Matchmaker Monday | what’s next after UFC 275?

Matchmaker Monday is back and this weekend we witnessed UFC 275. The return of the MMA leader to Singapore and brought with it one of the best cards of 2022 thus far. It’s now time to look ahead for both the winners and losers.

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

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(c) Jiri Prochazka (29-3-1) – UFC light-heavyweight champion

After a blood and guts war, Jiri Prochazka made the comeback of a lifetime by submitting Glover Teixeira with 28 seconds on the clock. The new champion has promised to come back better and sharper for his first title defense, and it appears he already has his sights set on someone. Former champion Jan Blachowicz has rebounded since his title loss and the fight makes perfect sense. Let’s hope they do this one in Europe!

Glover Teixeira (33-8) – former UFC light-heavyweight champion

Having his title snatched away was certainly not the way that Glover Teixeira envisioned his first title defense going. Still, after such an impressive performance by the former champ, he’s more than happy to continue fighting at 42 years old. A fight with the winner of Volkan Oezdemir vs Paul Craig could set the victor up for a title opportunity, something Teixeira is keen on.

(c) Valentina Shevchenko (23-3) – UFC flyweight champion

It was a tough night for the queen of the flyweights, but Valentina Shevchenko has once again prevailed as the best in the world. With no true contenders at 125lbs right now, the future may lie 10lbs upward. The winner of Julianna Peña vs Amanda Nunes for the bantamweight title makes all the sense in the world for Shevchenko, regardless of who she’s fighting.

(#4) Taila Santos (19-2) – UFC flyweight contender

The stock of Taila Santos does nothing but rise after her split decision loss to the champ. Some controversy arose due to the eye injury she illegally sustained, meaning she may only be one win away from another shot at the belt. The winner of the eliminator fight between Katlyn Chookagian and Manon Fiorot could serve as the perfect fight for Santos to move back into title convention.

(#2) Weili Zhang (22-3) – former UFC strawweight champion

A dominant performance from Weili Zhang, capped off by a KOTY contender, has put her firmly back into the win column. It also inserts her into the talent rich title picture at 115lbs. As the one of the only clear contenders for the belt, a fight with champion Carla Esparza should take place later this year.

Joanna Jedrzejczyk (16-5) – former UFC strawweight champion

Even though her return to the Octagon didn’t pan out as she intended, Joanna Jedrzejczyk will leave Singapore with the love of the fans. The Pole made it clear that she was walking away from MMA, leaving her gloves behind her in the cage. She has made her impact on women’s martial arts, so retirement is probably the right call at this stage in career.

Jake Matthews (18-5) – UFC welterweight contender

One contender who made a massive statement at UFC 275 was Australia’s Jake Matthews. ‘The Celtic Kid’ came out better than ever, showcasing a new wrinkle of his game through a boxing display. If he’s hoping to crack the top 15, a scrap with Randy Brown should be booked for the promotion’s return down under.

Andre Fialho (16-5, 1 NC) – UFC welterweight contender

A 2-2 record doesn’t reflect the fun that Andre Fialho has brought to the UFC in 2022. Though he came up short against mainstay Matthews, the future still looks bright for this Portuguese prospect. Fellow brawler Niko Price is always down to fight, and a matchup between the two guarantees bloodshed.

Jack Della Maddalena (12-2) – UFC welterweight contender

A close call on the mat didn’t stop Jack Della Maddalena from getting the stoppage on Saturday. The young Aussie has now proven to be a real threat to the welterweight division, so his next fight should reflect such. Ian Garry and Gabe Green are set to throw down later this year, so the winner of that fight could be matched up with Maddalena.

Ramazan Emeev (20-6) – UFC welterweight contender

Dagestan’s Ramazan Emeev couldn’t produce a win in the main card opener, leaving him winless in his last two. This undoubtedly leaves him in a difficult spot. If he doesn’t get another win, he could very well be on the chopping block. A grappler’s delight fight with Mickey Gall is very suited for this scenario and makes sense for both.

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How would you matchmake these fighters? Do you disagree with my picks? Let us know in the comments!