Jon Jones, UFC 309 ceremonial weigh-in Credit score: Jake Noecker/Cageside Press
The UFC’s yearly November journeys to New York are often a number of the greater occasions on the calendar. They are saying there’s magic inside Madison Sq. Backyard that may flip any combat card into memorable moments and this 12 months was no totally different; folks will keep in mind this occasion for a large number of causes. With UFC 309 now formally behind us, it’s time to take a look at what’s subsequent for its winners.
This shouldn’t take too lengthy; it’s Tom Aspinall. Is there a #1 contender, throughout any division, extra deserving of a shot on the undisputed title than Tom Aspinall? Folks can speak about Magomed Ankalaev and Manon Fiorot’s very sturdy instances, however Aspinall’s beats theirs with out the shadow of a doubt.
Now that Jones lastly obtained the legacy combat he needed towards Stipe Miocic, he has the identical two choices that Tony Ferguson as soon as gave Conor McGregor on the mic: defend or vacate. If he desires to chase different names he has namedropped this previous week like Alex Pereira, Jamahal Hill or Derrick Lewis, then he must vacate the heavyweight title. If he desires to maintain his belt, then there isn’t any different possibility than Tom Aspinall.
Jones’ subsequent combat: Tom Aspinall
UFC 309 was the primary time in Oliveira’s profession that he went into the championship rounds. Regardless of a fifth-round scare and having to combat by means of a number of fouls from Michael Chandler, “Do Bronx” earned the unanimous determination victory.
The previous champion isn’t missing in choices. He clearly has a declare to a title shot towards the winner of the Makhachev/Tsarukyan rematch, which must be introduced any minute now. Nevertheless, if Islam Makhachev is victorious, his subsequent combat would possibly very properly be for a shot at double-champ standing, which he could have earned. If Tsarukyan dethrones the champion, Makhachev will virtually definitely be granted a direct rematch. In both state of affairs, Oliveira won’t get his title shot for some time, which means he’ll most definitely have to combat once more.
Dan Hooker, Renato Moicano and Paddy Pimblett are all related names at light-weight that he hasn’t fought and will have referred to as out. He would possibly even nonetheless be within the Conor McGregor sweepstakes if the Irishman ever does return to the octagon.
Ultimately, no combat makes extra sense than a Max Holloway rematch. Holloway has acknowledged that he’s aiming for a return in the summertime at Worldwide Combat Week. Oliveira simply went 5 onerous rounds and revealed he fought with a knee damage. Letting him get better means a summer time return doubtless works for him as properly. It’s the combat I referred to as for within the matchmaking piece that was written after UFC 308, which yow will discover on this very web site. It’s a combat that was booked practically 10 years in the past when each have been rising contenders. It’s a disgrace we didn’t get to completely see it play out after it ended rapidly resulting from a fluky damage. Quick ahead to right this moment and each are a number of the most achieved fighters this sport has seen.
It’s a conflict of legends we need to see.
Oliveira’s subsequent combat: Max Holloway rematch
This was a puzzling efficiency from Nickal. He got here in with a 100% end price going up towards an almost 37-year-old Paul Craig who was 1-4 in his earlier 5 fights, getting completed in his final three losses. it that approach, it’s not obscure why he was an enormous -1200 betting favorite.
When two fighters identified for his or her grappling prowess face different, it’s not unusual to see the combat play out as a placing affair. However Craig’s placing has by no means been particularly threatening, so it was unusual seeing Nickal not press on the fuel pedal extra regardless of by no means actually being in peril.
In final week’s matchmaking article, I stated that Reinier de Ridder ought to combat the winner of this combat, however I’m undecided I like that combat as a lot now. So I’m altering the decide to a combat that was booked earlier than. It made sense when it was introduced, and it nonetheless is sensible now: Tresean Gore. Gore made an emphatic comeback final week with one other brutal guillotine end. He represents precisely the extent of competitors that Nickal must show he can beat convincingly earlier than we throw him to the higher echelon of the division.
Nickal’s subsequent combat: Tresean Gore
Viviane Araújo
The veteran Araújo obtained one in all her largest wins as she handed the streaking Karine Silva her first UFC loss. She holds the gatekeeper function, like a Dan Ige or Jack Hermansson, the place she at all times represents take a look at to see the place contenders fall throughout the division’s construction.
Now that she fended off Silva, let’s see if she will be able to do the identical factor to Tracy Cortez. Cortez is coming off a loss, however her inventory shouldn’t drop an excessive amount of. She fought Rose Namajunas on brief discover and nonetheless managed to go the space. For that motive, I’m nonetheless prepared to provide her somebody ranked above her like Araújo. Hopefully Cortez gained’t be out too lengthy following surgical procedure, and this combat can happen within the first half of 2025. That seems to be her plan at current.
Araújo’s subsequent combat: Tracy Cortez
Opening up the UFC 309 Pay-Per-View, the Combating Nerds’ product Mauricio Ruffy gained a cushty determination over James Llontop. The UFC had initially introduced throughout the UFC 306 broadcast that Ruffy was scheduled to combat on UFC 307 in Salt Lake Metropolis. After failing to seek out him an opponent for that date, they pushed him to 309 towards James Llontop. As a result of the combat was on comparatively brief discover, they booked it at a catchweight of 165 lbs, and regardless of the 10-pound cushion, Llontop nonetheless got here in above the contracted restrict. This could possibly be a part of the rationale he was capable of survive the onslaught that Ruffy placed on him within the first two rounds.
Whereas I believed this was a greater efficiency than some are prepared to confess, I’m nonetheless not able to throw Ruffy to the wolves. He requested for Benoit Saint Denis in his post-fight interview, however with light-weight having so many unranked fighters on longer win streaks than him, I doubt he will get it.
Nazim Sadykhov is a good possibility. He’s in 2-0-1 within the UFC towards higher competitors than what Ruffy has confronted to date. They’re in very comparable spots throughout the division and a combat between them would inform us who to push ahead.
Ruffy’s subsequent combat: Nazim Sadykhov
