Earning wins in the UFC is certainly no easy task, but what comes next is often even more important: the post-fight callout.
So after Saturday’s UFC 240 event in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, who took advantage of their time on the mic? See below for this week’s Callout Collection – and just how realistic each one is.
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First up, let’s take a look at the night’s prelim winners.
Deiveson Figueiredo
Wants to fight: For a flyweight title
The callout: “I want to fight for the belt or interim belt. I know I’m ready. I’ll fight anyone, but I want to fight for the belt.”
The reality: Deiveson Figueiredo (16-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) suffered a setback earlier this year, dropping a decision to perennial contender Jussier Formiga, but he rebounded in spectacular fashion with a solid win over Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 240. With a nickname that translates to “God of War,” Figueiredo lives up to the moniker and is unquestionably one of the most exciting athletes in the flyweight division.
That said, no one at 125 pounds deserves to step past Joseph Benavidez, who is the clear No. 1 contender in the division.
Two things must happen for Figueiredo to get his wish: First, double champ Henry Cejudo must decide he wants to defend his bantamweight title before putting the flyweight belt on the line. That’s not too much of a stretch considering “The Messenger” is currently recovering from shoulder surgery and is likely out for the rest of the year. When it’s time to come back, the idea of not needing to cut an additional 10 pounds to step in the cage might sound appealing.
Second, Benavidez would need to decide he’s not willing to wait around, at which point a fight with Figueiredo for an interim title might make a lot of sense. Of course, as long as Benavidez has worked to get back into title contention, he might decide he’s not willing to roll the dice, especially given the fact that he holds a previous win over Cejudo.
I’d say this anything but a guarantee, but it’s certainly within the realm of possibility.
Gavin Tucker
Wants to fight: Matt Sayles
The callout: “I would like to face anyone, but I’d really like to face Matt Sayles. I mean no disrespect. He’s got a beautiful boxing style, and I think we would have a banger fight.”
The reality: After nearly two years on the shelf, Gavin Tucker (11-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) returned in spectacular fashion against Seungwoo Choi, and he followed it up with a callout worthy of his Canadian heritage, complete with a “no disrespect” qualifier.
Sayles earned his way into the UFC through Dana White’s Contender Series and then lost his promotional debut against a very tough Sheymon Moraes but then rebounded with a May win over Kyle Nelson. At just 24 years old, Sayles is certainly too early in his career to be calling his own shots, but if someone’s asking to meet him, why not? Living and training in California, perhaps an appearance at the UFC’s October trip to San Francisco?
It wouldn’t be the most meaningful fight in the featherweight division, but hey, I say reward guys who take the time to try and carve out their own path. Book it, Sean Shelby.
Next up, let’s check out the main card.
Krzysztof Jotko
Wants to fight: Uriah Hall
The callout: “I want Uriah Hall next. I fought with him, and he landed a lucky punch. I want to have that fight again. This time I promise I will be 100 percent and kick his ass.”
The reality: Krzysztof Jotko (21-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) and Uriah Hall first met in September 2017, and “Primetime” proved victorious via second-round knockout – but only after being completely dominated in the opening round.
Unfortunately for Jotko, Hall is already booked for a September matchup with Antonio Carlos Junior in Canada, so the timing of the booking doesn’t necessarily make a ton of sense right now. The back-and-forth nature of their first matchup would make a great storyline for a rebooking, but there doesn’t seem to be a real need for it in the division, outside of Jotko’s own sanity. Perhaps it happens down the line, but I can’t imagine this booking is a priority for the UFC.
Geoff Neal
Wants to fight: Colby Covington
The callout: “Maybe Colby Covington? That’s about it. Nobody else. For obvious reasons. Everybody already knows. He’s not a likable person.”
The reality: OK, even Geoff Neal (12-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) knows this fight isn’t happening next. But Neal is certainly a man on the rise, and Covington looks primed to spend time in the upper echelons of the division – and could even be champion by year’s end. It’s never a bad idea to start planting seeds just to see what might pay off.
Neal isn’t the only UFC welterweight who doesn’t count himself as a Covington fan, but it never hurts to start firing shots and see if you can make it on the radar of the division’s top athletes.
Cris Cyborg
Wants to fight: Amanda Nunes
The callout: “I’m going to let UFC talk to my manager, but I just wanted to get this victory. For sure, I want Amanda. I want a rematch.”
The reality: This rematch has been the source of much debate in recent months, with Cris Cyborg (21-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) insisting she wants to do it again, and UFC president Dana White swearing that behind the scenes, Cyborg isn’t interested.
Ultimately, it all seems to come down to contract terms. Cyborg was entering the last fight on her UFC contract at Saturday’s card, which is why she was booked into a non-title affair against a very game Felicia Spencer. After the win, Cyborg showed up to her ESPN interview with a shirt that read “Cyborg vs. Nunes 2 coming January 2020.” She was forced to take it off before attending the night’s post-fight press conference, but the message had already been sent.
Cyborg and White have never had a particularly fantastic working relationship, but there are two truths in play here. First, there is no 145-pound division in the UFC without Cyborg. No disrespect to Nunes, Spencer and Megan Anderson, but a round robin between those three won’t keep fan interest very long. Sure the UFC could just shut the division down, but they also know Cyborg is a marketable commodity.
Secondly, Cyborg’s biggest financial opportunity is the rematch with Nunes. Truthfully, Bellator’s women’s featherweight division is more robust in terms of both quantity and overall quality. But the biggest names reside in the UFC. A fight with Bellator champ Julia Budd would prove interesting, but it wouldn’t draw near the interest of a rematch with Nunes.
Cyborg has never been afraid to stand up and speak out, pushing for what she believes is right. But ultimately, the most profitable choice for her is to stay in the UFC, and I believe UFC brass will find a way to get it done.
For complete coverage of UFC 240, check out the UFC results.
