Fights to Make After Fight Night Moicano vs Nolan
by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen
Sportz Nation - 11/3/2026
14Tom Nolan vs
11Rafael Fiziev
Zak Drapeau -
Nolan's win this weekend over Renato Moicano is definitely controversial but nonethelss is now on a 6-fight streak and ready for a Top-10 fight. Well unfortunately for him, everyone in the Top-10 is either rumoured for a fight already or scheduled in 2027. Everyone except for Fiziev, who would give another Main Event fight to Tom Nolan and give him a chance to combat the allegations that he would've lost to Moicano had it not been for Miragliotta intervening.
12Renato Moicano vs
Grant Dawson
Matt Hylen -
Call it a robbery, call it bad refereeing, but I still think Renato Moicano loses that fight. Now, do I think that the ref should have stood them up with Moicano on Tom Nolan’s back? No, I don’t, but at the same time Moicano did nothing to make me think he could’ve gotten a submission. He was getting destroyed in the feet; I think this fight would’ve ended the same way.
I don’t think Moicano needs a crazy fight down, but more a rebound to get him back on track. Grant Dawson is coming off a nice victory of his own and could present one of the biggest grappling challenges Moicano has ever faced (with the exception of Islam Makachev of course). Dawson deserved a ranked opponent next, while Moicano needs this kind of fight to get back on the upward trajectory.
Jacobe Smith vs
8Leon Edwards
Zak Drapeau -
Like Tom Nolan, Jacobe Smith is ready for a Top-10 fight but did so in such elite fashion against a very talented and experienced Randy Brown. For the Welterweights, there are actually a few ranked fighters that should welcome a fight below them and I think Leon Edwards should be in line. As a former champion and aging veteran, he would be the perfect set up fight for Jacobe Smith to see how he handles an elite fighter. As a striker, Edwards would test Smith's kickboxing which is necessary, especially for a fighter with such a talented prospect grade who's looking to make such a big jump in the rankings.
Randy Brown vs
Jeremiah Wells
Matt Hylen -
This is a big skid for Randy Brown, having lost his last three fights with the loss to Jacobe Smith. It seems that we have seen the peak of Brown, so a fight down may need to happen for him to revitalize his career.
A fun and reckless striker like Jeremiah Wells could be an intriguing matchup for Brown. Wells is coming off one of the biggest upset wins in UFC history, while Brown needs to prove that he can still hang among the UFC talent. This would be such a fun striking matchup that most likely doesn’t see the final horn.
Cody Durden vs
Joseph Morales
Zak Drapeau -
Durden needs to use his big win against Ode Osbourne to his advantage and preferably soon while it still has heat to it. Durden should be around the 25-30 range for Flyweights now and should get another fighter above him even if that hasn't gone his way historically. Durden should strike while the iron's hot and go after a guy like Morales who lost his last bout against Moreno and could be looking for his place in the division too.
Luana Santos vs
Norma Dumont
Matt Hylen -
Luana Santos was dominant against a game opponent on Saturday night. Her elite grappling shined once again, putting her likely a fight or two away from a title shot.
If I were to guess, I think a Joselyne Edwards and Ailin Perez title eliminator will happen, with the winner of that facing the winner of Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nuñes. Thus, Santos is in a peculiar spot; I think facing the loser of Harrison and Nuñes is too far a jump up.
I think Norma Dumont makes a lot of sense for Santos. It gives her a chance to beat a high level opponent and increase her resume for what could be a title shot or, at the very least, a title eliminator next.
Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani vs
Joel Alvarez
Zak Drapeau -
JPL looked great against Hasanov even if he was taken down a few times and is now 3-0 in the UFC. He still has a fight or two before I'm ready to see him against a ranked fighter but I want to see how he fares against real competition. Joel Alvarez is 1-2 since moving up to 170 and has lost his last two, so he is almost in the same boat as JPL and needs to prove he can actually hang with even the mid tier of the division. This fight would also be very well-rounded between two larger Welterweights in what should be a Pick 'Em.
Rodrigo Senzinando vs
Ramiz Brahimaj
Matt Hylen -
Rodrigo Senzinando looked fantastic on Saturday, showcasing his grappling and devastating ground and pound. He ended up cutting his opponent Theodor Berggren so bad that the doctor stopped the fight, but overall I really liked the active grappling I saw from Senzinando.
Let’s see what Senzinando can do against a guy like Ramiz Brahimaj. Brahimaj is coming off a loss to Neil Magny (his second straight loss), and needs a fight down to get himself back on track. I think this is a matchup that is a step up for Senzinando, but not rushing the 28-year-old Brazilian.
Piera Rodriguez vs
10Jessica Andrade
Zak Drapeau -
Rodriguez has won 4 in a row now but it's less about how many she's won, than how she's won her fights. P-Rod has always had a great background in wrestling and used grappling to her advantage but in her last two fights, has shown a SIGNIFICANT improvement in striking and has become extremely well-rounded. With her win streak and improvements taken in consideration, she has to get a ranked fight next and since there are 2 or 3 Straights that have out worn their welcome in the rankings, I'm choosing one of the best Jessica Andrade, who should be returning soon from her shoulder injury and should be ready to take on any challenger the uFC gives her.
Lucia Szabova vs
Karine Silva
Matt Hylen -
Lucia Szabova exceeded the high expectations I had for her coming into this fight. Having been a champion at OKTAGON, this sort of dominant finish was exactly what Szabova needed to put her name on the UFC landscape.
I would reward Szabova with a ranked opponent right away. She’s undefeated and is coming off a huge TKO victory, so why not test her to see what she’s made of. Karine Silva isn’t the most high level opponent anyway despite her ranking. I think Szabova could dominate a fight like this once again and officially lay her mark as the newest condenser at Women’s Flyweight.
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