November’s Can’t Miss Matches

Shinya Aoki (39-6) vs Eduard Folayang (16-5)
ONE FC: Defending Honor – November 11th

As a huge grappling fan, I generally believe that any fight with Shinya Aoki is can’t miss. His grappling is unlike any other and he is brash and unafraid. So automatically this is one you want to see. Enter his opponent, Eduard Folayang. While not a submission wizard, Folayang has never been submitted in his career. Does he become number 26 on Aoki’s list of amazing names? Definitely worth tuning in to see.

Tyron Woodley (16-3) vs Stephen Thompson (13-1)
UFC 205 – November 12th

Okay, so it’s pretty obvious that this entire segment could have just been fights from this card. Can’t miss Conor! Can’t miss Joanna Champion! Can’t miss Weidman, Cowboy, etc! However, of all the fights on the card, this is the one fight that guarantees violence. The KO power of these two combined is unmatched, unless you look to the heavyweight division. Can Woodley get inside or does Wonderboy land the big kick? It doesn’t really matter, because either way us fans are getting a sweet KO.

Angela Hill (5-2) vs Kaline Medeiros (8-4)
Invicta 20 – November 18th

Angela Hill is the kind of fighter who you kind of wish made it to the UFC just a few fights later than she did. She has all the raw athletic gifts of a future UFC champion and just needs to round out the skills to make it so. Luckily, she landed somewhere that honing those skills is a possibility, while also gaining some real viewership. Medeiros has been chomping at the bit for a title shot for some time, but will have to deal with Hill’s power to get the strap.

Teruto Ishihara (9-2-2) vs Artem Lobov (12-12-1)
UFC Fight Night: Dublin – November 19th

They no longer give things like the Fight of the Year awards to fights that aren’t title shots or don’t have significant title implications. But if they did, this would likely be a candidate. Ishihara might be one of the most exciting fighters Japan has ever produced. He throws with crazy power for 145 lbs, and his post-fight interviews are among the best in the business. Lobov, despite a spotty record, is a game fighter with a great chin and KO power in his own right. I expect these two to slug non-stop until one of them falls. The fight might take 3:30, but it will be the best 3:30 of your life.

Benson Henderson (24-6) vs Michael Chandler (15-3)
Bellator 165 – November 19th

When Henderson went over to Bellator, there were a few matchups that people instantly were excited for. While the title shot with Andrey Koreshkov was exciting, it was hardly the one we were all waiting for. Chandler, however, is the type of fighter that brings out the best in everyone. Take current UFC champion Eddie Alvarez who went to war with Chandler on more than one occasion. Expect Bendo to have to dig deep in what will almost definitely be a five round, back and forth battle.