Last Saturday, Abu Dhabi played host to one of the most anticipated UFC Fight Night main events of the summer between two of the best bantamweights on the planet, Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov. Looking to secure his first shot at undisputed gold, Sandhagen aimed to put on a statement-making performance against the undefeated Dagestani phenom to punch his ticket for a gold-gloved bout.
On the opposite side, the 17-0 Nurmagomedov was eager to prove that, despite his lack of ranked wins in the division, he was more than ready to join the upper echelon of the 135-lb. division’s elite.
Other notable fights include two Ultimate Fighter winners in Tony Ferguson and Michael Chiesa duking it out in a Welterweight showcase, Marlon Vera versus Deiveson Figueiredo, and the undefeated Sharaputdin Magomedov putting his win streak on the line against Michal Oleksiejczuk.
Now, let’s take a look at who this past show’s main card winners should fight next.
Joel Alvarez
Keeping his 100 percent finishing rate intact, Joel Alvarez clocked in a stunning performance in Abu Dhabi when he managed a brutal third round finish over the tough-as-nails Elves Brener, handing the Brazilian his first career loss by stoppage after a barrage of brutal knees and punches. Despite having not competed since July of 2023, the Spaniard looked to be in impeccable form and delivered one of the more electrifying knockouts of the night.
Fight to Make: Jalin Turner
While the lightweight division’s finish king may have called out another king in his post-fight interview, the towering Jalin Turner stands as one of the more interesting fights for Alvarez to take at 155 lbs. With both men standing at 6 ‘3, and with nearly the same amount of reach, the size advantage that “El Fenomeno” normally possesses would be almost negated, leading to an even contest between two of the largest Lightweights in the game.
Mackenzie Dern
Snapping a two-fight losing skid, Mackenzie Dern finally got back in the win column by turning away fellow Strawweight contender Lupita Godinez after a hard-fought unanimous decision. The win was her first since taking a five-round barnburner over Angela Hill last year.
Fight to Make: Amanda Lemos
Looking to inch even closer to a shot at the top of the mountain at 115 lbs, the next bout to make for Dern is former title challenger Amanda Lemos. As a marquee matchup for the Strawweight division, the fight could easily be set up as a headlining bout or top-billed matchup on any pay-per-view. Should Dern manage to move past the stalwart, all-rounded Lemos, then the door to a championship tilt might very well open for the Arizona native.
Michael Chiesa
Obtaining his first victory since 2021, Michael Chiesa got the job done against Tony Ferguson in just over three minutes, submitting the Lightweight legend by rear naked choke in the first round. Despite juggling the responsibilities of being a prominent analyst for the UFC, in addition to being an active fighter, “Maverick” appeared to be in fine form going into his 19th walk to the Octagon. The victory ended a three fight losing streak for the 36 year-old after falling in back-to-back bouts with Vicente Luque, Sean Brady, and Kevin Holland.
Fight to Make: Gunnar Nelson
In all his time with the largest MMA promotion on the planet, if it’s one thing Chiesa has shown himself to be, it’s that he is a stellar Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner, with 11 of his 17 professional wins coming by way of submission. For his next outing, why not pair him up with another welterweight grappling ace, Gunnar Nelson? With both men looking to get into the rankings at 170 lbs, a high-profile finish could be all that either of them needs to guarantee a ranked opponent in their next UFC appearance.
Deiveson Figueiredo
Continuing his climb up the Bantamweight ladder, former two-time flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo picked up an amazing win over the battle-tested Marlon Vera. Taking the first round with a masterful blend of pinpoint striking and grappling, Figueiredo encountered a degree of resistance from “Chito” after the Ecuadorian started to put his foot on the gas pedal in the second round. With the fight even going into the third, “Deus da Guerra” poured on the pressure and scored a massive knockdown on Vera, eventually earning the unanimous decision win.
Fight to Make: Petr Yan
At the moment, most of the 135-lb. division’s top-five either have bouts booked or had already fought on the same card alongside or against Figueiredo last weekend. There are, however, two names that are currently without a dance partner, those names being Henry Cejudo and Petr Yan. Unfortunately, considering how Cejudo had previously coached Figueiredo in the past, it is unlikely the Brazilian would take that fight. If that turns out to be the case, then the next stop on the road toward 135-lb. gold seems to lead to “Deus da Guerra” coming to blows with another former bantamweight champion in Yan.
Sharaputdin Magomedov
After almost two months since his last win, Sharaputdin Magomedov capitalized on a short notice main event opportunity and won a close unanimous decision over Poland’s Michal Oleksiejczuk. Now a perfect 3-0 in the UFC, “Bullet” appears to be on the fast track toward stardom in the Middleweight division with his high-level Muay Thai skillset.
Fight to Make: Roman Kopylov
Across his three fights in the promotion, Magomedov has shown himself to be a talented striker. Which is why, for his next UFC outing, having him fight the equally talented Roman Kopylov gives him the chance to truly test himself against another impeccable kickboxer in the division. And with Kopylov recently employing a healthy dose of wrestling into his game, we will get to see if Magomedov can make the necessary adjustments in the grappling department to continue his ascent in the Middleweight division.
Umar Nurmagomedov
Some were already calling Umar Nurmagomedov a future title contender even before his bout with Cory Sandhagen, and in his first main event, the Dagestani emphatically cemented his case by taking a hard-won split decision over “Sandman.” Utilizing his elite grappling and surprisingly fast hand speed, Nurmagomedov pushed a high pace against the just as game Sandhagen to propel himself into the bantamweight top five.
Fight to Make: Winner of Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili
In a month’s time, current 135-lb. king Sean O’Malley will be making the second defense of his strap against No. 1 contender Merab Dvalishvili. No matter who emerges as the victor, both men bring some rather unique challenges for the undefeated Nurmagomedov. However, in his post-fight interview, he made it crystal clear that it doesn’t matter who it is, he just wants his chance to contend for the belt.
