UFC on ESPN 44 saw a thrilling night of fights. In the aftermath the fans are left in the same predicament they are after almost every week. Who is going to fight who next?
Max Holloway vs. Korean Zombie
Max Holloway further cemented his status as one of the top contenders in the featherweight division with a comprehensive decision victory over Arnold Allen at the weekend. While any other fight would be well within their rights to call for a title shot after Holloway’s recent form, winning three of his last four, which have all come against opponents ranked inside the top 10 of the division, however, his performances against champion Alexander Volkanovski will prevent him from being granted that 4th fight with the Australian.
It appears that Holloway is aware of this also as he has not made any move to call out his old foe for a fourth bout. Instead, he has his eyes set on the Korean Zombie, Chan Sung Jung. Holloway has stated that Jung is one of the few fighters that came from the same era as him that he did not get the chance to fight yet. “I would love to share the Octagon with him. He’s one of the OGs that I didn’t get to fight”. While the fight may be being made a few years too late in the eyes of some fans, Jung represents a big-name opponent for Holloway to face and keep his name relevant in the featherweight division. Likewise, if Jung manages to beat Holloway, he would surely have to be considered for another title shot and his stock would rise exponentially.
Edson Barboza vs. Lerone Murphy
While many in the UFC were likely thinking that Edson Barboza would lose on Saturday night against rising prospect Billy Quarantillo, it appears they underestimated the damage that the veteran fighter is capable of causing. A thunderous knee in the very first round saw Barboza pick up the knockout victory in classic style.
Showing that he is not finished in the organisation yet and is more than a match for up-and-coming featherweights looking to break into the top 15. A legend of the octagon, Saturday night marked his 28th fight in the organisation with his debut coming way back in 2010. Unfortunately, his best years appear to be behind him and now at 37 years old, it is highly unlikely that we see Barboza work his way back into the title picture or even the top 5. Yet he is still a fan favourite and an excellent addition to any card. The UFC should focus on providing him with exciting fights which allow him to showcase his skills and do what he does best which is entertaining the fans.
A fight with Lerone Murphy may be the perfect platform to allow him to do that. Murphy is currently on the cusp of breaking into the top 15 and has amassed an impressive pro record of 12-0. A five-fight unbeaten streak in the UFC has seen him showcase his striking skills and is always willing to stand on the feet with his opponents. This suits Barboza perfectly and provides an excellent opportunity for the Brazilian legend to add yet another fight of the night bonus to his resume, adding on to his legacy.
Azamat Murzakanov vs. Ryan Spann
In what was possibly one of the most surprising performances of the night, Azamat Murzakanov cruised to a decision victory over Dustin Jacoby. The light heavyweight utilised his slick boxing to dominate the first two rounds before his gas tank started to falter by the third. While the idea of Murzakanov beating Jacoby is not so shocking itself, the manner in which he did so was truly impressive. Jacoby is an extremely accomplished striker, among the best in the light heavyweight division and has fought many fights as a kickboxer, even fighting in GLORY, one of the most prestigious kickboxing organisations in the world. However, he was utterly outclassed by Murzakanov in the first two rounds being stunned several times.
Murzakanov has now extended his record to 13-0 and looks to be a possible contender at 205. He will be looking to work his way up the rankings. Ranked 15 going into the fight against Jacorby, a breakthrough into the top 10 has to be a priority for the Russian. A fight against Ryan Spann would do an excellent job of showing how good Murzakanov truly is. Spann has been a regular at Light Heavyweight for around 5 years or so and his time in the UFC has seen him pick up eight wins and three losses. Currently sitting at number 10 a win over Spann for Murzakanov would see him hold two wins over top 15 opposition and allow him to slot nicely into a ranking in the lower part of the top 10. This would provide him the perfect springboard to challenge the more established names in the division.
Brandon Royval vs. Winner of Moreno/Pantoja
Brandon Royval made a massive statement on Saturday night with a first-round knockout of number 5 ranked flyweight Matheus Nicolau. He is now riding a three fight win streak with his only losses coming against Brandon Moreno and Alexandre Pantoja in the UFC. Royval is surely on the cusp of a title shot. With Moreno and Pantoja facing off at UFC 290, Royval will have to wait for his turn to take a shot at the gold. His next fight will likely be against one of the two men competing for the belt at UFC 290, depending on how that matchup plays out. The flyweight division has been plagued with rematches and a lack of contenders in recent times and the arrival of Royval as a top contender may inject some much-needed freshness into the 125 lb title picture.
Pedro Munhoz vs. Loser of Song Yadong/ Ricky Simon
Pedro Munhoz managed to pick up an impressive decision victory against Chris Gutierrez last Saturday, finally getting himself back into the winners column for the first time since 2021. He will be looking to improve and build his way back towards the top end of the bantamweight division. This may take some time however, despite winning on Saturday, Munhoz has only won two of his last seven fights and while always fighting elite competition he will need some time to establish himself in the division.
He cannot be jumping up the rankings too soon. A fight against the loser of the upcoming bout between Ricky Simon and Song Yadong would provide a good testing ground for Munhoz to solidify himself as a top 10 Bantamweight and allow him to generate a bit of momentum before making a push to challenge the top guys in the division.
