Fights to Make After UFC Oklahoma City

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen

Sportz Nation - 7/20/2026

Photo by Jeff Bottarri via Zuffa LLC

Dricus Du Plessis vs

1Khamzat Chimaev 2

DDP claimed that after a "performance like that", he deserves another title shot but I think it puts him perfectly even with Chimaev as the next contender after Imavov gets his title shot.

Obviously, the first matchup between these two didn't quite go to DDP's plans so a rematch should be welcomed by him for redemption and in either man's case, would put them solely in line for a title shot next fight.

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Kamaru Usman vs

Shara Magomedov

Usman was adamant that he will fight at either 170 or 185 and is looking for big fights, so I will give him Shara who in a years time from now should definitely be around the Top-10 in the Middleweight division.

Usman likely has 1 or 2 fights left in his career and he is undoubtedly one of the all time greats but he probably won't be getting anymore fights with the likes of fighters like DDP. A fight between Usman and Shara would be a stand up war and easily another Fight Night Main Event that even at 40=years old is still winnable for Usman.

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Christian Leroy Duncan vs

7Joe Pyfer

CLD should be ranked either 9 or 10 at Middleweight after this fight so another fight upwards is in the cards but I'm not convinced that he should go much higher than 7. This fight makes a lot of sense for CLD too since his only win inside the Top-15 is against Izzy and to be honest, that win doesn't seem to be aging too well.

As it happens, CLD and Pyfer are both in the same position of almost being ready to test themselves against Top-5 guys but being just a step away which is why this fight makes so much sense. I realize the UFC likes to not put their up and comers against each other until the last moment in an attempt to create more stars but this is the last moment and should be necessary for both fighters' growth and ascent in the division.

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Jared Cannonier vs

Retirement

Let's just be honest with ourselves and say that Cannonier had a long and prestigous career but at 42-years old, he should go out now. One final Co-Main Event against CLD is a fitting way to go out even if he didn't win and showed that even at his ripe age he still has the fire.

The former title challenger has so many accolades in his career including fighting at 3 different weight classes as well as his title shot against Adesanya in 2022. He may stick around for one more pay day down the road which would come against a non ranked fighter most likely but I believe that he should be content with his career and hang up his gloves now while he can still be considered a valiant challenger rather than a man who didn't know when to go.

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Fatima Kline vs

LOSER of CDern vs 5Robertson

Is it an unpopular opinion that neither the champ Dern or the challenger Robertson are Top-2 in this division? Because I have both Zhang and Tat Suarez comfortably ahead of them for now so whoever loses this fight will need a prove-it fight come somewhere around the beginning of 2027.

Fatima Kline has now won 4 in a row in the Strawweight division including 2 unanimous decisions in a row against ranked fighters. She isn't quite there yet in terms of title shots but I think she should be given the chance to earn that distinction next time around. For either Dern or Robertson, they'll be looking to make there way back to the gold as well so a fight against an unproven yet aggressive striker like Kline is not only fun but necessary for their rankings.

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Tommy McMillen vs

Morgan Charriere

Tommy Gun McMillen is COMING and Featherweights need to take notes. He may only be 2-0 in the UFC and 29-years old but I say he's ready to test the waters with some of the best at 145 already.

McMillen is such a good striker in both technique and volume and his domoination of other prospect Alberto Montes showed that in spades this weekend. His next test can't quite ben for a number yet but a guy like Charrriere who has hovered around the 15-25 mark of the division for more than a year would be perfect to not only test his skill against a much better opponent but his ability to stop takedowns as well which he hasn't had to do yet.

Seriously though, I felt the same way about Topuria as I do this guy 4 years ago and look how that turned out...

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Jose Delgado vs

Josh Emmett

I really thought Austin Bashi would come into this fight with momentum and his wrestling and show that Delgado's 5 minutes in the UFC are up but I was dead wrong. Delgado's initial punch that swelled Bashi's eye up was a clinical strike that was perfect and allowed him to run the table against his 24-year old opponent.

His win was good but still not super impressive. His next fight could be debatably against a ranked opponent but I would like to see how he fairs against a veteran striker and Josh Emmett checks every box. Both guys get an opportunity to be in a ranked eliminator and possibly even get back in the rankings.

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Other Fights to Make

Mitch Ramirez vs Artur Minev

Tabatha Ricci vs Jacqueline Amorim

Alberto Montes vs Robert Ruchala

Jean Paul-Lebosnoyani vs

SeokHyeon Ko vs Khaos Williams

Felipe Franco vs Tanner Boser

Levi Rodrigues Jr. vs Marcus Buchecha

Ezra Elliot vs Jordan Leavitt

Damian Anderson vs Ollie Schmid

Aiden Coria vs Mitch Raposo

Stewart Nicoll vs Contract Release

RJ Harris vs Jhonata Diniz

Alvin Hines vs Allen Frye Jr.

Dione Barbosa vs Gabriella Fernandes

Anna Melisano vs Yuniesy Duben