Matches to Make After UFC 308

The Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight title was on the line in the UFC 308 main event. While the champion retained, he won’t be able to rest easy as there’s always a next challenge. Thanks to a stacked card that also saw several potential No. 1 contenders crowned, this is a pay-per-view that will have meaningful repercussions going forward.

Here are five matches to make following UFC 308.

Ilia Topuria vs. Evloev-Sterling Winner

There’s no denying that Topuria is the best featherweight in the world. The Spanish fighter made his first title defense by letting his hands go and knocking out Max Holloway in the third round. With the win, Topuria advances to 16-0 as a pro. Just 27, there are plenty of exciting fresh fights up next for “El Matador.” I’d like to see him go up against the winner of Movsar Evloev (who has a win inside the UFC over Diego Lopes) and Aljamain Sterling next, as Evloev (18-0) would present a clash of undefeated fighters, while Sterling (24-4) is a former bantamweight champ that has looked great since moving up. Either way, fans would be in for a great fight for the UFC’s newest star.

Khamzat Chimaev vs. Dricus Du Plessis

Chimaev needed less than a round to blitz through former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker. A brutal face crank that broke Whittaker’s jaw led to “Borz” becoming the clear top contender at 185. While there was talk about Du Plessis rematching Sean Strickland next, that is entirely unnecessary. Let Chimaev (14-0) get the next shot as with his aggressive wrestling and power, there’s no doubt that he’ll pose a viable threat as a challenger.

Related » UFC 308 Round-by-Round Scoring

Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira

Ankalaev vs. Pereira has been the fight to make for a while and now it can't be questioned after the Russian outpointed Aleksandar Rakic over three rounds. Ankalaev (20-1-1, 1 NC) hasn't tasted defeat since 2018 and has racked up an unbeaten streak of 13 fights since then. Meanwhile, Pereira (12-2) is on a roll having claimed the light heavyweight belt on his current five-fight win streak. "Poatan" has become the most feared striker in the Octagon and he’ll be the favorite in the title defense, but Ankalaev brings superior wrestling that will make the fight interesting for as long as it lasts.

Lerone Murphy vs. Josh Emmett

Murphy didn’t need a miracle to stay undefeated against Dan Ige. The English fighter picked up his seventh win inside the UFC and called out Emmett afterward. It’s a good callout by Murphy (15-0-1), who is ready to take a leap and start fighting top 10 opponents. Emmett (19-4) is coming off a brutal knockout over Bryce Mitchell but recently lost to Topuria and Yair Rodriguez. It’s a sensible fight that will test just how ready Murphy is for a shot against the finest at featherweight.

Sharabutdin Magomedov vs. Israel Adesanya

Magomedov put on a show in the main card’s opening bout by knocking out Armen Petrosyan with a shocking double spinning back fist. Now 15-0 as a pro and 4-0 inside the Octagon, “Bullet” deserves a major step up next. A fight against former champion Adesanya would be a striking delight as both men are dangerous on the feet. While Adesanya (24-4) is more proven, both have the combination of power and technique that could leave the other man sleeping. The fight works both ways as Adesanya (24-4) needs a chance to bounce back after back-to-back defeats to Strickland and Du Plessis.