UFC Matchmaking: Featherweight Division

Fans Only Sportz Network
Sep 17
7 min read

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen 9/17/2025 Sportz Nation

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Current Rankings

C Alex Volkanovski

1 Movsar Evloev

2 Diego Lopes

3 Yair Rodriguez

4 Lerone Murphy

5 Aljamain Sterling

6 Arnold Allen

7 Brian Ortega

8 Josh Emmett

9 Youssef Zalal

10 Jean Silva

11 Patricio Pitbull

12 Steve Garcia

13 David Onama

14 Dan Ige

15 Giga Chikadze

White: Our Created Matchup

Yellow: Rumored Matchup

Red: Confirmed Matchup ___________________________________

C Alex Volkanovski

4 Lerone Murphy

Zak

In my humble opinion, the next title fight should go to Evloev, but after Lerone Murphy's spinning knockout of Aaron Pico, it looks like he's got next. Volk's chin will have the "glass" reputation anytime he faces a striker like Murphy, but at the end of the day, Murphy's undefeated streak has never seen someone like Volk, and the champ's experience should make this fight a super competitive war that ends, "and still".

Volkanovski by Split Decision

Matt

After his KO win against Aaron Pico, I think it is a championship fight next for Lerone Murphy. He is one of the most underrated undefeated fighters in the UFC, which I think will end once this title fight is announced. Both Murphy and Volkanovski want it, stylistically it is a huge clash, and it makes the most sense promotionally. I think this has potential fight of the year written all over it.

As much as I hate saying this (I am a huge Volk fan), I think I would go with Murphy by TKO/KO here.

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1 Movsar Evloev

2 Diego Lopes 2

Zak

I thought that Evloev should wait until the next championship fight and not risk his spot, but that may end up being around the end of 2026, and he NEEDS a fight before then. After winning 6 of the 7 fights since losing to Evloev in 2023, Lopes deserves this rematch and title eliminator. Lopes looks as skilled as anyone, but Evloev's wrestling is too good, and he should win again.

Evloev by Unanimous Decision

Matt

This makes the most sense in my eyes. Evloev lost his opportunity to fight for a title back when Volk fought last, so I believe a title eliminator against Diego Lopes is the fight to make. Lopes is coming off a huge TKO win against Jean Silva and is a fight away from another title shot. For Evloev, this is his chance to remind everyone who he is and why he is undefeated and ranked #1 in the division. Whoever wins this fight automatically should get a title shot.

I would have Lopes by split decision here.

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3 Yair Rodriguez

5 Aljamain Sterling

Zak

Both of these fighters are in a tricky spot, and since they're both Top-5, we paired them up because it kind of makes sense. A clash between the striker and the wrestler, Sterling definitely has the edge in my book, and Yair's day in the sun seems like it's running out. The winner of this fight probably gets the loser of the championship fight and could be in contention for their own title shot soon.

Sterling by Unanimous Decision

Matt

It was difficult to find a matchup for Aljamain Sterling, but I think a fight against Yair Rodriguez would benefit both fighters. Neither fighter is in the title conversation as of right now, so the winner of this fight would get the opportunity to demand a title eliminator as their next fight, at a minimum. They are very different fighters in terms of style, with Yair being an unorthodox kickboxer and Aljo being a grappler, so it would be extremely interesting to see who is more prepared for this hypothetical matchup.

I would have Sterling by Submission here.

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7 Brian Ortega

12 Steve Garcia

Zak

After Ortega's horrible weight cut and loss to Sterling, it makes sense for him to be tested by an up-and-comer, and Steve Garcia is the best of the bunch. The "Mean Machine" has great hands but could be a victim to Ortega if the fight goes to the ground. Ortega has been in the top 10 for 7 years now, but after this fight, his streak will end.

Garcia by TKO

Matt

Due to his subpar run of form in recent fights, Brian Ortega will need a lower-ranked fighter on his resume before moving back up in competition. Thus, Steve Garcia would be the perfect fight for him. For Garcia, as a rising prospect who is looking to move up quickly, getting a win against a big-name fighter like Ortega would easily be the biggest win of his career and possibly bring a top-5 fight next. This makes sense for both fighters who are a win away from being in that top-5 conversation.

I would have Ortega by decision here

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8 Josh Emmett

9 Youssef Zalal

[Winner Fights

6 Arnold Allen]

Zak

The only confirmed fight currently toward the top of this decision, this fight should be a classic brawl, but there's a reason Zalal is a -350 favorite. Eleven years younger than his opponent, Zalal's blend of striking and level changes should stifle Josh Emmett, who at this point in his career is only a threat with a big-swinging knockout.

In the next fight, Zalal's level changes should be an even bigger factor against Allen, and he should be able to take the Brit into deep waters if he can avoid his brutal combinations.

Zalal by Unanimous Decision

Zalal by Split Decision

Matt

First off, Emmet vs Zalal is going to be insane. I love that fight not only for both fighters, but as must-see TV for any fight fan. Emmet has uncanny one-shot knockout power for this division, while Zalal is turning into a submission specialist. If Emmet can tidy up his takedown defense, I think this fight could be extremely interesting.

I also think the winner getting Arnold Allen makes sense as well. Neither Allen nor the winner of Emmett/Zalal is or would be in the title conversation just yet, so a fight to determine who moves up to that echelon of the division is the move to make in my mind.

I would have Zalal beating Emmet by submission and Allen by decision

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10 Jean Silva

13 David Onama

Zak

Silva may have been put out in his last fight against Diego Lopes, but he still has a lot of juice in his game. David Onama also has momentum with a 4-fight win streak on the line, but Silva's brutality should be enough to catch Onama, who will try to outpoint the Brazilian, and I can't see that working unless Silva's loss to Lopes messed up his head.

Silva by TKO

Matt

I light of JeanSilva moving up in competition a little prematurely, I think a fight against an up-and-comer like Onama is a good rebound fight. It would allow Silva the opportunity to prove he belongs in the top 10, while giving Onama the chance to make a huge statement and demand a top-ranked fight next. This is the kind of fight you do not see going the distance either, which makes more sense promotionally to lock down this matchup.

I would have Silva by TKO/KO here.

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11 Patricio "Pitbull" Friere

Aaron Pico

Zak

Both of these fighters got fast-tracked early in the UFC, and it has shown. Pitbull was able to beat Dan "The Gatekeeper" Ige, but Pico is still looking for his first win in the UFC, and I think he gets it here. Bigger, younger, and in my opinion more well-rounded, Pico should outpoint Pitbull and, in my opinion, dominate the fight on his way to getting a number next to his name.

Pico by Unanimous Decision

Matt

For two decorated fighters trying to find their place in the UFC, I think a Pitbull/Pico matchup could be a huge statement fight. Pico was looking really good until one mistake knocked him out, while Pitbull got his first win in the UFC against a ranked opponent. The winner would solidify themselves in the rankings and officially start their climb to the top of the division.

I would have Pico by TKO/KO here.

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14 Dan Ige

Chepe Mariscal

Zak

Speaking of the gatekeeper, Dan Ige is a veteran and one of the longest-fighting featherweights in UFC history, but his time has come. Chepe Mariscal is 5-0 since coming into the UFC, and honestly, I wanted his first ranked fight to be even higher, but it makes sense for his first real showing to be against a legend like Ige.

Mariscal by Unanimous Decision

Matt

Since Mariscal is the likely most deserving unranked fighter to bet a ranked matchup, putting him against, like Zak said, the ultimate gatekeeper of the division is a no-brainer. With Ige on the latter side of his career, fights like these could keep him in the ranks while also allowing unranked guys opportunities to progress their careers.

I would have Ige by Decision here.

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15 Giga Chikadze

Jose Delgado

Zak

Another up-and-comer but with a completely different style, Jose Delgado could be the next boogeyman of the division. On a 7-fight win streak, all by finishes dating before the UFC, Delgado doesn't waste time, and even though Chikadze is as talented on the ground as anyone, Delgado's momentum and brutality should knock the Georgian down in the first round.

Delgado by TKO

Matt

This is another fight that would not last long. Both fighters have so much to lose in this fight, so you already know they are going to go for the win as soon as they can. When at the top of their game, both Chikadze and Delgago are beasts, so this could be an absolute barnburner of a fight.

I would also have Delgado by TKO/KO here.

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Sean Woodson

Melquizael Costa

Zak

For our lone unranked fight, we thought it was right to include both Melquizael Costa and Sean Woodson, who should be next up. This fight will be a banger until the final bell, but I have Costa winning it just by a hair.

Costa by Split Decision

Matt

This is a very intriguing unranked fight between two of the better unranked fighters in the division. I think whoever wins this fight automatically gets a ranked opponent next, while the other falls deeper into the pool of unranked fighters. Woodson's length would be a challenge for Costa's ground game, but I think Costa is good enough to make it interesting.

I would have Woodson by decision here.

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Honorable Mentions in the division:

Hyder Amil, Pat Sabatini, Nathaniel Wood, Doho Choi

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