UFC Featherweight Matchups: The 5 Fights To Make Next

Each fight matchup offers a different story. The story with this matchup is whether Evloev’s grinding style of pressure neutralizes the champion’s experience and well-roundedness. It’s a classic narrative of a champion and a rising threat. For Volk, it would further cement his legendary career, and for Evloev, it would add a name to his resume and boost his popularity.

Lerone Murphy vs. Yair Rodríguez

This potential matchup is what fans call a “striker’s delight”. Murphy is one of the most overlooked and underrated fighters in the UFC. He’s patient, has a sharp boxing game, and is defensively sound. On the other side of the coin, you have Rodriguez, who is unpredictability personified. His tool belt included some of the flashiest kicks you will ever see, and he’s collected a variety of highlight knockouts through his career.

If you look from a stylistic point of view, this matchup is sure to deliver sky-gazing fireworks. It makes a lot of sense in terms of rankings as well. Murphy is currently ranked third, but is coming off a closely contested loss to Evleov. Rodriguez is ranked third and has had a long layoff, but is a former interim champion. What does a win for each of them do? It puts them both back in the title conversations.

Aljamain Sterling vs. Jean Silva

Sterling’s move to featherweight made all the sense in the world. Regardless, there are always questions to be answered when someone changes to a new weight class. Sterling has made the move seamlessly. His championship resume and grappling-heavy style have been a welcome addition to the division. He’s coming off an impressive victory over the surging Youssef Zalal. A title fight might not be next, and so what should be next?

I say that you throw him in there with Jean Silva. This matchup offers experience versus momentum. Silva seems to be a favorite of the UFC and should be aligned for a big fight. Sterling hasn’t gotten any favors from the UFC, and it makes all the sense in the world to pit them against each other for a probable number one contender fight.

The barking “Fighting Nerd” is an explosive and aggressive athlete. Like I previously hinted at, there is an intention by the UFC to promote him, as they believe he is a rising star. If Sterling were to get past Silva, it would be hard to deny him a title shot at this point. If Silva were to win, it would be the biggest win of his career and possibly the dawn of a new era.

Arnold Allen vs. Melquizael Costa

This fight pits Allen, who is at a bit of a crossroads. He was knocking on the door for a title shot, but has been unable to get over the hump. He needs a big win that would keep him locked in the top ten. Costa, on the other hand, represents the newer blood in the division. He’s on a roll, and it’s time to pit him against one of the division’s best.

This is the classic story of a gatekeeper trying to hold his spot against a surging prospect. Allen has everything to lose, and a loss might spell the end of his title aspirations. Costa, on the other hand, would cement his contender status with a win. Fans should expect a high-paced and technical battle. Both fighters have shown that they can finish a fight via knockout or submission and are well-rounded.

Youssef Zalal vs. Aaron Pico

This fight has the potential to be the most exciting fight on my list. Since Zalal has returned to the UFC, he has been on quite a tear; unbeaten in his last eight fights before recently being defeated by Aljamain Sterling. Pico has long been considered one of the most exciting prospects outside of the UFC. He finally got his opportunity and had his metal tested immediately, and was thrown to the wolves with a match against Lerone Murphy.

After losing to Murphy by a brutal spinning elbow, he has rebounded with a win against former Bellator royalty Patricio Pitbull. Zalal has won the majority of his fights by submission and likes to finish early, as he has put together six first-round finishes. Pico, on the other hand, enjoys the knockout and has seven first-round finishes. A win for Zalal keeps him near the top and secures a victory over a big name. For Pico, that would make consecutive UFC victories and show that the hype is justified.

End of Fights the Division Needs to Make Rant

The UFC’s featherweight division is in an interesting spot at the moment. It’s a contrast of savvy veterans and surging contenders. If the UFC were to book these matchups, fans would get fights that make sense logically with the rankings and are stylistically intriguing. The byproduct of these fights could set the division up for a clearer landscape for its direction. The featherweights’ golden era might be over, but the platinum era remains to be seen.