May the fights be with you: Looking ahead to a feast of UFC fights in May

What a month it's going to be

Al Iaquinta Donald Cerrone

MAY 4: UFC OTTAWA – IAQUINTA VS CERRONE

WHO’S HEADLINING?

Lightweight contender “Raging” Al Iaquinta is looking to register a big-name scalp and push himself towards a fight with one of the division’s best.

His opponent is a man who has been there, seen it and done it against some of the best in the world – Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. This one is going to be a banger.

POTENTIAL FIGHT OF THE NIGHT

The main card clash at featherweight between Cub Swanson and Shane Burgos leaps off the page as a real ‘no toilet breaks’ bout.

Both men are aggressive, exciting fighters to watch, and Burgos will see this fight as a real opportunity to propel himself up the featherweight rankings and make a name for himself.

Swanson is as experienced as they come, however, and will be desperate to end a three-fight losing streak after defeats against three of the very best in the division: Renato Moicano, Frankie Edgar and Brian Ortega.

WHAT ELSE CAN WE EXPECT?

A host of Canadian-based fighters looking to do the business on home soil.

Elias Theodorou faces Derek Brunson in a huge fight in the co-main event, while the super-polite TUF champ Brad Katona makes his latest octagon appearance against Merab Dvalishvili.

Look out, too for Sikh-Canadian Olympic wrestler Arjan Singh Bhullar, who opens the card against Juan Adams.

MAY 11: UFC 237 – NAMAJUNAS VS ANDRADE

WHO’S HEADLINING?

The main event in Rio sees America’s Thug” Rose Namajunas head into enemy territory to put her UFC women’s strawweight world title on the line against the super-aggressive Brazilian Jessica Andrade.

After winning back-to-back fights against Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Namajunas certainly likes to test herself, and this one will be a fascinating clash.

Can she withstand the early storm to get the win, or will Andrade be inspired by fighting for the title on home soil

POTENTIAL FIGHT OF THE NIGHT

Whenever former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo steps into the octagon, it’s must-see TV.

The Brazilian may be in the veteran stage of his career, but he proved against fellow contenders Jeremy Stephens and Renato Moicano that he still has it, and he’ll be looking to add another contender to his list of victims when he faces uber-tough Aussie Alexander ‘The Great’ Volkanovski.

Volkanovski has a relentless, attacking style and heavy hands, but his real strength lies in his grappling. The former rugby player has supreme strength at 145lbs, and will look to get his hands on the Brazilian legend.

If he does, things could get VERY interesting…

WHAT ELSE CAN WE EXPECT?

Legends. A whole host of them. Former pound-for-pound superstar and all-time great Anderson “The Spider” Silva faces Jared Cannonier in the co-main event in what looks like his last-ever bout inside the octagon, while BJ Penn takes on Clay Guida in a battle of two hugely popular UFC veterans.

We’ve already mentioned Aldo, but joining him on the main card are two other Brazilian veterans, former welterweight title challenger Thiago “Pitbull” Alves and lightweight veteran Francisco Trinaldo, who seems to have been around the UFC forever.

MAY 18: UFC ROCHESTER – DOS ANJOS VS LEE

WHO’S HEADLINING?

Two former lightweights who have moved up to welterweight will face off in an intriguing clash between seasoned veteran and a man on the cusp of stardom.

Rafael dos Anjos is well-rounded, respected and a former UFC lightweight champion. Kevin Lee, meanwhile, has all the attributes to be a big star in the UFC. He just needs to make that final step to become a champion.

If he can dispense with dos Anjos, that will only further solidify his worth as a legitimate contender not only at lightweight, but also at welterweight.

POTENTIAL FIGHT OF THE NIGHT

Brit Danny Roberts delivers exciting fights every time he sets foot inside the octagon, and after being matched with Brazilian debutant Michel “Demolidor” Pereira, I don’t see too much changing here.

Pereira made headlines for his bizarre, somersaulting, cage-climbing displays in Asian promotion ROAD FC. But it’s unclear whether he’s just a bizarre gimmick or a legitimately good fighter. Roberts IS a legitimately good fighter, and he’ll prove to be an acid test for the Brazilian.

It’ll be lively, it’ll be spectacular, and I have a feeling it’ll end with one of them staring up at the arena lights by the bout’s end.

WHAT ELSE CAN WE EXPECT?

Plenty of grappling. The card features a host of athletes who prefer to get their work done on the mat.

The women’s bantamweight co-main event sees Aspen Ladd take on Sijara Eubanks in a battle of contenders who both love to grapple, while two-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion “Shoeface” Antonio Carlos Junior returns to action against the gritty Contender Series graduate Ian Heinisch.

At middleweight, Zak Cummings loves a submission, and will look to add to his 11 career wins by that method when he faces Trevin Giles, while his (sort-of) namesake Patrick Cummins (note the different spelling), will look to use his smothering wrestling style to grind down longtime UFC veteran Ed “Short Fuse” Herman in their light-heavyweight bout.

But perhaps the best grappling matchup of the lot takes place at lightweight, where Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira will look to extend his record for submissions in the UFC to 14 by finishing fellow grappler Nik “The Carny” Lentz.

We’ll bring you our picks ahead of each event during fight week for each show, so be sure to check back here at Paddy Power HQ for more info as the fights approach.

Prices on these and many other MMA fights can be found over on paddypower.com

What do you think?