Every month Last Word on Sports will bring you their list of the ten fights you should be looking out for. If you’ve found your way to the MMA section of our site, chances are you know all about the stellar UFC main events, and main card fights, so we go beyond that to find you the most intriguing fights from UFC prelims and other promotions.
So without further ado, here is our list of the ten fights you should be checking out throughout the month of May.
May’s Ten Fights to Watch
Marcin Tybura vs Stephan Puetz
May 2, M-1 Challenge 57
Perhaps more than any other, the heavyweight and light-heavyweight divisions are perceived to lack depth and a shallow pool of emerging talents. M-1’s heavyweight and light-heavyweight champions, Marcin Tybura and Stephan Puetz are a couple of exceptions to the rule. On May 2nd they clash in a heavyweight superfight that pits champion against champion under the M-1 banner.
Max Griffin vs Chidi Njokuani
May 7, Tachi Palace Fights 23
The Tachi Palace Welterweight Championship will be on the line, May 7, when Max Griffin makes the first defense of his title against Chidi Njokuani. Griffin has won six straight since losing to Justin Baesman in 2012, including a first round knockout of Ricky Legere Jr. to win the title back in November. Chidi, the Brother of former WEC and UFC lightweight Anthony Njokuani, is a muay thai specialist capable of providing a stern test.
Alexandre Pantoja vs Damacio Page
May 8, RFA vs Legacy Superfight
Cross-promotion is a rarety in mixed martial arts, but on May 8th the Resurrection Fighting Alliance, and Legacy Fighting Championships are combining their efforts and pitting their fighters against each other. The headliner sees two flyweight champions collide, as RFA title holder Alexandra Pantoja faces Legacy champ Damacio Page to crown the first AXS TV Superfight champion.
Eduardo Dantas vs Mike Richman
May 15, Bellator 137 – Halsey vs Grove
Bellator’s 135lb weight class has become a real highlight in recent months. Marcos Galvao gave the division a new champion when he defeated Joe Warren at Bellator 135, while L.C. Davis and Hideo Tokoro impressed on the same card. Now, former Bellator champion, Eduardo Dantas will be looking to push himself back into title contention with a win over a powerful Mike Richman on May 15.
Ev Ting vs Marat Gafurov
May 22, ONE Championship – Warrior’s Quest
Now established as the number one promoter of Asian mixed martial arts, ONE Championship continues to produce the goods with their May 22nd return to Singapore. On the undercard Ev Ting, fresh from an impressive submission win over Cary Bullos at Age of Champions in March, takes on unbeaten Russian Marat Gafurov. Gafurov, a former M-1 Global champion, debuted for ONE with a first round submission of Rob Lisita back in October.
Shinya Aoki vs Koji Ando
May 22, ONE Championship – Warrior’s Quest
Any chance to see decorated Japanese mixed martial artist Shinya Aoki fight should be grabbed with both hands. He has lost just twice in the past five years, to division standouts Gilbert Melendez and Eddie Alvarez. In Koji Ando, he has an opponent who might just be able to push him to something special. Ando has finished both his previous ONE opponents, Rafael Nunes and Zorobabel Moreira, and has won five straight since 2011.
John Dodson vs Zach Makovsky
May 23, UFC 187 – Johnson vs Cormier
When John Dodson and Zach Makovsky step into the cage in the preliminary portion of UFC 187, they will know that the opportunity to fight for the flyweight title is on the line. An impressive performance for either man could see them get the next shot at Demetrious Johnson. Dodson is considered by many to be Johnson’s closest rival, but Makovsky has gone an impressive 3-1 since joining the UFC.
Maciej Jewtuszko vs Robert Radomski
May 23, KSW 31 – Materla vs Drwal
On May 23rd, KSW return with a number of recognized names, and two title fights. Still, it is a welterweight contest between current lightweight champion Maciej Jewtuszko and Robert Radomski that catches the eye. Jewtuszko is an exciting finisher, combining versatile Muay Thai striking and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, but should be tested at the higher weight class by a natural 170 pounder.
Jussier Formiga vs Wilson Reis
May 30, UFC Fight Night: Condit vs Alves
The UFC end the month visiting Goiania, Brazil, for another Fight Night offering that is stacked with interesting match ups. At flyweight, former EliteXC Bantamweight Champion Wilson Reis faces former Shooto South American 123lb champion Jussier Formiga. Both men come into the fight off back to back wins, and will hope to push their names back into the reckoning for a flyweight title shot with a win.
Jessica Penne vs Juliana Lima
May 30, UFC Fight Night: Condit vs Alves
With a new champion, and a string of top fighters struggling to put back to back wins together, the women’s strawweight division remains wide open. We seem to be saying this every time two strawweights enter the octagon at present, but, an impressive win for either former InvictaFC Atomweight Champion Jessica Penne, or Juliana Lima, could push them into title contention.
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