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 251 event in Aby Dhabi, 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 preliminary card …
Marcin Tybura
Wants to fight: Aleksei Oleinik
The callout: “I’d like to climb the rankings, so I think from the bottom of the rankings, Aleksey Oleinik would be a great matchup – if he’s available.”
The reality: After fighting just twice in 2018 and twice more in 2019, Polish heavyweight Marcin Tybura has already registered two fights in 2020, and he’s keen to keep things rolling as he bids to break into the UFC’s heavyweight Top 15. To do that he’ll need to take on and beat ranked opposition and Oleinik might not be the worst callout target. The Russian doesn’t exactly have a long queue of fighters clamoring to take him on. So Tybura raising his hand and asking to face him may give him a chance with the UFC’s matchmakers when Oleinik next becomes available.
The only potential stumbling block might be an Oleinik victory over Derrick Lewis when the pair meet in the main event on Aug. 8. A win for “The Boa Constrictor” will likely see him face Top 5 opposition next. But a defeat to “The Black Beast” may force the Russian to drop down and face someone further down the heavyweight ladder. That could play into Tybura’s hands, so the Pole should probably root for Lewis on Aug. 8 to help bring his chosen matchup within reach.
Next up: Rising strawweight contender looks to level up
Amanda Ribas
Wants to fight:Carla Esparza or Marina Rodriguez
The callout: “I want to fight at my weight at 115, maybe with the winner of Carla Esparza and Marina (Rodriguez), I dunno. I’m asking!”
The reality: Not so much a callout as a polite request, Amanda Ribas’ suggestion of a possible strawweight matchup against the winner of the Carla Esparza-Marina Rodriguez fight on Jul. 25 seems completely reasonable, under the circumstances. It gives her the chance to move up the rankings against Top 10 opposition, and against a fighter on pretty much the same timeline as her. A late-September matchup would seemingly make sense.
Ribas’ bubbly, infectious personality is impossible to ignore. But will the matchmakers listen to her callout and give the always-smiling Brazilian an even bigger reason to grin?
Next up: Newly-crowned champ identifies No. 1 contender
Petr Yan
Wants to fight: Aljamain Sterling
The callout: “I think Aljamain Sterling deserves to fight for the title. He’s on a good streak. He beat a lot of good guys.”
The reality: Dana White may not have been totally committed to the idea, but for Petr Yan, Aljamain Sterling the clear and obvious choice for his first title defense.
Sterling arguably should have fought for the title already and, in terms of achievements in the bantamweight division, certainly held stronger title credentials than the man Yan just stopped, Jose Aldo.
Sterling should really have been the man facing Yan on “Fight Island” but after Yan dispensed with the UFC’s hand-picked contender, it’s time for the top contender to get his deserved shot.
The big question is, does the UFC agree?
