Fights to Make After UFC Sacremento

by Zak Drapeau

Sportz Nation - 8/24/2026

Photo Credits to Jeff Bottari via Zuffa LLC

Gregory Rodrigues vs

Brendan Allen

Zak Drapeau -

Hell yeah, RoboCop is gonna be Top-7 in the Middleweight division this week. I'm stoked! Rodrigues had a great display of power and striking this weekend and now has 4 wins in a row and in 7 of his last 8.

His next fight doesn't necessarily have to be a Top-5 guy, but Brendan Allen is also not active enough for his #4 ranking either. If the two fought, it would be another clash of styles with Allen the wrestler and Rodrigues the power puncher, and could easily main event a Fight Night or co-main a PPV.

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Anthony Hernandez  vs

Bo Nickel

Matt Hylen -

Though it did end up in a loss, what Anthony Hernandez showed on Saturday night should have earned all the respect in the world. The guy just wouldn't quit; he never stopped moving forward, no matter how battered he was getting. He gave Rodrigues the biggest challenge of his career, but will need a fight down from top contender fights.

If Bo Nickel wants to prove he is who he says he is, why not put him against one of the best grapplers and cardio machines the division has to offer. Nickel would also present a unique challenge for Hernandez that I think could absolutely get him back on track. Both fighters are beatable with the right game plan, but are unstoppable at the top of their game. I really like this fight as an opportunity for Nickel to ascend into top contender status while giving Hernandez a notable name to get his own back on track.

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Vitor Petrino  vs

Aleksandr Rakic

Zak Drapeau -

Petrino may have just gotten a huge win over the #6 heavyweight, but I'm not sure he deserves another fight up. Spivac had a decent win recently over Ante Delija that kept him at #6, but with the heavy turnover in the division and Spivac's style, you know the UFC looks at him closer to the 10-15 range.

So, I think Petrino debuts around #9 when the next rankings come out, and his next fight should be with someone else that is on their way up the rankings, like Rakic or even Valter Walker. The way the UFC is building up the division makes me think they won't want a styles clash and instead go for a guy like Rakic, who will stand toe-to-toe with Petrino to give the fans what they want and also see which of these guys have the chops to start thinking about the Top 5.

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Serghei Spivac  vs

WINNER of Gable Steveson vs Sean Sharaf

Matt Hylen -

After losing his third fight in his last four, Spivac has officially hit that gatekeeper status that should be welcoming the newcomers of the Heavyweight division. So, who better than the winner of Gable Steveson and Sean Sharaf?

The reason I have the winner facing Spivac is because I truly believe Steveson will dominate Sharaf and warrant a ranked opponent next. If he dominates once again, Steveson should get that Josh Hokit-like fast track into ranked contention. Spivac would easily be Steveson's biggest test of his MMA career, while also being an opponent Steveson can showcase his grappling against. As for Spivac, if he were to stop the Gable Steveson hype train, that would do wonders for his career and put him right back on track in the upward trajectory.

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Reinier de Ridder  vs

Robert Whittaker 2

Zak Drapeau -

I mean, yeah, this is the only fight to make in my mind. Both de Ridder and Whittaker made the jump to 205 about five weeks ago, and RDR dismantled Dolidze this weekend. Now that they'll both be back in the rankings, this time at 205, the rematch from last summer should happen.

Last time around, Whittaker was the victim of a razor-thin split decision loss to RDR last July, but it was at a time when you could tell Whittaker needed a change, and RDR was still rocketing in the Middleweight division. Now that they both have revitalized their careers, I am EXTREMELY interested in seeing this one pan out again.

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MarQuel Mederos  vs

Chris Duncan

Matt Hylen -

I think Chris Duncan is a perfect matchup for MarQuel Mederos. After winning a brawl against Mason Jones, maybe Mederos has more potential than I at least thought. Chris Duncan is right on the cusp of the rankings, having lost his first fight in his last five, last time out against a ranked Renato Moicano.

If Mederos wants to prove he is worthy of a ranked spot in this division, he also needs a grappler on his resume. Duncan is just that, but with the top-level experience Mederos should be looking for in a next opponent. This would be a huge opportunity for both fighters to break out and get a ranked opponent next.

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Carli Judice  vs

Gabriella Fernandes 2

Zak Drapeau -

Judice had a nasty body kick knockout this weekend to not only shoot her name to the top of the Flyweight prospects list but also give her her 4th win in a row in just two years. Her last loss was by split decision to none other than Gabby Fernandes, who sits at #15 in the division with no clear direction.

Judice was still in her career's infancy when she lost to Fernandes in what turned out to be a war, and since then, she has improved in every way. With Fernandes coming off a loss and needing a prove-it fight to stay ranked, I'd love to see the rematch, especially if it's even half as good as the first time around.

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Anthony Wint vs

Marcin Tybura

Matt Hylen -

After his Contender Series win, I felt Anthony Wint could be the next big thing at heavyweight. After his win on Saturday night, I know he is going to be.

Anthony Wint is a monster; his power is unreal and he has unnatural quickness for his division. The UFC clearly loves him, so why not give him a real test in Marcin Tybura. Tybura has fought nothing but the best for years, but his losing skid will have him taking a fight down next. Thus, let the biggest gatekeeper in the UFC invite one of the division's best prospects into the rankings in a stylistic matchup that can prove Wint can compete against any style.

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Shamil Gaziev  vs

Tyrell Fortune

Zak Drapeau -

I'm still not quite sure how to go forward with Gaziev because, on one hand, he just knocked out Nzechekwu into another orbit. On the other hand, we're still only talking about Gaziev and Nzechekwu, and they may be dangerous, but they still have clear ceilings in the UFC.

So here's my reasoning: Tyrell Fortune was prematurely given a Top-10 ranking before being classed in his first fight with that ranking. So now he's floating in still water at #12, and if he were to fight Gaziev, we'd find out one way or another if either of these guys is what they're cracked up to be.

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Chris Padilla  vs

Mateusz Rebecki

Matt Hylen -

Chris Padilla topped off a fantastic performance by putting Nasrat Haqparast to sleep with a standing Arm Triangle. He is the real deal, and he showed that by making a very solid fighter look like a guy just coming out of the regional scene.

I think Padilla deserves a big step up next. Mateusz Rebecki is coming off a buzzer-beater finish of his own, seemingly back on track after a losing skid to some hefty competition. With the resume Rebecki has to go along with his crazy style, this could be the chance Padilla needs to either get a ranked eliminator next or even a low-ranked opponent, depending on how emphatically he wins.

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Other Fights to Make

Roman Dolidze vs Jimmy Crute

Mason Jones vs Nasrat Haqparast

Jeisla Chaves vs Kaitlyn Cerminara

Terrance Chatman vs Thomas Peterson

Jamall Emmers vs Chepe Mariscal

Lerryan Douglas vs Yadier del Valle

Kennedy Nzechekwu vs Jose Montanha

Ryan Kuse vs Robert Ruchala

Stan Dorsainvil vs Michael Johnson

Gauge Young vs Kaue Fernandes

Jackson McVey vs Robert Bryczek

Wes Schultz vs Julian Leblanc

Shanelle Dyer vs Gabriella Fernandes