After every event, fans wonder whom the fighters will be matched up with next.
And 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 on ESPN+ 17’s most noteworthy fighters.
Those included Yair Rodriguez (11-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC) and Jeremy Stephens (28-16 MMA, 15-15 UFC), who fought to a no contest in the featherweight headliner at Mexico City Arena in Mexico, as well as ex-champ Carla Esparza (15-6 MMA, 6-4 UFC), Sergio Pettis (18-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) and Bethe Correia (11-4-1 MMA, 5-4-1 UFC).
Bethe Correia
Should fight: Winner of Macy Chiasson vs. Lina Lansberg at UFC on ESPN+ 18
Why they should fight: Correia surprised the oddsmakers, pundits and especially Sijara Eubanks when she delivered a gutsy effort to pull off the unanimous decision victory and potentially save her UFC roster spot.
At 36 and with just one win her previous six fights, Correia had been largely written off as a relevant factor in the women’s bantamweight division. She proved otherwise, though, outworking a tough opponent like Eubanks who less than two years ago was scheduled to fight for a UFC title.
Does the win signify Correia is ready to return to title contention herself? Probably not, but it gives her good position to fight another worthwhile foe at 135 pounds. The winner Chiasson (5-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) vs. Lansberg (9-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC), who fight next weekend at UFC on ESPN+ 18 in Copenhagen, would be a step up in the rankings a good matchup for both sides.
Sergio Pettis
Should fight: Winner of Tim Elliott vs. Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC on ESPN+ 19
Why they should fight: Pettis got a much-needed win in his return to the UFC flyweight division when he turned back veteran octagon newcomer Tyson Nam in a lopsided unanimous decision.
Although the fight was somewhat underwhelming, Pettis clearly took all three rounds and was never in danger against Nam, who possesses fight-ending power. It puts him back on the map at 125 pounds, where he’d been a contender for a few years before a brief attempt to move up.
Pettis is in somewhat of a peculiar situation, though. He’s already lost to champ Henry Cejudo, but holds a win over consensus No. 1 contender Joseph Benavidez. He’s not getting either of those rematches now, but another win could be in good position. There’s a key 125-pound bout between Elliott (15-8-1 MMA, 4-6 UFC) and Figueiredo (16-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) scheduled for UFC on ESPN+ 19 on Oct. 12, and the winner of that fight will be knocking on the door for a title shot, too.
Pitting the winner of that bout against Pettis in a title eliminator makes sense given the divisional layout.
Carla Esparza
Should fight: Loser of Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Michelle Waterson at UFC on ESPN+ 19
Why they should fight: Former UFC champ Esparza delivered one of the more significant performances of her post-title run when she won a very close majority decision over rising strawweight star Alexa Grasso.
Esparza entered hostile territory and produced an effort that now has her on a two-fight winning streak and trending upward in the weight class she once ruled for the first time in a while. Another big fight is likely on the horizon for “The Cookie Monster,” and she should be keeping a close eye on an upcoming main event at 115 pounds.
The winner of next month’s UFC on ESPN+ 19 main event between Jedrzejczyk (15-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC) and Waterson (17-6 MMA, 5-2 UFC) will likely receive or be very near a title shot. The loser, however, will be keen to assert themselves back on a run, and a fight with Esparza could help them to that.
Esparza, of course, has a history with Jedrzejczyk. She dropped UFC gold to the Polish striker at UFC 185 in March 2015. The rematch could finally make sense if Jedrzejczyk falls short. Waterson, meanwhile, is one of the few top-ranked names in the division who Esparza has yet to share the octagon with. And it could be time to change that.
Yair Rodriguez & Jeremy Stephens
Should fight: Each other
Why they should fight: Watch the video above to see why Rodriguez and Stephens should have an immediate rematch next.
