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The final UFC show of 2022 is in the books, and it’s fair to say there were plenty of big winners at Las Vegas' Apex.
With 2023 now approaching, what fights should the UFC look to book for some of the fighters who starred at this weekend’s Fight Night? Unsurprisingly, there are plenty of options for the promotion, and this could make for some excellent fights at some point next year.
Here are five fights to make following UFC Fight Night: Jared Cannonier vs. Sean Strickland.
#5. UFC bantamweight bout: Said Nurmagomedov vs. Adrian Yanez
One of the biggest winners at this weekend’s UFC Fight Night event was Said Nurmagomedov. The bantamweight prospect made a stirring comeback to defeat Saidyokub Kakhramonov, submitting him with a ninja choke in the second round.
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The win cemented Nurmagomedov's place in the top 15 at bantamweight, and the fact that it took his overall octagon record to 6-1 is nothing to be sneezed at, either.
It’s clear that another step up in competition is needed for the Dagestani, so why not match him with another highly rated prospect in the form of Adrian Yanez?
Yanez is ranked two spots above Nurmagomedov at No.13, and he sports an equally impressive octagon record, with five wins to his name. More importantly, he’s quickly developed a reputation as one of the most fearsome strikers in the promotion at 135 pounds.
Essentially, this would be a classic striker vs. grappler clash, and the winner would undoubtedly move into legitimate title contention.
Would it be smart for the promotion to match two high-level prospects against each other? It’s debatable, but there’s no disputing that Yanez vs. Nurmagomedov would be fantastic to watch.
#4. UFC flyweight bout: Amir Albazi vs. Brandon Royval
While he only did what was expected of him by dispatching late replacement Alessandro Costa, it was hard not to be impressed with Amir Albazi this weekend.
The flyweight prospect turned out Costa’s lights in the third round after a tricky start, landing a perfectly timed uppercut that switched the newcomer’s lights out. ‘The Prince’ is already ranked at No.8 by the UFC at 125 pounds, so who should be next for him?
Thankfully, this one is simple. Initially, Albazi was set to fight No.4-ranked flyweight Brandon Royval this past weekend, but ‘Raw Dawg’ was forced out due to injury. So why not simply rebook that fight?
It definitely makes sense, after all. Albazi is 4-0 in the octagon, and the native of Iraq has looked excellent in all areas thus far. Royval is on a two-fight winning streak and is more proven against top-level opponents, but he’s also reckless, making him a flawed but fun fighter to watch.
If Royval could stop the run of ‘The Prince’, then he’d definitely move back into title contention, while if Albazi could win, he’d probably jump into the top five. Add in the fact that this would make for a good fight to watch, and it’s a no-brainer to book it.
#3. UFC lightweight bout: Drew Dober vs. Jalin Turner
While Drew Dober is perhaps too limited to really break into title contention at lightweight, this past weekend saw him prove his worth once again. Arguably the most exciting fighter to watch in the entire UFC, Dober put on a classic brawl with Bobby Green and won via KO.
After the fight, Dober was quick to call out a future opponent in the form of Jalin Turner, and that actually sounds like a good fight to make.
Turner is currently ranked at No.10 in the lightweight division, and he’s riding a five-fight win streak with an overall record of 6-1 at 155 pounds. ‘The Tarantula’ is definitely a dangerous opponent, but it’s also arguable that he’s never faced anyone as tough as Dober before.
Could the native of Colorado deal with Turner’s huge 77-inch reach? That’d be the big question in this fight, but there’s absolutely no doubt that Dober would give it his best shot.
Overall, Dober has earned another crack at a ranked opponent, and from an entertainment perspective, this is probably the fight that makes the most sense for him.
#2. UFC lightweight bout: Arman Tsarukyan vs. Charles Oliveira
After he thoroughly whitewashed the tough Damir Ismagulov this weekend, it was clear that Arman Tsarukyan deserves a big step up in his next fight. More to the point, the Russian-Armenian should probably be ranked much higher than his current No.9.
Unfortunately, it’s also hard to match Tsarukyan, simply because he just doesn’t have the name value that would make him an attractive opponent for the likes of Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje.
However, former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira is looking for a bounce-back fight following his defeat to Islam Makhachev. ‘Do Bronx’ also isn’t the type of fighter to sit about and demand a “money fight” from the promotion’s matchmakers.
So, could Oliveira vs. Tsarukyan be the fight to make next? It’s definitely got potential. After all, it’d be a chance for Oliveira to prove that he can handle the wrestling-heavy gameplan that cost him his fight with Makhachev.
It’d also, obviously, be a huge step up for Tsarukyan, who would have the chance to prove his worth as a title contender.
It’s more likely that the UFC’s top lightweights will look to avoid a fight with the Russian-Armenian as they did with Makhachev during his rise, but this fight would make sense on plenty of levels.
#1. UFC middleweight bout: Jared Cannonier vs. Marvin Vettori or Roman Dolidze
While the fight turned out to be a very close one, the winner of this weekend’s headline bout was Jared Cannonier. ‘The Killa Gorilla’ had enough power in his shots to edge a decision over Sean Strickland, so who should be next for him?
Matching the former UFC middleweight title challenger is actually tricky. He didn’t do enough to warrant another title shot, and more to the point, Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya are looking likely to rematch for the gold anyway.
More frustratingly, most of the other fighters in the top 10 don’t work as opponents for him either. He’s already beaten Derek Brunson, Jack Hermansson and Strickland. A fight with Dricus du Plessis is also too early for the South African, while Paulo Costa and Robert Whittaker are matched with one another.
However, while Marvin Vettori – who is ranked one spot below Cannonier at No.4 – is set to face Roman Dolidze next, the winner of that one could work as an opponent for ‘The Killa Gorilla’.
He’ll have to wait until midway through next year to fight again if that’s the case, as Vettori and Dolidze aren’t scheduled to clash until March. However, based on the situation in the division right now, that might be the best scenario for him anyway.
After all, there’s still a chance that Whittaker or Costa – or even Pereira or Adesanya – pick up an injury. In that case, Cannonier could slide right in.
Otherwise, it’s probably best for him to wait around for the Dolidze vs. Vettori winner, and see how the chips fall from there.
