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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
With his victory over Tito Ortiz at UFC 121, Matt Hamill notched his fifth straight win in the Octagon. Although that includes a disqualification win over Jon Jones in a fight in which he was physically dismantled, the other four victories now put him in line for a step up in competition.
According to UFC President Dana White, that's just what he's going to get. At the post-fight press conference, White talked about what's up next for the 34 year old.
"I think we've got to get Matt a fight in the top 10 in the 205-pound division, which is obviously the meanest and nastiest division, as always," White said. "I'm sure his next fight will be a top-10 opponent."
If that's the case, there aren't many options available at this point in time. Of the top ten light heavyweights in the UFC, all but Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Randy Couture are booked for fights in the coming months. Quinton Jackson and Lyoto Machida face off at UFC 123, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and Rashad Evans will meet in the spring, Jon Jones and Ryan Bader face off at 126, as do Forrest Griffin and Rich Franklin. And then fringe top 10 fighter Thiago Silva takes on Brandon Vera at UFC 125 on New Year's Day.
But Hamill deserves a step up in competition, and he's proven himself capable of competing with all that the UFC puts in front of him, with the exception of the Jon Jones fight. Another win over a big opponent will boost his stock even further.
Penick's Analysis: I'd expect the UFC to look at a Hamill-Lil Nog fight next, although Couture could be an option. I don't know if that fight is interesting enough for Couture, and it may not be the type of fight he'd want to come back for, but if he could be convinced I think it would be a solid co-main event fight for a card. But Lil Nog seems like the most realistic option at this point, and I think that will make for a highly competitive bout.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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