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 9 event in Las Vegas, 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 …
Chris Gutierrez
Wants to fight: Andre Ewell or Miles Johns
The callout: “I would like to fight either Andre Ewell – I don’t know, he’s got a little injury – or Miles Johns. So either one of those two. I’m with it.”
The reality: After an impressive display to kick off the card at the UFC Apex, Chris Gutierrez sought out the matchmakers cageside, and explained who he wanted next in his post-fight interview with Daniel Cormier.
On paper, at least, the two names he mentioned seem like well-pitched suggestions. Ewell has won three of five in the UFC since 2018, while Johns is 1-1 in the octagon and looking to bounce back after defeat in his last appearance. Ewell would put Gutierrez in with a longer-tenured UFC fighter, with more wins to their name, so would perhaps offer the larger upside for “El Guapo,” but the chance for the former LFA bantamweight to face the man who captured the promotion’s 135-pound belt also offers some intrigue. Either name would make for a solid next assignment.
Next up: Lightweight prospect wants to revisit canceled booking
Roosevelt Roberts
Wants to fight:Matt Frevola
The callout: “Hey, look. It ain’t nothing personal against this man – well, it kinda is personal – but Matt Frevola, I’m on your ass. I’ve got somebody else in mind, but my manager told me to wait off a little bit, so I’m going to wait off a little bit. But Matt Frevola, you’re my next target. So go out there, do what you’ve got to do when your fight comes, and you better sign that contract because my name will be the first one on it. Let’s get it.”
The reality: After a dynamic performance inside the cage, Roosevelt Roberts followed up with an equally dynamic display in his post-fight interview as he set up his next fight perfectly by calling out the man he was originally due to face April 25.
Roberts and Frevola were booked in separate matchups following the cancellation of that event. But following his win over Brok Weaver at UFC on ESPN 9, Roberts made clear his desire to pick up where he left off and fulfill that original booking.
It’s a fight that clearly made sense to the UFC’s matchmakers a couple months back. If Frevola can pick up a victory against Frank Camacho when he returns to action June 20, the fight may make even more sense later this year.
Next up: A new contender emerges and wants his shot at welterweight gold
Gilbert Burns
Wants to fight: Kamaru Usman
The callout: “My name now has got to be the No. 1 contender. I love the champ, my training partner Kamaru Usman, but c’mon – give me the shot. I’ve got a lot of love for you, but I’m next. I want to fight for the title. If they want to make the fight in July, I’m injury-free. I want to fight for the title.”
The reality: After a dominant win over former champion Tyron Woodley at UFC on ESPN 9, Gilbert Burns is certainly within his rights to call for a title shot next, but the welterweight title waters are still somewhat cloudy.
Defending champ Usman looked to be all set to face Jorge Masvidal, but “Gamebred” seems to have turned his attention to a rematch with Nate Diaz instead. Meanwhile, Usman’s manager Ali Abdelaziz offered a title shot to Conor McGregor, only for the UFC to shoot down the idea. Then there’s Leon Edwards, who is riding an eight-fight winning streak and was set to face Woodley in London in March before the pandemic hit. Then, of course, there’s former interim champ Colby Covington.
There are a lot of directions the UFC could take with the title next. Masvidal has the star power, Edwards has the winning streak, and Covington has the ability to sell the hell out of a rematch. But recency bias is real in this sport, and “Durinho’s” outstanding performance certainly gives him a shot. I suspect he’ll be asked to face either Edwards or Covington next in a title eliminator but, make no mistake, the Brazilian has well and truly arrived as a top-drawer contender at 170.
