The main event of UFC Vegas 111 pitted ranked welterweight Gabriel Bonfim against UFC veteran Randy Brown. Before the event, many thought it would be another boring UFC Apex card, but even before reaching the main event, the card caught fire. With just four decisions in the first eleven fights and a great mix of KOs and submissions, it was set up for a statement at the top of the bill.
Gabriel Bonfim versus who?
Earlier in the evening, older brother Ismael Bonfim brutally tasted defeat against Chris Padilla after losing weight. However, the welterweight Bonfim did not let this influence him, in his first UFC main event he showed himself in a big way. In the second round Bonfim landed a brutal one cling knee on Brown and dropped him heavily, referee Mark Smith immediately stepped in, much to Brown’s disappointment. Many fans have debated the stoppage online, but it isn’t a major referee error, especially compared to recent blunders at UFC events.
After the fight, Bonfim called for a big name in Colby Covington. Now, Covington has been incredibly inactive and is notoriously down in his rankings waiting for opportunities above him. Last year he suffered a TKO loss via bad cut to rising contender Joaquin Buckley. The American has only competed once a year since 2020 and the UFC will undoubtedly save him for the White House card if he is still within the organization. So it may be worth looking in a different direction.
Looking above Bonfim in the rankings, there are already many matchups, but there are also a few without opponents. The aforementioned Buckley is without an opponent and is licking his wounds after a grueling defeat to former elite champion Kamaru Usman in June. Buckley was on an excellent streak before encountering the ‘Nigerian nightmare’. Bonfim offers a great rebounding opponent and Buckley himself is the right next step for the rising Brazilian.
Bonfim was pictured with a boot on his right leg after the fight, so he could well be sidelined for a while. Another welterweight who could be out of the cage for a while is Geoff Neal. Neal suffered a brutal KO loss to the popular star in August Carlos Prates. Given the brutality of the knockout schedules, both Bonfim and Neal could potentially match up in the spring of next year. A time when the UFC tends to head to Brazil for fight night and this could easily make headlines.
Who would you like to see against Gabriel Bonfim next?
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