5 title eliminator fights to book in the UFC

#2. Rose Namajunas vs. Marina Rodriguez – UFC women's strawweight bout

Rose Namajunas' lackluster performance against Carla Esparza at UFC 274 saw the strawweight title change hands for the fifth time since 2017. Esparza, the new champion, edged out a split decision victory in one of the worst title fights in promotional history.

Esparza is now 2-0 against Namajunas, who will likely have to beat a fellow contender to earn another title shot. Moreover, for as long as Esparza remains the champion, it'll be very hard to market a trilogy bout after the astonishingly forgettable rematch.

A No.1 contender bout at 115 pounds is already on the horizon. Former champions Zhang Weili and Joanna Jedrzejczyk are set to run it back at UFC 275 in Singapore, with Dana White confirming that the victor will fight for the belt next.

Meanwhile, Rose Namajunas will need to return to the win column in her next outing if she is to fight for UFC gold again. The only logical opponent for the TUF alum is No.3-ranked Marina Rodriguez.

Rodriguez is also one win away from a shot at the belt. The rising Brazilian contender is coming off three wins on the trot against top contenders Michelle Waterson, Mackenzie Dern and Yan Xiaonan.

A potential title eliminator bout with Namajunas offers both fighters a chance to solidify their status as the next No.1 contender after the Weili vs. Jedrzejczyk winner fights Esparza.

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#1. Colby Covington vs. Khamzat Chimaev – UFC welterweight bout

With welterweight champion Kamaru Usman reportedly set to defend his title against Leon Edwards later this year, there is no clear-cut No.1 contender at 170 pounds. The promotion typically lines up a title eliminator fight around the same time as a championship bout and it remains to be seen who'll feature in such a matchup.

Colby Covington currently occupies the top spot in the welterweight rankings, despite having faced and lost to the champion twice. Covington will likely need another high-profile win before returning to title contention. A win over the hottest prospect in MMA right now, Khamzat Chimaev, would give 'Chaos' enough leverage to talk himself into another championship opportunity.

Dana White all but confirmed his interest in the matchup before and after the UFC 273 pay-per-view, where Chimaev beat top-ranked contender Gilbert Burns to break into the top five.

Khamzat Chimaev seemingly had an unbreakable aura of invincibility going into his high stakes bout with Gilbert Burns, having finished every opponent he had previously faced in his professional career.

His memorable barnburner with Burns gave fans, analysts and his peers a lot to work with going forward. Coming away with a razor-thin decision win, some of the chinks in Chimaev's armor were undoubtedly exposed during the bout. However, it's important to note that 'Borz' later revealed that he didn't attempt too many takedowns as he was wary of the submission threat posed by 'Durinho'.

Chimaev currently occupies the No.3 spot in the 170-pound division. A win over Colby Covington, who many believe is the second-best welterweight in the world behind Kamaru Usman, would further cement his claim to a title shot.

Moreover, the build-up to this blockbuster bout would be an absolute spectacle. Covington's ability to draw attention is world-class, irrespective of whether or not one finds his tactics unethical. 'Chaos' will likely verbally attack Chimaev to no end leading up to a potential clash between the duo, and it'll be interesting to see if 'Borz' can keep his cool under such circumstances.

Every way you look at it, it's an outstanding matchup. Stylistically, they are very similar, as both fighters come from wrestling backgrounds and appear to have unmatched grit and durability. Chimaev likely has more power, while Covington largely relies on his relentless pressure and volume.

A shot at gold beckons for the victor.