Now that UFC 228 is in the rear view mirror, its time for UFC chief Dana White to pick up the phone and see what’s next for the prize fighters featured on this card. With Conor-Khabib and what looks to be a tremendous fight card for UFC 229 here in Vegas, UFC is already looking beyond next month’s historic bout.
Whether it’s the next step for a newcomer to the group of UFC elite, or a significant bout for an up-and-coming fighter, White has a lot of important match-making to do the next few weeks. If UFC 229 is a massive success like some are anticipating, his next bouts will dictate whether or not he kept the train moving forward, or failed to capitalize on the previous success.
The Champion’s Future
Tyron Woodley has officially cemented his legacy amongst the greats with a win over the young and hungry Darren Till. Till entered this fight as the favorite but was almost completely neutralized on the feet by the methodical Woodley. So, who’s next for the UFC welterweight champion? Simple. There’s a guy out there that has been antagonizing Woodley for quite some time now and fate has it that their paths are about to cross. This guy is none other than Colby Covington.
This is the fight everyone wants to see. Covington opened his mouth and backed it up with wins over Rafael Dos Anjos and Demian Maia. There’s no other fight to make in this division at this moment. A win for Woodley could possibly propel him into star status if he isn’t there already. Covington said he wanted Woodley and now he just might get what he wished for.
The Young Bull
Darren Till is arguably the second best fighter in the welterweight division. He pulled out a win against Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson but lost decidedly to Woodley, landing only one strike in that fight. He definitely doesn’t deserve a rematch with Woodley so we’re forced to look at other contenders. There are many fights that make sense for Till after this loss, but I see only two options for the young gorilla.
He could stay at 170 pounds for another fight or two and take on Kamaru Usman in what would be an explosive striking battle that fans would die for. The option is also there to move up to 185 pounds, which is inevitable anyways as the kid is pretty big. It might be time to go for the middleweight strap since Woodley is in complete control of this division. Not to mention the weight cut is very brutal for Till.
The Next Contender at Strawweight
Jessica Andrade emerged out of Saturday a serious contender for the UFC strawweight championship. Tatiana Suarez also earned a win in dominant fashion on Saturday night. However, she probably needs one more win under her belt to have a crack at the title. The next fight for Andrade is clear cut at this point. Rose Namajunas vs. Jessica Andrade in December. Book it folks.
Karolina Kowalkiewicz, on the other hand, did not look anywhere near her best on Saturday night. Who knows if she was scared of Andrade’s aggression and power. Rest assured, that type of performance will definitely drop her in the rankings. I’d like to see her take on Carla Esparza next. They both have names with value, are coming off losses on Saturday night, and are close to each other in the rankings. It makes sense.
The Next Stop for Zabit
The next fighter we have to talk about is none other than Zabit Magomedsharipov. Zabit has earned the hearts of fans across the world with his powerful demeanor and unorthodox talent. The guy’s creativity is off the charts. It does not matter who the UFC puts in front of him, Zabit will put out an entertaining fight. He called out Chad Mendes after his victory on Saturday. What 145-pounders out there are calling out Chad Mendes? Absolutely no one. Let’s see just how real the hype is behind Zabit Magomedsharipov.
Just like that, UFC 228 is behind us for good. Some hearts were broken along with some bones as well, but either way the show must go on. We’ll see you Oct. 6th, ladies and gentlemen, when history is sure to be made…unless Connor loses his shit again and throws another dolly.
