Matchmaker Monday | what’s next after UFC 276?

The premier event of International Fight Week, UFC 276, has come and gone. The card saw contenders emerge and champions showcase their dominance. Now, Matchmaker Monday is here and it’s time to see what’s next for the winners and losers.

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

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(c) Israel Adesanya (23-1) – UFC middleweight champion

It was another shutout performance from defending middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. Though it may not have been the exhilarating finish that was promised, ‘The Last Stylebender’ found the path to his fifth title defense on the scorecards. The next challenger for the champ is known by the masses, and that is Adesanya’s old foe Alex Pereira. Not only does it present an dangerous stylistic matchup for Adesanya, the history between the pair will create fireworks in the build up. We could be in for an amazing fight with this one.

(#2) Jared Cannonier (15-6) – UFC middleweight contender

The first UFC title shot of contender Jared Cannonier has come and gone. An lackluster performance from the Texas native has surely left a bitter taste in his mouth. At 38 years old, a second shot at the belt is unlikely, so Cannonier will need to make a statement to reestablish himself. The division is somewhat tied up in fights, but a main event against the winner of Jack Hermansson vs Darren Till would be a fun fight & another name for his resume.

(c) Alexander Volkanovski (25-1) – UFC featherweight champion

Is there a hotter fighter than Alexander Volkanovski after UFC 276? The champ put a decisive end to his rivalry with Max Holloway with a brutal display of speed and aggression in their co-main event title fight. Though he’s open to defending his title more against the contenders of 145lbs, Volkanovski is eager to get back to action against the best competition. He called for a vacant title fight at lightweight with former champ Charles Oliveira, and I’m all for it. Two pound-for-pound elites fighting for a world title? Sign me up!

(#1) Max Holloway (23-7) – former UFC featherweight champion

It may not be his first, but this is definitely the toughest loss in the storied career of Max Holloway. His third loss to the reigning champ has essentially locked the former titleholder out of the title picture for the forseeable future. A lot of Holloway’s future will depend on what Volkanovski chooses to do next, but if the pride of Hawaii is staying at featherweight, I think that Josh Emmett makes sense. It would be a fresh face for Holloway and a chance for Emmett to explode into the top contender status. It isn’t a solid pick, but I wouldn’t be opposed to it at all.

Alex Pereira (6-1) – UFC middleweight contender

The power of Brazil’s Alex Pereira was on full display over the weekend, picking up a first round knockout over Sean Strickland. In only 9 months, the former GLORY double-champ has put himself into title contention. There is only one fight for ‘Poatan’, and it has to be against champion Israel Adesanya. Given their history in kickboxing and their competitive rivalry, this could be one of the most important title fights at 185lbs in recent years.

(#4) Sean Strickland (25-4) – UFC middleweight contender

The decision to stand and bang with Pereira was a regrettable decision for Sean Strickland, leaving him with his first ever loss at middleweight. This certainly hurts Strickland’s chances at earning a title opportunity, but all hope is certainly not lost. Someone else in need of a win at 185lbs is Kelvin Gastelum, a former title challenger with fast hands and an exciting style. I could definitely see these two contenders in need of a rebound win facing off later in 2022.

Bryan Barberena (18-8) – UFC welterweight contender

The legend-killing streak of Bryan Barberena continued on Saturday night, becoming the first man in six years to finish Robbie Lawler with strikes. ‘Bam Bam’ has quietly built a three-fight run and is now potentially knocking on the door of the top 15. It wouldn’t quite break him into the elite, but a scrap with Andre Fialho will line Barberena up for a bigger fight in the future. Not only would it be a major fight in both of their careers, it would be a reckless brawl.

Robbie Lawler (29-16, 1 NC) – former UFC welterweight champion

Dropping a TKO to Bryan Barberena has stunted the returning momentum of Robbie Lawler, but he has no hopes of slowing down. Another pay-per-view appearance later in the year for the former champ would make the most sense. A hardened veteran in his own right, I think that a rematch with Matt Brown could be an exciting affair for Lawler. Their bout from eight years ago was FOTY contender, so, why not run it back?

(#9) Pedro Munhoz (19-7, 2 NC) & (#13) Sean O’Malley (15-1, 1 NC) – UFC bantamweight contenders

An anticlimactic end to a crucial bantamweight bout left both Pedro Munhoz and Sean O’Malley disappointed. Neither man was able to deal much damage up to the point that the bout was ended due to an eye-poke, which has left fans and fighters with a bad taste in their mouths. Depending on the timeframe associated with Munhoz’ recovery, a rematch likely makes most sense to be their next bouts. Better yet, schedule the rematch for five rounds.

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