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+ 21 event in Moscow, 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 winner.
Karl Roberson
Wants to fight: Eryk Anders
The callout: “I love Eryk Anders. He likes to fight and I like to fight. Let’s go.”
The reality: Karl Roberson and Anders are cut from similar cloth. They’re both powerful light heavyweights who look to finish, and there’s a certain symmetry to their recent career form, too.
Both men are riding two-fight win streaks after setbacks inside the octagon, and both will feel that a win over a similarly-viewed prospect should push them towards the division’s bigger names.
A matchup between the pair would put Roberson’s submission skills against Anders’ heavy hands. But you can’t sleep on “Baby K’s” striking, either, and it could turn into a light heavyweight stand-up slugfest.
It’s the sort of fight that would make an ideal featured preliminary card bout on a future UFC pay-per-view. Throw a couple of top-15-ranked 205ers on the card with the loser taking on and the winner of Roberson-Anders later in the year in a gateway fight that could push them into the top 15.
Next up, let’s check out the main card.
Shamil Gamzatov
Wants to fight: Chris Weidman, maybe!
The callout:
“I’ll have to check who I want to fight next. Before that, I had thought about fighting vs. Chris Weidman, but now I suppose it is worth giving it a delay. It is quite tough.”
The reality:
Even Shamil Gamzatov didn’t seem fully committed to this call-out, as he threw the “All-American’s” name into the mix, then half-retracted it, perhaps realizing that it’s a bit of a stretch to call out a former world champion after a lackluster display.
Things haven’t been too great for Weidman in recent months, but have things really gotten so bad that he feels the need to accept a fight with an unknown Russian who claimed a very close victory on home soil last time out?
Probably not. It’s a no from us.
Anthony Rocco Martin
Wants to fight: Niko Price
The callout:
“I’d like to get in there soon and put on another great show. Niko Price is the next logical option. He talked some trash and I think he’s a turd. I don’t think he’s that good. He’s exciting because he’s so bad he has to be wild.”
The reality:
Clearly Anthony Rocco Martin has little regard for Price’s technical skills, but he obviously sees him as a suitable next step in his career. And, on paper at least, it looks like the sort of matchup that could see both men leave the arena with bumps, bruises and a bonus check to show for their efforts.
Price is seemingly never in a boring fight, while Martin’s own brand of controlled aggression could prove the ideal foil to “The Hybrid’s” come-forward fighting style. It’s the sort of fight that you could put on any card, anywhere in the world, and the crowd is going to love it, so unless the UFC’s matchmakers already had specific plans for either man, this one seems like a no-brainer.
Book it!
Next up, let’s look at the co-main and main event winners.
Alexander Volkov
Wants to fight: Junior Dos Santos
The callout:
“I’ve got unfinished business with Dos Santos. Actually, I want to win more and eventually fight for the belt.”
The reality:
Alexander Volkov and Dos Santos were due to dance in Moscow this past weekend, but a nasty leg infection forced the former UFC heavyweight champion off the card.
Volkov knew that accepting a fight with Hardy would do nothing for his UFC ranking, and he fought like a man who didn’t want to take any chances. But having stayed on the card and accepting a dangerous fight with little upside, “Drago” will be hoping the UFC does him a solid in return and books the fight he trained for.
It’ll take “JDS” time to fully recover, and Volkov will need a little time to heal. But it’s a matchup that seems to make sense for both men, and a heavyweight meeting between the pair in early 2020 might not be out of the question.
Volkov deserves it. Hopefully he gets it.
Zabit Magomedsharipov
Wants to fight: The UFC featherweight champion
The callout:
“I’m 6-0 in the UFC. I want the winner of Hollway vs. Volkanovski. I promise if I get that fight, I’ll be ready for five rounds and I will be better next time.”
The reality:
The UFC featherweight division is absolutely stacked right now, but Zabit Magomedsharipov’s unique fighting style and undeniable form means he stands an outstanding chance of being handed the next shot at the featherweight strap.
Of course, much will depend on the UFC 245 title clash between Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski. A win for the Australian could potentially prompt an immediate rematch. But victory for Holloway could pitch him into a fascinating clash of styles with Magomedsharipov in 2020.
It’s the sort of fight that would be an ideal matchup for “International Fight Week” in July, and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if that’s exactly what happens if Max gets the win Dec. 14.
