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Fights to Make: Next for Puna Soriano?
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01.19.2021 | 2:56 PM ET
Young at 28, and only 2 - 0 in the UFC, Punahele Soriano is the #36 ranked Middleweight according to Tapology. He just finished another promising prospect in Dusko Todorovic (#53) in the 1st round last week.
Who's next for this up-and-comer?
1. Edmen Shahbazyan (#12) - I would love to see if Edmen could bounce back after suffering his first loss to Derek Brunson in August. The Golden Boy is only 23 years old, 4 - 1 in the UFC. If Edmen is real, he should beat an unproven Punahele. A fan friendly stand up bout between 2 power strikers with different body types. Two young warriors with hype on their names.
2. Brendan Allen (#18) - Another guy hovering outside the rankings, Allen is only 25. Both he and Soriano represent the future of the Middleweights, with Allen touting a bit more experience in the Octagon. It's a similar story to Shahbazyan: coming off his first UFC loss, can Allen bounce back versus an unproven hype-train?
3. Karl Roberson (#29) - A seeming journeyman in the middleweight division, Roberson is 4-3 in the UFC. He had 5 cancelled bouts in 2020, and loss once last year to Marvin Vettori (#5). He's a talented, quick kick-boxer who Puna should beat. So if the UFC makes this fight, its designed for Puna to continue racking up victories and gaining steam in the division.
4. Alessio Di Chirico (#37) - The only fighter on my list ranked behind Story Time, the UFC may make this fight because of the similar timelines of both guys and the fact that they both scored 1st round KO finished on the same card. Like Roberson, Di Chirico is a journeyman with a 4 -5 record in the Octagon. If Puna is real, he should defeat Alessio.
5. Krzysztof Jotko (#16) - A random addition to the list: Jotko is a fighter hovering just outside the middle weight rankings. He boasts a 3 fight win streak, is 9 - 4 in the UFCoverall and is living his fighting pime at 31 years of age. I wouldn't be surprised to see the UFC throw Puna into a big fight against a guy hovering just outside the Top 15. If Puna is as good as he seems he should rise to the occasion. A definite step up against an established middleweight gate keeper.
Who's next for this up-and-comer?
1. Edmen Shahbazyan (#12) - I would love to see if Edmen could bounce back after suffering his first loss to Derek Brunson in August. The Golden Boy is only 23 years old, 4 - 1 in the UFC. If Edmen is real, he should beat an unproven Punahele. A fan friendly stand up bout between 2 power strikers with different body types. Two young warriors with hype on their names.
2. Brendan Allen (#18) - Another guy hovering outside the rankings, Allen is only 25. Both he and Soriano represent the future of the Middleweights, with Allen touting a bit more experience in the Octagon. It's a similar story to Shahbazyan: coming off his first UFC loss, can Allen bounce back versus an unproven hype-train?
3. Karl Roberson (#29) - A seeming journeyman in the middleweight division, Roberson is 4-3 in the UFC. He had 5 cancelled bouts in 2020, and loss once last year to Marvin Vettori (#5). He's a talented, quick kick-boxer who Puna should beat. So if the UFC makes this fight, its designed for Puna to continue racking up victories and gaining steam in the division.
4. Alessio Di Chirico (#37) - The only fighter on my list ranked behind Story Time, the UFC may make this fight because of the similar timelines of both guys and the fact that they both scored 1st round KO finished on the same card. Like Roberson, Di Chirico is a journeyman with a 4 -5 record in the Octagon. If Puna is real, he should defeat Alessio.
5. Krzysztof Jotko (#16) - A random addition to the list: Jotko is a fighter hovering just outside the middle weight rankings. He boasts a 3 fight win streak, is 9 - 4 in the UFCoverall and is living his fighting pime at 31 years of age. I wouldn't be surprised to see the UFC throw Puna into a big fight against a guy hovering just outside the Top 15. If Puna is as good as he seems he should rise to the occasion. A definite step up against an established middleweight gate keeper.