This past weekend saw Unified MMA host its latest event, Unified MMA 45, featuring a stacked lineup with three championship bouts on the card.
Please note that the potential matchups outlined below are speculative in nature and have not been officially confirmed or reported as being discussed, except where indicated.
We'd love to hear your opinions on which fighters should get their next opportunity and how you'd expect each hypothetical bout to play out.
Ryan Ford (24-6) vs. Ben Saunders (23-13-2)
Ford, now 40 and returning to action after a seven-year absence from mixed martial arts, has rediscovered his competitive edge, earning two stoppage victories and capturing a title throughout 2022. He put on a commanding performance last weekend, knocking out Robert Hale inside the opening round. Rather than match him against a Canadian opponent such as Scott Hudson or Adam Assenza, Unified MMA is more likely to schedule an American foe. One matchup that stands out is against UFC veteran Ben Saunders, who consistently delivered thrilling bouts across his various periods competing in the UFC and Bellator. Saunders recently earned a decision against fellow UFC vet Ramsey Nijem and could provide Ford with the kind of compelling contest fans would enjoy.
Christian Larsen (7-2) vs. Anthony Hamilton (18-11)
Larsen was originally booked to meet Rashad Coulter on the weekend's card, but had to withdraw from the fight, allowing Wells to step in on just one week's notice. Larsen secured a decisive finish in less than a minute to retain his Unified MMA heavyweight title. Following the bout, Larsen revealed that UFC veteran Hamilton had been in negotiations to challenge for the belt prior to Hamilton's most recent loss by quick submission. Larsen expressed continued interest in the matchup, noting that Hamilton has suggested he has been avoiding the fight. Larsen has also been holding discussions with ONE Championship, though hopefully he'll get at least one more shot inside the Unified cage.
Maged Hammo (11-6-1) vs. Tom O'Connor (10-2)
Hammo has found himself on the underdog side in both of his previous fights against Neal Anderson, yet he has silenced every critic with a fourth-round submission followed by a fourth-round TKO. It appears Hammo has solved the puzzle of Anderson, and it's time to identify his next challenger. Earlier this month, O'Connor solidified his standing as the top contender by submitting John Nguyen in the third round in Calgary. O'Connor represents another demanding challenge and would probably shift Hammo back into underdog territory. Will Hammo continue to defy the betting odds?
Eli Aronov (6-0) vs. Dana White's Contender Series Opponent
Reports suggest Mariusz Ksiazkiewicz was handed another DWCS slot following his stellar finish of Alessandro Gambulino last month, yet he chose to keep fighting on the regional circuit in pursuit of a full UFC deal. Ksiazkiewicz filled in for KB Bhullar to face the undefeated Israeli prospect Aronov at Unified 45. From the opening bell, Aronov dominated and nearly closed out the contest multiple times before locking in an arm-triangle choke and earning the biggest victory of his career late in round two. It seems entirely reasonable that Aronov should receive a contract opportunity on DWCS. If that doesn't materialize, I sincerely hope to see him return to the Unified cage this fall.
Mac Laursen (2-1) vs. Chris Chapman (5-3)
Laursen and Phil Engeroff delivered a fight of the night for the ages this past weekend. That marked Laursen's second consecutive submission victory via rear-naked choke. Notably, despite his strong striking pedigree, every finish on Laursen's record has come via rear-naked choke. Chapman has finally secured regular matchups and appears comfortable at a weight class that plays to his strengths. A clash between these two aggressive finishers would be an absolute treat for spectators.
Jett Grande (3-0-1) vs. Kyran Cameron (5-2)
Grande kept his undefeated streak alive with a decision triumph over Colton Boxell, employing a suffocating wrestling strategy. Grande finds himself in a rare situation—few fighters are eager to step into the octagon against him. Regardless, he's overdue for a significant jump in competition level, and Cameron would undoubtedly supply that challenge.
Harley King (2-1) vs. Albaraa Atmeh (2-0)
King wasn't anticipated to breeze through Izzudeen Atmeh this past weekend, but he sent a massive message with a knockout victory under two minutes. The Atmeh family continues to sweep across the regional circuit—Izzudeen's brother, Albaraa, is now slated to battle Vinny Dias in the finals of the BTC $10k bantamweight tournament at BTC 15. Interestingly, Dias' most recent victory came against Izzudeen himself, so should Albaraa secure the win there and subsequently defeat King, he'd avenge his brother twice while earning a solid payday. Sometimes the matchups practically pen themselves.
Tyrell Giselbrecht (2-1) vs. Oren Hanscombe (1-0)
After dropping his first professional bout, Giselbrecht answered back with a first-round armbar submission that caught Caleb Ermine right at the buzzer. Since those initial amateur victories, Giselbrecht has struggled to piece together back-to-back wins, but his upcoming appearance gives him another shot to change the trajectory of his record. Meanwhile, Hanscombe came out of a nearly eight-year layoff after a strong amateur run, making his professional debut last summer with a victory over Dylan McIlvenny. Throughout his amateur tenure, Hanscombe was accustomed to testing himself against high-caliber opponents.
