Sunday night’s round of fights certainly wasn’t kind to the Scottish home crowd.
In the headline act of UFC Fight Night 113, fan favourite Gunnar Nelson was knocked out cold in under 90 seconds as Santiago Ponzinibbio recorded the biggest win of his career and surely set up a high ranking match-up later in the year.
In the co-main event, hometown hero Joanne Calderwood fell to a unanimous decision against rising star Cynthia Calvillo while one fight earlier, fellow Scot Stevie Ray was knocked out by elbows on the ground from a more than motivated Paul Felder.
Paul Craig and a retiring Neil Seery were also on the end of stoppage losses to rub the salt into the wounds of a passionate crowd but the big victors of the night did so in impressive fashion – or bizarre in the case of Galore Bofando.
Taking a look at the night’s big winners, here are five fights to make for those who stunned the Glasgow crowd into silence:
Santiago Ponzinibbio vs Jorge Masvidal
It goes against the UFC’s usual method of pairing up winners vs. winners and a lower ranked opponent is more than likely next for Ponzinibbio… but this fight is simply too mouth-watering not to make.
Masvidal is coming off of a loss to Demian Maia at UFC 211 but his boxing ability is arguably the best in the welterweight division.
Pairing him up against Ponzinibbio, who is now on a five fight win streak, would guarantee fireworks, especially if the UFC make it a five-round fight.
Cynthia Calvillo vs Michelle Waterson
Another match-up that goes against the winner vs winner method but it’s a fight that makes a lot of sense.
It’s clear that the UFC is high on Calvillo’s potential and brash attitude and the Team Alpha Male fighter certainly proved that she has the skills to back it up as she defeated Joanne Calderwood in her own back yard.
Calvillo would later throw out the name of ‘The Karate Hottie’ Michelle Waterson as a potential next opponent and if the UFC can set that fight up on a big stage, the winner could take a big step towards a title fight.
Paul Felder vs James Vick
Paul Felder thundered in some vicious elbows to ruin the homecoming of Stevie Ray and made it four wins out of five for the 33-year-old lightweight.
Felder’s determination to complete a fight camp so soon after the passing of his father is something to admire and the Philadelphia-born fighter is deserving of another big fight with his latest first-round finish.
A bout against the lanky James Vick would see the winner enter the top 15 and would be an eagerly anticipated bout in the talent stacked 155 lbs division.
Khalil Rountree vs Steve Bosse
Khalil Rountree displayed some of his devastating potential as he knocked Paul Craig out in the first round with a short left uppercut.
Rountree heaped praise on the UFC’s new performance centre for his new-found confidence and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Rountree in the top 15 by the end of the year.
An all-striking affair against Steve Bosse would see two heavy hitters go at it and provide another step up the ladder for the 27-year-old Rountree.
Alexandre Pantoja vs John Moraga
The UFC certainly isn’t a fan of giving fighters from the British Isles an easy farewell fight.
After Brad Pickett bowed out from the sport with a knockout loss to Marlon Vera earlier this year, the UFC paired Neil Seery up against the #14 ranked Alexandre Pantoja and the result went just about as expected.
A third round submission ensured Pantoja his 11th straight victory and a step up in competition.
A match-up with former UFC title challenger John Moraga would do just that.