What's Next After UFC 322?

Sportz Nation Staff
3 minutes ago
8 min read

by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen 11/19/2025 Sportz Nation

Matt's Fights

Islam Makhachev

vs Ilia Topuria

Jack Della Maddelena

vs Shavkat Rakhmonov

I think there is only one fight to make for Islam Makhachev, which could be the biggest fight in modern UFC history. A fight with Ilia Topuria is the only move that makes sense for both parties, as they are both on different levels than the fighters below them. We will be able to see the best striker in the UFC face off against the best grappler in the UFC, finally putting to rest who is the pound-for-pound #1 fighter in the world.

As for Jack Della Maddalena, I think a rebound fight against Shavkat Rakhmonov makes sense. Rakhmonov is extremely dangerous on the feet as well as the ground, but he is seemingly being forgotten among title contenders due to his inactivity. With the division absolutely loaded at the top, both JDM and Shavkat need a signature win to propel themselves back into true title talks.

Valentina Shevchenko

vs Natalia Silva

Weili Zhang

vs Mackenzie Dern

Valentina Shevchenko is in a tough spot at the moment. She just destroyed the champion below her, but I think a move up to face off against Kayla Harrison might create the same mismatch Zhang Weili had when she moved up. Thus, I think a fight against the undisputed number one contender in the division, Natalia Silva, is the right move for Valentina.

As for Weili, this fight was solely a matter of her lack of size. She is not a Flyweight, simple as that. I do not think this loss should tarnish her current standing, so I have her getting a chance to reclaim her belt at Strawweight against Mackenzie Dern. No one in that division deserves a shot over Weili, causing me to believe this is the right move for her.

Michael Morales

vs Carlos Pratas

Sean Brady

vs Loser of Belal Muhammad/Ian Machado Garry

Both Michael Morales and Carlos Pratas finished their fights in the most impressive and dominant way they could have finished them. For me, you simply cannot justify putting one ahead of the other when it comes to a title shot. With that said, I think a title eliminator between the two would not only be logical, but one of the fights of the year if it happened.

As for Sean Brady, I think the loser of Muhammad and Machado Garry makes sense. I think he and the loser of that fight would be in similar situations; they do not deserve a fight down the rankings, but also are a fight away from a top contender. This could solidify the line to the top in a logical way.

Carlos Prates

vs Michael Morales

Leon Edwards

vs Gilbert Burns

Credit to Ed Mulholland, Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

Since I matched up Carlos Pratas against Michael Morales, I will leave my reasoning above.

As for Leon Edwards, this is about as bad a downfall as we have seen from a long-time champion in a while. I think a fight against Gilbert Burns makes sense because it saves the career of the winner, while likely retiring the loser or at least plateauing as a gatekeeper.

Benoit Saint Denis

vs Max Holloway

Beneil Dariush

vs Retirement

Benoit Saint Denis also won in spectacular fashion, showing the world he has learned from his mistakes and is officially back to his peak form. I think a fight for the BMF belt against Max Holloway would be an absolutely CRAZY fight that could put the winner in the title talks.

For Beneil Dariush, I honestly think he should just retire at this point. He has not made any upward progress in years and has shown no signs of ever moving up in the rankings. It was a good run for Beneil, but I think his time in the UFC is over.

Bo Nickal

vs Joe Pyfer

Rodolfo Vieira

vs Brad Tavares

I think Bo Nickal proved he learned from his mistakes. The difference in his last two fights is night and day; he looked extremely dangerous on the feet, which combined with his already elite wrestling makes him formidable. The improvement he showed makes a fight against a brawler like Joe Pyfer very interesting.

As for Rodolfo Vieira, he is kind of in no man's land right now. He will need at least a two-fight win streak to get back on track, making Brad Tavares interesting since he is in the same boat.

Gregory Rodrigues

vs Reinier De Ridder

Roman Kopylov

vs Jun Yong Park

Gregory Rodrigues' rise in the rankings is legitimate and concerning for those ranked above him. He is an absolute unit for the Middleweight division, which is why I want to see him against a dual-threat fighter. Reinier De Ridder can provide that challenge for RoboCop, while also possibly redeeming himself from his embarrassing loss last time out.

Roman Kopylov is still a fun fighter to watch, but he needs a fight down in order to prevent himself from fading into irrelevance. Jun Yong Park is also on a skid of his own, so a matchup between the two could be fun for the fans and a way for both to maintain their status right outside the rankings.

Erin Blanchfield

vs Alexa Grasso

Tracy Cortez

vs Wang Cong

Erin Blanchfield is an absolute beast and a force to be reckoned with. However, her division is stacked, which is why I do not think a title shot will be next for her. If she fought Alexa Grasso and won, she would then be undeniable.

As for Tracy Cortez, I liked what I saw from her on the feet, but the ground defense needs much improvement. A fight against a fun up-and-comer in Wang Cong could help her get her confidence back if she won.

Pat Sabatini

vs Josh Emmett

Chepe Mariscal

vs Jose Delgado

Pat Sabatini deserves a ranked fighter next but needs to prove he can beat a high-level striker. Matching up against a proven veteran and heavy-handed Josh Emmett could be exactly what he needs to solidify himself as a contender.

As for Chepe Mariscal, it was not a bad loss for him, so I feel as though he still deserves a fight around his ranking. Jose Delgado seems like he is in a similar position as Chepe. Plus, this would be a heck of a fight on the feet.

______________________________

Zak's Fights

Islam Makhachev

vs Ilia Topuria

Jack Della Maddelena

vs Michael Morales

I expected Islam to win but not that dominantly. The truth is, at 170 pounds, Makhachev may be the most dominant pound-for-pound fighter we've ever seen. As for his next fight, I believe it's written in the stars for the biggest fight the UFC could possibly make to headline the White House event, and that is Makhachev vs. Topuria.

As for Della Maddalena, after being dominated, he will need a few fights at the top of the rankings to prove himself again, and what better way to start than the biggest riser of the division, Michael Morales. The standup matchup between Morales and JDM would be a beautiful matchup.

Valentina Shevchenko

vs Natalia Silva

Weili Zhang

vs Manon Fiorot

Shevchenko may have just had her best fight as she completely dominated the #2 ranked fighter in the world. At 125, Natalia Silva is the next challenger after her win over former champ, Alexa Grasso.

Weili Zhang has to go back to the drawing board, and thankfully she has some options. The logical step would be for her to go back to 115 and challenge Dern for her belt back, but I'll switch it up. If Zhang did decide to stay at 125 for the challenge, a battle with Manon Fiorot would put her right at the top of the division's contenders.

Michael Morales

vs Jack Della Maddelena

Sean Brady

vs Kamaru Usman

Michael Morales has officially put the world on notice after finishing Sean Brady and amassing a 19-0 perfect record. His next fight has to be a title eliminator, so putting him against the former champ JDM could result in the most explosive fight of 2026.

As for Sean Brady, he is still firmly in the Top 10, and what better way for him to stay within his range but also have a fight that excites him than by fighting the second-best welterweight ever, Kamaru Usman.

Carlos Prates

vs Shavkat Rakhmonov

Leon Edwards

vs Gabriel Bonfim

Another part of the Welterweight shakeup was Carlos Prates continuing his momentum and knocking the bejesus out of Leon Edwards. So it's time to give him a top guy, and as soon as Shavkat gets healthy, that fight might excite me more than any other in terms of pure in-ring fighting potential.

As for Leon, he's now lost three in a row and still has a lot to give but needs to start giving the up-and-comers a shot. After Gabe Bonfim's knockout earlier in the month, I believe that would be a masterclass of striking I'm very hopeful to see.

Benoit Saint Denis

vs Mateusz Gamrot

Beneil Dariush

vs Joel Alvarez

Photo by Jeff Bottari/ Zuffa LLC/ Getty Images

Boy, Saint Denis just flatlined Beneil Dariush like no one before him. Even though I could see him fight someone in the Top-5 after that, I believe a matchup with #7 Mateusz Gamrot is where the UFC will go, with most of the Top-5 of the division already entangled with each other.

As for Dariush, the 36-year-old could consider retiring, but if he still has some to give (and I believe he does), giving a shot to Joel Alvarez or another fighter between #15 to #20 would be best for him and the division.

Bo Nickal

vs Abus Magomadeov

Rodolfo Vieira

vs Ateba Gautier

It's good to see Bo Nickal back in the winning column, and I believe he should get a ranked eliminator next with another guy on the fringe of the Top-15. Abus Magomedov would be a great test in that range, as someone who has wrestling to match Bo (kind of), but the striking to test Nickal's standup as well.

After Vieira got beaten pretty decisively, it's back to the drawing board, and a guy like Gautier, who is undefeated in the UFC and on the fringe of being on the fringe, is a perfect matchup.

Gregory Rodrigues

vs Roman Dolidze

Roman Kopylov

vs Edmen Shabazyan

Photo by Dylan Napoleone/ Cageside Press

Robocop is FINALLY ranked, and it's about time. Now his next challenge will be to cement his ranking with a guy like Roman Dolidze. Rodrigues is on a great 2-fight streak right now, but I feel like a jump to a guy like de Ridder, who's ranked #8, might be too high of a jump for him at the moment.

Kopylov is on the opposite trajectory after losing 2 in a row and needs to fight someone below him to hopefully get back to his #15-to-#20 range. Shabazyan would not only be a beautiful fight but fit everything someone in his position needs.

Erin Blanchfield

vs Alexa Grasso

Tracy Cortez

vs Jasmine Jasudavicius

Blanchfield has now won 2 in a row for a title eliminator, and with the way 125 is set up, she could easily get a title shot if she beats another Top-3 fighter. The former champ Grasso is a perfect test.

For me, Cortez vs. Jasudavicius was the easiest matchup to make for this list. They are #8 and #7, respectively, and are both coming off a loss to a Top-4 fighter.

Pat Sabatini

vs Dan Ige

Chepe Mariscal

vs Nathaniel Wood

Finally, we get to Sabatini and Mariscal, and make no mistake, even though Sabatini took home the UD, both of these featherweights are still Top-20. Pat's next fight will be for a number naturally, and Dan Ige has been the gatekeeper for years now, so to me, this is a fight they need to make.

For Mariscal, after his first loss in the UFC, he should get right back on the horse and go after a contender like Nathaniel Wood, who is on a 3-fight streak. The winner of that fight could be looking for a ranked eliminator next too.

___________________________________