'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgf/2gAIAQEAAAAAmq//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC/9oACAECEAAAAB//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD/9oACAEDEAAAAH//xAAgEAACAQQBBQAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMABBEhEgUTMVGB/9oACAEBAAE/ALJrQ2LtLPEC82Mju8yxOiR4bGdZI+1GnR2jUyGwdyNs9nIWJ9k86//EABcRAQADAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAAhH/2gAIAQIBAT8A1qs//8QAFxEBAAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQACIv/aAAgBAwEBPwC+gn//2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#2. Jared Cannonier vs. Derek Brunson - UFC 271
The next contender for the middleweight title will most likely be decided at UFC 271. No.3-ranked Jared Cannonier is due to do battle with No.4-ranked Derek Brunson on February 12th, the same night that Israel Adesanya will defend his title against Robert Whittaker.
Both fighters are in good form and have each recently demonstrated they are elite middleweights. Cannonier has won four of his last five, with his lone loss coming at the hands of Robert Whittaker. Brunson has now won five straight with his most recent loss coming against Israel Adesanya.
Should Adesanya successfully defend his title on this card, you can almost guarantee that the winner of this bout will be the next man to challenge for gold. However, should Adesanya lose, the promotion would likely give 'The Last Stylebender' an immediate rematch, which is why Brunson vs. Cannonier doesn't quite claim the top spot.
#1. Askar Askarov vs. Kai Kara-France - UFC Fight Night 205
Interestingly, at the time of writing this bout is likely to only be the co-main event on the Fight Night card that will be headlined by Blachowicz and Rakic. However, this fight is as close as you can get to an iron-clad number one contender bout in the promotion and, as such, it comes in at number one here.
Askarov remains undefeated in his professional career, with one draw against current champion Brandon Moreno. Kara-France is coming off the back of two first-round finishes and dominated former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt last time out. A win for either man will ensure they fight for the title next.
This is in large part due to the fact that Brandon Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo are scheduled to fight for a third consecutive time. Regardless of who wins that bout, the promotion will surely want to introduce a new face to the title picture. We will find out just who that is on March 26.
