Wiman arrived in the UFC after a stint on the Ultimate Fighter 5, which boasted a cast containing Nate Diaz, Joe Lauzon, Gray Maynard and Cole Miller. Since then has won nine of 13 bouts inside the Octagon.
His last fight was in January 2013 and he was knocked out by TJ Grant inside the first round.
A string of injuries have prevented him competing in the interim but, at 31, he’s young enough to make up the lost time, beginning with Isaac Vallie-Flagg.
Coverage of UFC FN 57 begins at 1am on BT Sport 1.