UFC 261 featured three title fights and a ton of memorable moments. A few of these moments, like Rose Namajunas knocking out Zhang Weili to win the strawweight title, had been full of exhilaration. Different moments, like Chris Weidman breaking his leg on a kick attempt, had been somber reminders in regards to the dangers these athletes take each combat.
However on the finish of the cardboard it was as soon as once more Kamaru Usman standing tall, hanging Jorge Masvidal the primary knockout lack of his profession. Usman’s placing has reached one other degree and he is clearly the most effective pound-for-pound fighters on this planet. Valentina Shevchenko proved very a lot the identical together with her dominant victory over Jessica Andrade. Shevchenko joked afterward that her opponents are on the lookout for weaknesses, however there are no.
So who will step up subsequent to face the trio of champions and Anthony Smith, who stopped rising prospect Jimmy Crute within the opening combat on the PPV card?
Kamaru Usman, welterweight (defeated Jorge Masvidal by second-round KO)
Who’s subsequent: Colby Covington
Covington is the plain selection right here, though I’ll say, there’s a temptation to go along with Leon Edwards — solely as a result of Edwards has been keen to combat Covington, however by no means the opposite manner round. It appears somewhat backwards that Edwards can by no means go Covington within the rankings — primarily as a result of Covington is not occupied with going through him. That is not how this could work. However, on the identical time, you possibly can’t utterly blame Covington for being conservative along with his No. 1 spot.
Covington has been the hardest problem but for the champ. He misplaced that combat in 2019 and has picked up a win in his solely combat since. If he is at a degree in his profession the place he is keen to attend it out and solely rise up for a title shot, that is his resolution. And albeit, it appears like it is going to work. He’s the No. 1 contender as of now, and I consider he shall be Usman’s subsequent challenger.
Wild card: Winner of Leon Edwards vs. Nate Diaz on Could 15
The UFC has already mentioned Covington is subsequent, but when negotiations hit a snag or that falls by way of for no matter cause, all eyes will flip to this five-round, non-title combat on Could 15.
If Edwards wins, he is a no brainer to combat Usman. If it is Diaz — look, clearly he would not be deserving of a UFC title shot, and personally, I’d slightly see Usman combat Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson if by some means, a way, he did not combat Covington or Edwards — however we all know how this sport works.
I’ll say this: If Diaz beats Edwards at UFC 262, he can have taken out a man who’s a respectable No. 1 contender. So, although his physique of labor would not say title shot, that one consequence actually would.
Jorge Masvidal, welterweight (misplaced to Kamaru Usman by second-round KO)
Zero:21
Kamaru Usman stuns Jorge Masvidal with an enormous punch after which takes him down early in Spherical 1.
Who’s subsequent: Winner of Leon Edwards vs. Nate Diaz
Masvidal is now Zero-2 in UFC title fights, however he nonetheless has loads of large fights forward. He has historical past with each Edwards and Diaz. If Covington finally ends up getting the subsequent title shot, and Edwards beats Diaz, Masvidal vs. Edwards is a terrific combat for the UFC.
And if Diaz upsets Edwards, that is a fair greater combat for Masvidal — the BMF rematch. That combat in all probability may headline one other UFC pay-per-view, if the corporate wished it to.
Wild card: Loser of Leon Edwards vs. Nate Diaz
I simply actually suppose Masvidal’s subsequent combat shall be in opposition to certainly one of these two. If it isn’t the winner — and my calculations are right — meaning it must be the loser. Once more, there’s simply historical past right here. They’re large fights. My guess is that Masvidal will combat the winner, however it may very well be both one.
Rose Namajunas, strawweight (defeated Zhang Weili by first-round KO)
Who’s subsequent: Winner of Carla Esparza vs. Yan Xiaonan on Could 22
What is healthier than Rose Namajunas, huh? Man. So good. I have been masking this sport since 2009 and Namajunas owns two of the highest moments in all that point so far as I am involved. This and Madison Sq. Backyard in 2017 was nothing wanting magic. I’m very a lot wanting ahead to what this second chapter of Namajunas as a champion appears like, and I feel it is fairly apparent it is going to begin with the winner of this combat.
Esparza has a win over Namajunas. Sure, it was a very long time in the past, however it’s there and he or she’s deserving of a shot. So is Xioaonan, who has quietly been a wrecking ball within the division as of late.
Wild card: Joanna Jedrzejczyk
In a manner, it makes excellent sense. Jedrzejczyk fought Zhang in a five-round struggle one 12 months in the past and got here up simply brief in a break up resolution. We all know who Jedrzejczyk is on this sport. We needn’t see her win a non-title combat to know what she brings to the desk in a title combat. And he or she is aware of it.
She’s made it clear she solely has curiosity in a title combat. All of it provides up. The issue is, after all, she’s already misplaced to Namajunas twice. I do not suppose you possibly can put this collectively for the third time together with her coming off a loss, although it wasn’t a foul loss. However it’s doable.
Valentina Shevchenko, flyweight (defeated Jessica Andrade by second-round TKO)
Who’s subsequent: Winner of Joanne Calderwood vs. Lauren Murphy on June 12
I nearly put a query mark after this. Like, I suppose? Calderwood. Murphy. Does it matter? Can she combat each in a single night time?
Calderwood is an excellent fighter. Identical for Murphy, identical. However what is going to the percentages be between Shevchenko and both of them? You may’t set odds excessive sufficient! However hey, such is the state of affairs at 125, proper? And although none of us consider Shevchenko is shedding any time quickly, the perfect this division can do is simply supply up the subsequent challenger one after one other. Calderwood was speculated to combat her in 2020, however the combat fell by way of and he or she suffered a loss. She’s deserving of a shot. So is Murphy, with a win on June 12.
Simply line ’em up. Let’s go.
Wildcard: Zhang Weili
I can not provide you with the rest. And hey, it really is not a foul concept, proper? Zhang suffered a surprising upset in opposition to Rose Namajunas, and I am certain she’s going to need that one again. But when the UFC is on the lookout for one thing to get us enthusiastic about relating to Shevchenko, they may do lots worse than the now former strawweight champ. I do not see it, but when it occurred, I would not be mad.
Anthony Smith, gentle heavyweight (defeated Jimmy Crute by first-round TKO)
Who’s subsequent: Winner of Dominick Reyes vs. Jiri Prochazka on Could 1
It was a little bit of an uncommon finish to Smith’s anticipated bout in opposition to Jimmy Crute, solely from the sense we do not see many fights finish because of a nerve subject. However uncommon or not, Smith deserves full credit score. That jab was a factor of magnificence and one thing we actually have not seen from him earlier than — at the very least not one which’s been that environment friendly.
Smith was an underdog coming into this one. After that brutal loss to Glover Teixeira final Could, and one other loss to Aleksandar Rakic simply three months later, Smith was at a crossroads. And he was nonetheless at a crossroads coming into this one, although he picked up a win over Devin Clark in November. And man, he seemed nice.
Reyes and Prochazka combat one week from now. Whoever wins, I think about he’ll nonetheless want another victory to get a title shot. And it might make sense for that subsequent problem to be Smith.
Wild card: Magomed Ankalaev
Going into the combat, Smith mentioned beating Crute was about defending his spot, and after this combat, he’d be seeking to climb once more. A combat in opposition to Ankalaev can be extra of a, effectively… it might be one other combat to defend his spot. However it’s a combat that certain makes lots of sense.
Ankalaev is climbing himself. He deserves to combat somebody ranked forward of him. I just like the winner of the Could 1 bout extra, because it rewards Smith for successful his final two bouts. However since he is nonetheless lower than a 12 months faraway from two poor performances in opposition to Teixeira and Rakic, it would not shock me if his quantity will get known as for the Ankalaev combat.