BFL 72 took place April 28 in Vancouver, B.C., featuring three championship bouts in which Dejan Kajic, Serhiy Sidey and Mateo Vogel each walked out with their belts intact.
Please note that, unless stated otherwise, the potential matchups outlined below are purely speculative and haven't been confirmed or floated as rumors.
We'd love to hear your takes on who deserves the next shot for the standout performers and the remainder of the card, as well as your predictions for how these imagined rivalries would unfold.
Dejan Kajic (14-7-2) vs. Darren Smith (20-12)
Despite the fight being cut short because of an injury, Kajic added a sixth straight win to his record in the headlining contest. A rematch against Saeid Mirzaei likely sits on the horizon, but reports suggest his upcoming title defense will come against the American Smith, and should it materialize, expect a high-octane affair.
Serhiy Sidey (7-1) vs. DWCS opponent
Sidey dispatched Austin Russell to successfully retain his BFL bantamweight title. Since debuting with the promotion, Sidey has been nearly untouchable. Though another belt defense is certainly within reach, his 7-1 mark and current three-fight winning streak make a summer run on Dana White's Contender Series (DWCS) a real possibility.
Mateo Vogel (6-2) vs. Craig Shintani (10-4)
Vogel emerged victorious after five rounds against Nicolas Ouellet to capture the vacant BFL featherweight championship. Although Vogel has expressed a preference for competing at bantamweight, should he decide to pursue a featherweight title defense, Shintani would present a legitimate challenge and a compelling test.
Ryan Rohovich (5-4) vs. Mike McAloon (5-3)
On the brink of losing a decision, Rohovich managed to secure a triangle choke submission to hand Josh Kwiatkowski his loss. Rohovich has several options available moving forward, but matching up with McAloon would guarantee an exciting scrap.
Mitch Strazzella (2-0) vs. Austin Russell (3-1)
Strazzella recorded the first finish of his pro career, stopping Matt Hovorka via first-round TKO. A higher level of competition may be appropriate for Strazzella at this juncture, and former BFL bantamweight title contender Russell would be a fitting opponent. Beating Russell could position Strazzella for a title opportunity down the road.
Alana Cook (2-0) vs. Rylie Marchand (4-1 amateur)
Barring a handful of edge cases, Cook was nearly untouchable en route to her decision victory against Maria Demers. Looking ahead, matching her up with worthy opponents could prove tricky—but should Marchand opt to step into the pro cage sooner rather than later, a bout between the two would offer plenty of intrigue on both sides.
Oguzhan Yalcin (2-0) vs. Ali Wasuk (4-2)
Yalcin controlled his bout against Wesley Bowman from start to finish, never appearing threatened throughout the full fifteen-minute stretch. This one's straightforward to call since BFL has already locked in Yalcin's next opponent as Wasuk.
Tylor Nicholson (2-5) vs. Indroop Virk (2-1)
Though Nicholson is mostly known for his standup game, he brought his grappling into play during his upset of Nate Ledger, securing a first-round submission. He seems eager to test himself against rising young talent, and a fight against Virk would check that box nicely.
