5 Fights the UFC Ought to Make After UFC 332 | Deadspin.com

UFC 332 was an absolute banger. Natalia Silva grew to become the brand new ladies’s flyweight champion, Payton Talbott added one other former champion to his resume, and Johnny Walker might need discovered a brand new house at heavyweight. We additionally obtained Roberto Soldić’s long-awaited UFC debut and Roman Kopylov reminding everybody that Ateba Gautier nonetheless has some work to do.

Now comes the enjoyable half: determining what’s subsequent. Here are 5 fights I’d make after UFC 332.

1. Natalia Silva vs. Valentina Shevchenko

Natalia Silva is the brand new queen of the ladies’s flyweight division, and her first title protection must be towards the girl who held the belt within the Octagon for years. If Valentina Shevchenko is wholesome sufficient to return, that is the combat to make.

Shevchenko was pressured to vacate the title due to an harm, and he or she’s nonetheless one of many best fighters the division has ever seen. Silva has earned her shot on the high after placing collectively a 15-fight profitable streak, however beating a former champion like Shevchenko could be the last word technique to set up her reign.

Of course, the UFC should not rush Shevchenko again earlier than she’s prepared. But as soon as she’s cleared to compete, there isn’t any cause to overcomplicate the matchmaking. Silva will get the possibility to show she’s the actual deal, whereas Shevchenko will get a possibility to reclaim the title she by no means truly misplaced in a combat.

2. Payton Talbott vs. Sean O’Malley

Talbott made a press release towards Deiveson Figueiredo, stopping the previous flyweight champion within the first spherical and calling out Sean O’Malley afterward. At this level, I’m unsure what else the man must do to get an enormous combat.

O’Malley has already responded to the callout, though he made it clear that his subsequent transfer is dependent upon the end result of the upcoming bantamweight title combat between Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili. If Yan wins, O’Malley needs one other shot on the belt. If Merab wins, a combat with Talbott turns into far more lifelike.

I get it. O’Malley has earned the fitting to chase one other title shot. But Talbott is likely one of the division’s most fun younger fighters, and he is now crushed Henry Cejudo and Figueiredo in consecutive fights. A matchup with O’Malley could be a large step up and an opportunity to show he is prepared to hold with the elite. If the title image would not work out for O’Malley, that is the combat to make.

3. Esteban Ribovics vs. Benoît Saint Denis

Ribovics picked up an enormous win over King Green, stopping the veteran within the first spherical and including one other spotlight to an already entertaining UFC run. Now it is time to see how he handles somebody who can match his aggression.

Enter Benoît Saint Denis.

The Frenchman is all the time seeking to flip a combat right into a warfare, and Ribovics is not precisely the kind to again away from one. Neither man wants a lot encouragement to begin throwing, which makes this a reasonably simple matchup to promote.

Saint Denis has been competing towards more durable opposition, so there is a query of whether or not Ribovics is prepared for that stage. That’s precisely why I prefer it. Ribovics deserves a step up after beating Green, and Saint Denis would give him an opportunity to point out whether or not he belongs within the dialog with the division’s extra harmful contenders. This one may get ugly in the absolute best method.

4. Roberto Soldić vs. Geoff Neal

It took some time to get Roberto Soldić into the UFC, however his debut towards Khaos Williams confirmed why the promotion was taken with signing him. After shaking off some early nerves, Soldić took over the combat, combined in his grappling and earned a unanimous determination.

That was a great first outing, however now I’d prefer to see him towards a extra established identify at welterweight. Geoff Neal looks like the proper of check.

Neal has been across the division’s higher tier for years and has shared the cage with some critical competitors. He’s additionally a harmful striker who would pressure Soldić to be sharp from the opening bell. Soldić has constructed his popularity on ending individuals, however the Williams combat confirmed he can win when issues do not go precisely as deliberate.

Neal would inform us much more about the place Soldić matches within the UFC’s welterweight image. If Soldić can get previous somebody with that type of expertise, the dialog round his potential will get a complete lot extra fascinating.

5. Johnny Walker vs. Marcin Tybura

Johnny Walker’s heavyweight debut couldn’t have gone a lot better. After struggling to seek out consistency at gentle heavyweight, Walker moved up and knocked out Mick Parkin with a knee within the first spherical. It was the type of efficiency that makes you ponder whether he ought to have made the transfer sooner.

Walker has all the time had the bodily instruments and explosive energy to make issues fascinating. The drawback at 205 kilos was placing every little thing collectively persistently. Fighting at heavyweight may give him a bit extra room to work with out the identical brutal weight lower, however one win would not all of a sudden make him a contender.

That’s why Marcin Tybura is smart. He’s an skilled heavyweight who can provide Walker an actual check with out instantly throwing him right into a matchup with one of many division’s high names. Tybura’s sturdiness and expertise would inform us whether or not Walker’s heavyweight success is one thing he can construct on.

Walker has already mentioned he is taken with returning rapidly and going through Tybura subsequent. Sometimes matchmaking actually is that straightforward. Give him the combat, let him construct some momentum and see the place this new chapter takes him.