Potential matchups for fighters after UFC Fight Night in Houston

Sean Strickland gets another shot at the title

Strickland defeated Anthony Hernandez via third-round TKO. It was a phenomenal performance by Strickland. He was sharp and used his modified boxing style with his Philly shell. He outboxed Hernandez and used his signature pressure to keep Hernandez from grappling. 

Strickland is in a weird position in the rankings. He is currently No. 3 in the middleweight rankings. The fighters ranked near him are fighters he’s either beaten or been beaten by. 

No. 1 contender Dricus Du Plessis is undefeated against Strickland in their two fights. A trilogy doesn’t make much sense. No. 2 contender Nassourdine Imavov is likely to get the next title shot, and he has been defeated by Strickland. 

The outcome that makes the most sense for Strickland is to wait for champion Khamzat Chimaev and Imavov to fight for the title and then fight the winner of that bout. 

Anthony Hernandez fights winner of Reinier de Ridder and Caio Borralho

Hernandez was on an eight-fight win streak before losing to Strickland. He is still a force in the middleweight division and should get another chance to prove himself. 

No. 8-ranked De Ridder and No. 7-ranked Borralho are scheduled to face each other at UFC 326. Both fighters are coming off losses and need a win. The winner would have to deal with Hernandez’s relentless cardio and grappling. It would be a great matchup to see either De Ridder or Borralho against Hernandez.

Uros Medic fights Gabriel Bonfim

Medic had a great knockout win over Geoff Neal. Medic left Neal flat on the ground after a mean left hook. Medic will certainly enter the rankings after that performance. 

Both Medic and Bonfim are odd men out in a stacked welterweight division. Bonfim is currently the No. 10-ranked welterweight. A win by either fighter could put them in the conversation to fight for a spot inside the loaded top 10.

Melquizael Costa gets a shot at Patricio Pitbull

Costa had a phenomenal KO win over Dan Ige that will certainly land him in the rankings. Costa has been on a tear with a six-fight winning streak, and his last two wins have come via amazing knockouts. 

Pitbull is currently ranked No. 12 in the featherweight division. Pitbull’s last win also came against Ige. Pitbull is a hard hitter and would be a great test for Costa. With Pitbull’s heavy hands and Costa’s amazing use of kicks, this would be an entertaining bout for the fans that likely ends in a finish.

Serghei Spivac fights Rizvan Kuniev

Spivac put on a show against Ante Delija. Heavy striking by both of them made an entertaining heavyweight scrap. The heavyweight division has had issues with staying entertaining as of late. 

No. 6-ranked Kuniev won a decision over recently cut Jailton Almeida. It was widely viewed as a boring fight with both fighters seemingly just trying to win a decision. Spivac could force Kuniev into an entertaining fight on both the feet and in the grappling department.

Ante Delija fights Derrick Lewis

Delija is on a two-fight losing streak, but his fight with Spivac was promising. With the heavy shots he was able to land, it would be awesome to see Delija match up with Lewis. 

Lewis, the man with the most knockouts in UFC history, has unparalleled power. His loss to Waldo Cortes-Acosta was underwhelming, and he could avenge that loss by facing a prospect in Delija. A hard-hitting bout could bring a lot more faith in the heavyweight division.