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 on ESPN+ 26 event in Auckland, New Zealand, 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.
Angela Hill
Wants to fight: Karolina Kowalkiewicz
The callout: “I feel like everyone is booked right now, but I’d love to fight Karolina if she wins today. Even if she doesn’t, I’d like that fight. It would be a great matchup. That’s always been a fight I’ve wanted. I’m willing to fight anyone, but Karolina’s at the top of the list because our schedules line up.”
The reality: Karolina Kowalkiewicz didn’t win her fight in Auckland, and that could play heavily into any possibility of a matchup with Angela Hill being booked. The Pole has now lost four in a row, and that’s the sort of form that can often lead to a parting of ways. But Kowalkiewicz (12-6 MMA, 5-6 UFC) remains a popular fighter, and a matchup with Hill (12-7 MMA, 7-7 UFC) may still be considered worthwhile, especially on a European card, later in the year. Stylistically, it would certainly produce an exciting fight, and with Kowalkiewicz likely fighting in the last chance saloon, it would be a fight with the highest of stakes.
Next up, let’s check out the main card.
Brad Riddell
Wants to fight: Alexander Hernandez
The callout: “Alexander Hernandez hasn’t been talking about me, but he just talks trash in general. He doesn’t shut up. He’s disrespectful to a lot of the fighters. You don’t have to be disrespectful. They’re doing the same thing as you and trying to achieve the same goals.”
The reality: Brad Riddell is a man on the up, and his performance to hand Magomed Mustafaev only his second loss in eight years showed he has the grit and battling spirit to go toe to toe with anyone at 155 pounds. After a win over such a tough opponent, it makes sense for Riddell (8-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) to set his sights higher, and Alexander Hernandez, ranked 15th in the UFC’s official rankings and included in the honorable mentions in the USA Today Sports/MMA Junkie lightweight rankings, seems like a solid callout. Hernandez (11-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) may not be so keen, however. He bounced back from his loss to Donald Cerrone with a win over the always-tough Francisco Trinaldo, and will have his sights set further up the food chain at 155 pounds. It’s the sort of matchup that would deliver fireworks at the top end of a preliminary card for a numbered pay-per-view event, or even as a main card matchup on a Fight Night event, so it seems viable. But with so many permutations at 155 pounds, it might be one that only comes to fruition if Hernandez reacts to Riddell’s callout in the coming days.
Next up, let’s check out the co-main event
Jimmy Crute
Wants to fight: Anyone, then Misha Cirkunov
The callout: “I want one more fight, then I want a rematch with Misha Cirkunov. I need to earn it first. I don’t care who I fight before him.”
The reality: Jimmy Crute looked to be well on his way to victory against Misha Cirkunov when they met at UFC on ESPN+ 16 back in September 2019, then the Latvian-Canadian pulled a rabbit from the hat with a superb reversal and a rarely-seen Peruvian necktie finish as he handed the young Aussie the first, and only, defeat of his career. So it’s completely understandable that Crute (11-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) would want to run that fight back, and he’s being sensible about his callout, too. The loss to Cirkunov (15-5 MMA, 6-3 UFC) was only one fight ago, and the rising star of Australian MMA wisely said he wants another fight to prove he deserves a rematch. If he gets a suitable opponent and gets a suitable win, a rematch with Cirkunov may well make sense for both men toward the end of 2020.
Now let’s see who the main event winner wants next.
Dan Hooker
Wants to fight: Justin Gaethje
The callout: “I want Justin Gaethje next. Let’s go!”
The reality: Heading into his main event bout in Auckland, Dan Hooker made no secret of his desire to face either Justin Gaethje or Dustin Poirier next. Now he has fixed his sights firmly on “The Highlight” for a matchup that would deliver the sort of pugilistic pyrotechnics that could make it “Fight of the Year” material. Hooker (20-8 MMA, 10-4 UFC) seems to be getting better with every fight and has developed from an exciting rising prospect to a legitimate threat to the division’s best at 155. Gaethje (21-1 MMA, 4-2 UFC) would be the acid test, and one that few hardcore fight fans would turn down the chance to watch. If the UFC is planning on loading up with multiple title fights for International Fight Week, I can think of no better pairing to open up the main card and kick things off with a bang. “The Highlight” vs. “The Hangman” certainly has a certain ring to it.
