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This weekend's UFC event went down in Macau, China. Despite a different start time and a lack of fanfare, this event turned out to be a lot of fun.
UFC Fight Night: Petr Yan vs. Deiveson Figueiredo featured a key headliner in the bantamweight division, as well as a lot of other fights featuring strong contenders. So, what's next for these contenders? Only the promotion's matchmakers know for sure, but there are definitely plenty of options.
Here are five fights to make after UFC Fight Night: Petr Yan vs. Deiveson Figueiredo.
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#5. UFC bantamweight bout: Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Henry Cejudo
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Deiveson Figueiredo came up short in his headline bout with Petr Yan in Macau, but he didn't fight badly per say.
'Deus da Guerra' was largely beaten by Yan on the feet, but he still got plenty of good shots in, and proved that he belonged up there with the true elite fighters at 135 pounds.
While someone like Cory Sandhagen or Mario Bautista could definitely work as a potential next foe for him, perhaps the most intriguing match could come with Henry Cejudo.
Both men are former flyweight champions who moved to 135 pounds, with 'Triple C' of course going one step further by claiming gold there too.
However, since returning from his self-imposed hiatus last year, Cejudo hasn't quite looked the same, and has now lost his last two bouts.
The Olympian has confirmed he isn't retiring, though, and despite recent rumors linking him to a rematch with Dominick Cruz, a fight with Figueiredo might be better.
Not only would it be a fun fight pitting Cejudo's wrestling against Figueiredo's explosive style, but it arguably stands as the flyweight title fight we all missed out on in 2020.
Therefore, it'd definitely make for a cool bit of matchmaking.
#4. UFC welterweight bout: Muslim Salikhov vs. Stephen Thompson
One of the most impressive finishes in Macau came from Muslim Salikhov. 'The King of Kung-Fu' used a spinning wheel kick to dispatch foe Kenan Song in the first round, claiming a $50k bonus in the process.
At the age of 40, Salikhov isn't going to climb into contention at 170 pounds at this stage. However, being a flashy, renowned finisher should be enough to keep him around the UFC for some time yet.
His win this weekend ought to net him a bigger fight, too, so why not match him with former title challenger Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson?
Thompson was once considered a high-end gatekeeper, but with three losses in his last four bouts, he might be beginning to slow down, especially as he's now 41.
If anything, a fight with an ageing veteran like Salikhov rather than a young up-and-comer might be nicer for 'Wonderboy' given his current slide.
What's more, the chances of the fight ending in a flashy kick could be pretty high based on both men's previous work. Therefore, this bout could definitely make some sense.
#3. UFC strawweight bout: Yan Xiaonan vs. Virna Jandiroba
Former strawweight title challenger Yan Xiaonan looked determined to bounce back from her loss to current champ Weili Zhang this weekend.
In the end, 'Fury' did just that, clearly outpointing Tabatha Ricci across three rounds. It wasn't the event's most entertaining bout, but it definitely proved that Yan remains a viable contender at 115 pounds.
Ranked at No.2 in the division, there'd definitely be some sense in the UFC booking her against No.1 ranked Tatiana Suarez in a title eliminator.
However, given that Zhang has now not fought since April, it'd probably be better to simply push Suarez into a title fight with 'Magnum.'
That could leave Yan to face No.3 ranked Virna Jandiroba, who lost out on a planned fight with Suarez next month when the latter withdrew with illness.
Jandiroba is currently riding a lengthy win streak of four fights dating back to 2021, and it'd definitely be interesting to see the Brazilian pit her stifling grappling against the more violent style of Yan.
If the UFC were to match Zhang with Suarez, the winner of this one could absolutely be next in line for a title shot.
#2. UFC light-heavyweight bout: Carlos Ulberg vs. Jan Blachowicz
While his run of violent finishes ended, Carlos Ulberg still stepped up in a big way in Macau this weekend.
'Black Jag' showed his trademark excellent striking, but also a deep gas tank and an iron chin in a three-round win over former title challenger Volkan Oezdemir.
The fight proved that Ulberg is almost certainly ready for the UFC's elite-level 205 pounders. He's now won seven fights in a row, and probably needs just one more win to leap into full title contention.
Perhaps the best fight for him, then, could be against former titleholder Jan Blachowicz. The Polish fighter hasn't fought since his loss to current champ Alex Pereira in the summer of 2023, and was forced out of a planned fight in January due to shoulder surgery.
He's still ranked No.4, though, and will hopefully be ready for a return in early 2025, meaning a fight with Ulberg could work from a timing perspective too.
If 'Black Jag' could knock off Blachowicz, then it could set him up for his own date with Pereira, making this a fight well worth making.
#1. UFC bantamweight bout: Petr Yan vs. Sean O'Malley
The big winner in Macau this weekend was Petr Yan. The former bantamweight kingpin was able to outpoint Deiveson Figueiredo over five rounds in the event's headliner, bringing his current streak to two wins in a row.
'No Mercy' was quick to call out current champ Merab Dvalishvili following his win, but realistically, the UFC shouldn't go down that route.
Not only was the Georgian's first win over Yan largely one-sided, but 'The Machine' should also be facing the streaking Umar Nurmagomedov next, anyway.
So who should fight Yan? The best match for the Russian would almost certainly be another former champ in the form of Sean O'Malley.
'Sugar' was dethroned by Dvalishvili earlier this year, and clearly wants to regain his crown. To do so, though, he'll need to win one big fight at least, and a victory over Yan would definitely be good enough.
More to the point, though, the first fight between these two was a razor-close one, with O'Malley winning a contentious split decision.
If they could rematch in a five-rounder, there would surely be little doubt left as to who the better man truly is. Therefore, the UFC should look to headline a big Fight Night event with this one in early 2025, and watch the sparks fly.
