(ALSO SEE: Sean Shelby’s Shoes: What’s next for UFC 241’s losing fighters?)
After every event, fans wonder whom the winners will be matched up with next.
With another night of UFC action in the rearview mirror, it’s time to look forward, put on a pair of Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard’s shoes, and play UFC matchmaker for UFC 241’s key winning fighters.
Those include Stipe Miocic (19-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC), who took the heavyweight title back from Daniel Cormier (22-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC) in the main event at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., as well as Nate Diaz (20-11 MMA, 15-9 UFC), Paulo Costa (13-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) and Cory Sandhagen (12-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC).
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Cory Sandhagen
Should fight: Marlon Moraes
Why they should fight: Sandhagen once again showed he’s a serious contender at bantamweight when he made relatively easy work of one of the longest standing top dogs in the division in Raphael Assuncao, taking a clear-cut unanimous decision to stay perfect inside the octagon.
Although beating Assuncao has typically been a gateway for a UFC title shot, it seems Sandhagen won’t get that privilege because of the long queue of names already waiting for champ Henry Cejudo. Some of those names are deserving for the work they’ve put in at 135 pounds like Aljamain Sterling and Petr Yan, while others such as Frankie Edgar, Urijah Faber and possibly Jose Aldo could get a shot because of their credentials in the sport.
That means Sandhagen will have to win at least one more, and if he fights and beats Moraes (22-6-1 MMA, 4-2 UFC), who is coming off a title-fight loss to Cejudo at UFC 238 in June, he would have an undeniable resume. Make it happen.
Paulo Costa
Should fight: Winner of Robert Whittaker vs. Israel Adesanya at UFC 243
Why they should fight: In a similar light to Sandhagen, Costa got through the middleweight division’s most difficult task outside of the champion by beating Yoel Romero in an epic fight by unanimous decision.
With a perfect record that saw him win a fight by decision for the first time against Romero, the Brazilian has absolutely done his part to get a fight against the winner of the upcoming 185-pound title fight between Whittaker (20-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) and Adesanya (17-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) at UFC 243 in October. UFC president Dana White admitted post-fight that it would be hard to deny him, too.
Regardless of who comes out that fight, a matchup with Costa would be must-watch material. Costa is dangerous in multiple areas and is pure aggression inside that octagon. Whether it’s Whittaker or Adesanya, it’s time for Costa to fight for that belt.
Nate Diaz
Should fight: Jorge Masvidal or Conor McGregor
Why they should fight: Watch the video above to see why Diaz should fight Masvidal (34-13 MMA, 11-6 UFC) or McGregor next (21-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC).
Stipe Miocic
Should fight: Daniel Cormier or Francis Ngannou
Why they should fight: Watch the video above to see why Miocic should fight Cormier or Ngannou (14-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) next in his first heavyweight title defense.
