Matchmaker Monday – UFC 265

The second UFC trip to Houston this year saw some of the most memorable moments of the year. A new champion was crowned, a legend returned to prime form and a new title contender fully emerged. Now, it’s time to take a closer look at what’s next for these fighters.

DISCLAIMER: this is purely opinion based, feel free to disagree!

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Ciryl Gane (10-0) – interim UFC champ

Just shy of the anniversary of his second year in the UFC, Ciryl Gane has interim UFC gold around his waist. The Frenchman only has one matchup ahead of him, and that’s champion Francis Ngannou. The pair of champs need to unify the heavyweight title, and it’s certainly a hell of a matchup to do so. If this fight could happen in Paris, it would be massive for French MMA.

Derrick Lewis (21-8-1) – heavyweight contender

Coming off his second failed bid at the title in under 3 years, Derrick Lewis is in a weird spot at heavyweight. His next move is all depending on what he wants from the sport. If he’s looking to make another run at the title, I would love to see him fight the winner of Shamil Abdurakhimov vs Chris Daukaus. Abdurakhimov has gone 3-1 since losing to Lewis in 2015, and Daukaus is a rising contender with heavy hands. Both of these present interesting stylistic matchups for ‘The Black Beast‘.

Jose Aldo (30-7) – bantamweight contender

The King of Rio looked sensational this past Saturday. He showed very sound defensive skills while mounting blindingly quick offense. If the former champ wants to keep himself on the road back to gold, I would love to see he and Dominick Cruz share the ring. Cruz also appears to be on the comeback trail, so the winner could climb higher up the bantamweight ladder.

Pedro Muhnoz (19-5, 1 NC) – bantamweight contender

It was a tough night at the office for Pedro Muhnoz, but he continues to be one of the staples at 135lbs. Right now, he’s 2-3 in his last 5, so perhaps his next fight being a step down in the rankings makes sense. I think a scrap with Marlon Vera means a fun fight and puts the winner right back on track.

Vicente Luque (21-7-1) – welterweight contender

Although the odds were even entering the fight, nobody could’ve predicted a submission for Vicente Luque over Michael Chiesa. This just proves that the young Brazilian has continued improving his game. Now, he’s on the cusp of a title shot. If the UFC insists on Leon Edwards having another bout before a title opportunity, Edwards vs Luque is a clear title eliminator fight.

Michael Chiesa (18-5) – welterweight contender

Taking his first loss at 170lbs, Michael Chiesa was all-class after Saturday night. Despite this, he’s determined to come back stronger than ever at welterweight. The only fighter that makes sense for ‘Maverick‘ who isn’t booked up is Stephen Thompson. Honestly, I think this is a fun fight. The winner is back in the title mix and it’s a winnable matchup for both.

Tecia Torres (13-5) – strawweight contender

Another dominant showcase for Tecia Torres has her riding back-to-back wins. She once again proved through her improving striking and strong grappling that she can hang with the some of the best at 115lbs. I think a rematch of her 2017 bout with Michelle Waterson makes sense both women in their careers right now. The winner would catch the eye of the upper echelon of strawweight.

Angela Hill (13-10) – strawweight contender

Though she picked up an L at UFC 265, Angela ‘Overkill‘ Hill remains omnipresent at 115lbs. Presuming that plans on another bout in 2021, a fight with Amanda Lemos seems like an interesting clash. If Hill can hold off the forces of a surging Lemos, it proves that she’s still more than ready for the best at strawweight.

Song Yadong (17-5-1, 1 NC) – UFC bantamweight

Young Chinese prospect Song Yadong picked up a decision win in an ultra-competitive fight on Saturday. This places him back amongst some of the most highly touted at 135lbs. Jimmie Rivera seems like a fun matchup for Yadong, and it means a spot in the top 15 should he get the win.

Casey Kenney (16-4-1) – UFC bantamweight

A second loss in 2021 seems to have Casey Kenney on the downturn, but the Indiana native still has plenty of potential at 135lbs. For my money, Kenney vs Ricky Simon would be as much an explosive matchup on the feet as it would be on the mat. The winner would be back on the cusp of a top 15 shot, and it would be a hell of a scrap.

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Are these matchups that you’d like to see? Would you do things differently? Let us know in the comment section below!