Unified MMA kicked off 2022 with an event headlined by Shane Campbell's fifth consecutive victory, a brutal back-and-forth clash between KB Bhullar and Strahinja Gavrilovic, and Ryan Ford stepping back into the octagon after sitting out MMA for seven years. Catch the full replay of Unified MMA 43 today on UFC Fight Pass.
Heads up: the potential matchups outlined below are entirely speculative and haven't been officially announced or floated in rumors, unless we flag otherwise.
Tell us who you think deserves the next shot for the top performers on this card, and pick your winners in our imaginary bout scenarios.
Shane Campbell (22-8) vs. Adam Assenza (15-6)
There's no point in harping on it anymore, but the UFC really needs to hand Campbell another opportunity. Beyond the promotion, several regional lightweight contests are still on the table for him, and Assenza stands out as the ideal candidate. Both Campbell and Assenza lead Canada's lightweight division outside of the UFC, and in such a cutthroat environment they might have to cross paths before reaching the elite tier.
KB Bhullar (11-3) vs. Mariusz Ksiazkiewicz (9-1)
Bhullar has strung together two dominant wins in his most recent appearances inside the Unified cage, moving to 3-1 following his departure from the UFC. Much like Campbell, Bhullar could face another highly ranked middleweight drawing UFC attention in Ksiazkiewicz. On top of that, the fight offers The Bengal a chance to settle a score with his teammate Graham Park, while potentially reclaiming his Unified MMA middleweight championship or capturing Ksiazkiewicz's super middleweight belt.
Ryan Ford (23-5) vs. Brandt Dewsbery (15-4-1)
Ford came back from a seven-year MMA break to concentrate on boxing, so anyone who bet big on a submission victory in his comeback likely had a good reason. He shed some ring rust and secured the decision against Dawond Pickney last weekend, opening the door to some exciting matchups within Unified. Dewsbery himself recently emerged from a similar extended absence, and combining both fighters' experience and finishing ability guarantees an explosive matchup.
Neal Anderson (11-4) vs. Tom O'Connor (9-2)
Anderson bounced back strongly with a commanding win against a rugged Lucas Neufeld, edging closer to a potential rematch for the featherweight belt. Should Unified decide he needs to settle the number-one contender spot first, O'Connor represents the perfect opponent. Each fighter brings versatility to the table, setting up a genuinely competitive bout.
Zack Powell (5-1) vs. Tyler VanKill (2-0)
Powell kept his professional momentum rolling, bouncing back from a razor-thin split-decision defeat with a ground-focused shutout of Cole Campbell. Powell appears ready to climb the rankings quickly, and a clash with submission expert VanKill promises an intriguing matchup. VanKill threatens takedowns from every position, and a successful attempt would undoubtedly accelerate his career trajectory.
Ali Charkie (2-1) vs. Thomas Richardson (6-1)
Charkie delivered a masterful performance against a formidable Sandeep Sran this past weekend. His endurance and ring awareness continue to sharpen, though he clearly benefits from facing tougher opposition. Richardson has spent some time away from competition, with his return originally slated for an earlier date. Richardson poses a serious test for Charkie, yet the latter remains confident in his ability to compete. The lower tier of the 175-pound division lacks depth, making this a crucial leap forward.
Mac Laursen (1-1) vs. Phil Engeroff (2-0)
Laursen's recent bout deserves attention—the fighter endured roughly fourteen minutes of adversity before locking in a rear-naked choke on Celis to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. There's tremendous admiration to be found in his resilience, especially since most competitors would have thrown in the towel during that stretch. Engeroff offers another rigorous challenge for Laursen, and despite being mainly a striker, Engeroff has secured two submissions and remains dangerous at any distance against Laursen.
