Monday Matchmaker: What’s next for Topuria, Chimaev after UFC 308 wins?

On Oct 28, 2024

Massive issues occur each time the UFC makes its annual October journey to Etihad Area on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, and this 12 months was no totally different.

Ilia Topuria closed out UFC 308 by doing exactly what he promised to do, changing into the primary particular person to cease Max Holloway as a consequence of strikes whereas retaining his featherweight title in a efficiency that places him within the thick of the “best fighter on the planet right now” dialog.

Previous to “El Matador” efficiently defending his title and incomes his second monumental stoppage win of 2024, two elite contenders appeared to cement their standing as next in line of their respective divisions, whereas a number of others turned in high quality efforts to earn victories and my consideration from a fantasy matchmaking perspective.

So let’s get into this version of the Monday Matchmaker.

ILIA TOPURIA

After dispatching Holloway and providing a sort phrases to the Hawaiian star throughout his post-fight interview with Daniel Cormier, Topuria was requested who he’d like next out of former champ Alexander Volkanovski and surging Brazilian Diego Lopes, and responded by saying, “both” and laughing.

Volkanovski made his means into the Octagon to congratulate Topuria and the 2 shared a pleasant second, with the Spaniard saying the previous champion deserves a rematch after all he had completed throughout his reign atop the 145-pound weight class.

This was at all times the way in which issues have been going to go if issues performed out the way in which they did on Saturday, and it’s the suitable determination, but it surely additionally feels a little bit handed its “sell by” date as properly.

Tenured champions like Volkanovski at all times benefit an automated rematch; he held the title for 4 years, efficiently defended it 5 occasions and hadn’t misplaced within the division till Topuria dusted him in February to say the title. Had that not been the Australian’s second knockout loss in 5 months, we possible would have seen the rematch already, however Volk rightfully wished to take a while, Holloway made his case emphatically at UFC 303, and now right here we’re.

One could make a sound argument that Volkanovski needs to be higher this time round — he’s not making a fast turnaround off a knockout loss in a combat that he had taken on brief discover up a division, and his pedigree makes him, on the very least, a reside canine. However you can additionally argue with greater than a 12 months prone to have handed by the point they do it once more, the excitement of a rematch could have died down, and that Volkanovski having misplaced three of his final 4 makes you marvel if the pack lastly caught as much as him after years of attempting to chase him down?

Plus you could have the streaking Lopes proper there as arguably a extra fascinating, extra thrilling choice, having earned three wins this 12 months within the time since Volkanovski has been regrouping to push his profitable streak to 5 and put himself within the thick of the title dialog.

The scary factor is that who Topuria fights next may not matter as a result of he’s appeared excellent the entire means via his UFC profession, and as soon as once more made good on his lofty pre-fight promise, efficiently changing into the primary particular person to cease Holloway. He’s now 8-0 within the UFC and 16-0 general, and he doesn’t flip 28 till early next 12 months.

Topuria is excellent in each aspect, aggressive in his pursuit of motion, and hardened in his perception that he’s the perfect fighter on the planet. Outcomes like he’s delivered this 12 months make it tough to argue that isn’t the case.

KHAMZAT CHIMAEV

As quickly as Chimaev wrapped up his first-round stoppage win over Robert Whittaker within the co-main occasion, everybody was calling for the undefeated menace to leapfrog Sean Strickland within the next middleweight title combat reverse Dricus Du Plessis.

It’s comprehensible on condition that Chimaev injured Whittaker’s jaw and is now 8-0 within the UFC and 14-0 general, with all however two of these UFC wins coming inside the space. However there isn’t a must shuffle the deck and push Strickland apart.

For as dominant as Chimaev has been contained in the Octagon, he’s additionally been considerably unreliable and difficult to guide outdoors of the cage, which makes banking on him as a title challenger, and potential champion past that, a difficult enterprise.

He had already been compelled to withdraw from a gathering with Whittaker earlier within the 12 months as a consequence of well being points, and has fought as soon as yearly, in October, in Abu Dhabi, every of the final two years. Since his whirlwind introduction to the UFC viewers in 2020, Chimaev has competed simply 5 occasions, and it looks as if he’s restricted to preventing in Saudi Arabia or Abu Dhabi, which limits when his next combat might conceivably happen.

Slightly than push Strickland apart to hustle Chimaev into the combo, undergo with the rematch between Du Plessis and Strickland within the first quarter of 2025, and guide the unbeaten contender towards the victor in October. It’s not excellent that Chimaev at all times will get a house sport, however you possibly can solely make due with what you’ve acquired and he’s too good to not afford him a possibility to problem for championship gold next trip.

MAGOMED ANKALAEV

This one brings up the age-old query of whether or not we need to see the perfect combat the perfect or the best, most explosive potential matchups accessible?

In a meritocracy, Ankalaev would have fought for the belt forward of Khalil Rountree Jr., however that’s not how issues work, so as a substitute, the gifted Russian needed to get rid of Aleksandar Rakic in a good-but-not-great effort to prolonged his unbeaten streak to 13 and additional entrench himself because the No. 1 contender within the mild heavyweight division.

Nevertheless, nearly as good as Ankalaev is, he’s not at all times entertaining, and that’s how all-action sorts like Rountree Jr. are in a position to skip the road and problem for gold forward of him. There may be additionally the priority that he may very well be kryptonite for Pereira, although the printed group did a superb job detailing how regardless of his notion, the Russian isn’t a high-volume wrestler, and isn’t notably environment friendly together with his takedowns when he does look to go that route.

We’re on the level now between Ankalaev’s unbeaten streak and Pereira’s torrid tempo that they’re actually the one opponent that is sensible for each other going ahead, so the UFC would possibly as properly simply go forward, guide it, and see what occurs. At this level, betting towards “Poatan” appears silly, and if Ankalaev does win, you’ve acquired a brand new champ that simply unseated a juggernaut to increase his unbeaten run to 14, which seems like a reasonably good promoting level in the event you ask me.

QUICK HITTERS FOR THE REST OF THE UFC 308 WINNERS

Lerone Murphy: After besting Dan Ige on the scorecards, Murphy known as for a bout with Josh Emmett and it’s an ideal pairing. “The Miracle” is 7-0-1 within the UFC and 15-0-1 general, and a date with a tenured gatekeeper like Emmett makes quite a lot of sense.

Shara Magomedov: “Bullet” picked up the never-before-seen double spinning backfist knockout win over Armen Petrosyan on Saturday to maneuver to 4-0 within the UFC. He appears to have among the similar “where he can fight” limitations as Chimaev, which limits his choices, however I believe a grinder like Andre Petroski would completely satisfied enterprise to the Emirates with a purpose to doubtlessly up-end the streaking striker.

Ibo Aslan: Now 2-0 within the UFC with a pair of finishes, Aslan deserves a step up in competitors. Mild heavyweight is at all times a little bit skinny, so he’s prone to be in with somebody far more skilled next trip, like Ion Cutelaba maybe.

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Geoff Neal: The Fortis MMA man snapped a two-fight skid with a first-round damage stoppage win over Rafael Dos Anjos in a bout he was dominating out of the gates. With everybody else forward of him both booked or already on his resume, a five-round fundamental occasion reverse Joaquin Buckley in Q1 2025 will surely work and assist proceed clarifying issues within the welterweight division.

Mateusz Rebecki: The Dana White’s Contender Collection (DWCS) grad went to conflict with Myktybek Orolbai and got here out on the completely satisfied facet of the break up determination verdict. He’s a enjoyable, action-oriented fighter, so let’s see how he does towards a extra technical opponent like Nasrat Haqparast web trip.

Abus Magomedov and Ismail Naurdiev: Magomedov picked up his second straight win a pair fights after Naurdiev earned a victory in his return to the promotion. They’re on the identical timeline, they’re in the identical vary within the division, and pitting them towards each other in a “which one moves forward?” kind of contest would work.

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Kennedy Nzechuwku: Following an inconsistent run at mild heavyweight, Nzechukwu shifted as much as heavyweight on Saturday and stopped Chris Barnett, wanting a lot swift together with his weapons and cozy in his new environment. He was initially scheduled to face Marcos Rogerio de Lima on Saturday, so re-booking that one is a straightforward option to kind out what comes next for Nzechukwu.

Farid Basharat: Props to Basharat for going via together with his combat towards Victor Hugo up a full division after the Brazilian missed weight by an egregious 9.5 kilos. Basharat earned the choice win to stay unbeaten, and deserves one other step up in competitors next trip. How does the winner of the upcoming conflict between Miles Johns and Cody Garbrandt sound?

Rinat Fakhretdinov: “Gladiator” moved to 5-0-1 within the UFC with a victory over Carlos Leal within the UFC 308 opener. He’s fought a great slate and his win over Bryan Battle continues to age properly, which ought to put him in line for one other slight step up in competitors going ahead, with Australian Jake Matthews feeling like an affordable goal.

Extra from Sportsnet

Ilia Topuria knocks out Max Holloway to defend featherweight title at UFC 308

Khamzat Chimaev dominates Robert Whittaker in a single spherical at UFC 308