UFC 329 what’s subsequent: Why Holloway and Pimblett might face off

The principle and co-main occasions of UFC 329 lasted a mixed two minutes of struggle time, however an entire lot occurred. Conor McGregor was injured seconds into his struggle towards Max Holloway, and Paddy Pimblett submitted Benoît Saint Denis nearly instantly. Each of these outcomes opened new prospects, akin to, perhaps, Holloway and Pimblett going head-to-head subsequent?

Different winners on the cardboard Mario Bautista and Brandon Royval are out of the blue again within the combine on the high of their respective divisions. Each fighters could also be only one struggle away from a title shot. Former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker additionally expanded his horizons within the mild heavyweight division. With a win over veteran Nikita Krylov, the wild panorama at mild heavyweight proper now could be out of the blue Whittaker’s to discover.

Let’s check out the most probably situations and a wild-card struggle for every of those UFC 329 winners.

Max Holloway and Paddy Pimblett, lightweights

Who ought to be subsequent: One another

Pimblett vs. Holloway wasn’t on my radar going into Saturday, but it surely’s essentially the most logical subsequent step now. Pimblett turned in a celebrity second, and Holloway was robbed of an opportunity to create one. Instantly after Pimblett fought, my ideas went to a matchup towards McGregor or Ilia Topuria. However after watching the primary occasion and looking out on the rankings, Holloway vs. Pimblett feels just like the one to make. In some methods, I do not know what the UFC does with Holloway if not this. From a rankings standpoint, it makes essentially the most sense for the division. I consider Arman Tsarukyan and Charles Oliveira are destined for a rematch. That leaves these two as apparent dance companions, and that is an amazing potential struggle.

Wild card for Holloway: Quillan Salkilld

When Holloway misplaced to Oliveira in March, Holloway thought he would wish to struggle down the rankings and defend his spot earlier than wanting upward once more. This chance towards McGregor got here as a shock, and Holloway was blissful to take it. If Pimblett is not subsequent, Holloway could be the place he thought he was 4 months in the past, combating down the rankings. Salkilld is ranked No. 8 at light-weight by the UFC, and of the highest 10, he’s essentially the most intriguing new contender. Stylistically, this struggle can be 10 out of 10.

Wild card for Pimblett: Ilia Topuria

Pimblett and Topuria confronted off within the Octagon following Topuria’s win over Oliveira at UFC 317 final 12 months. Earlier than that, Pimblett threw a hand sanitizer bottle at him in 2022. There’s a beef right here that basically ought to be settled. It is nonetheless unclear when Topuria will need to come again after dropping the title to Justin Gaethje final month, but when the timing works, that is the most important struggle the UFC might e-book for Pimblett. Or Topuria for that matter. It could even be one of many largest fights of the 12 months, which is saying one thing in a 12 months that already has seen loads of marquee matchups.

Mario Bautista, males’s bantamweight

Who ought to be subsequent: Sean O’Malley

O’Malley vs. Bautista is the appropriate struggle to make. Whether or not it will get made, nevertheless, is unsure. O’Malley is within the combine for a title shot, however to be truthful, Bautista’s win over Cory Sandhagen on Saturday is extra spectacular than O’Malley’s over Aiemann Zahabi. Sure, O’Malley received a terrific knockout on the White Home, however nobody can say O’Malley is extra deserving of a title struggle proper now than Bautista. Defending champion Petr Yan is anticipated to face Merab Dvalishvili subsequent. Guide O’Malley vs. Bautista on the identical card. The 2 are pleasant, as they’ve each skilled at MMA Lab in Phoenix. I actually do not see the UFC making this matchup, but it surely’s undeniably the one to e-book.

Wild card: David Martinez

Mexico’s Martinez not too long ago pulled out of a scheduled bout towards Umar Nurmagomedov later this month. Relying on when he is able to go once more, that is one the UFC might take a severe have a look at. Martinez was already on the promotion’s radar for a giant, extremely ranked struggle. Bautista needs a title shot and is deserving of 1, but it surely’s unlikely it will occur subsequent. He’ll have to take one other struggle, and that is the one I might see the UFC providing.

Brandon Royval, males’s flyweight

Who ought to be subsequent: Brandon Moreno

There’s that outdated query, “Who’s the perfect UFC fighter to by no means win a championship?” I am not saying the reply is Royval, however I feel he not less than deserves some love within the dialog at this level.

Saturday’s matchup towards 27-year-old Lone’er Kavanagh was a tricky struggle for Royval. It was the one he was set as much as lose, clearing the best way for brand spanking new blood. And Royval simply refused to go down. He’s 3-3 in his previous six, however the losses have come to absolutely the cream of the crop in Alexandre Pantoja, Joshua Van and Manel Kape. Saturday represented one in all his most spectacular wins, given the momentum behind Kavanagh. There’s nearly nobody for Royval to struggle now, as a result of he is already fought each high flyweight. The one which makes essentially the most sense to me is a trilogy with Moreno. These guys are 1-1, going again to 2020. If the rating is settled in favor of Royval, he might struggle for a title.

Wild card: Asu Almabayev

Royval truly referred to as out Almabayev following his win on Saturday, which simply exhibits what a star he’s. He beat Kavanagh, who was ranked No. 5 by the UFC, and his first transfer was to name out Almabayev, who’s ranked No. 6. Only a few fighters would do this. Royval is entertaining, he is all the way down to problem himself and he is a few breaks away from being a UFC champion. It might nonetheless occur.

Robert Whittaker, mild heavyweight

Who ought to be subsequent: Dustin Jacoby

The sunshine heavyweight divsion is actually bizarre proper now. The champion, Carlos Ulberg, is injured. Alex Pereira continues to be within the official UFC rankings, although he not too long ago fought at heavyweight. Jamahal Hill introduced that he’s shifting as much as heavyweight. Paulo Costa simply broke into the UFC’s high 5, and Whittaker beat him at middleweight two years in the past. Issues are in shambles at 205 kilos. That stated, there are some enjoyable matchups right here for Whittaker as he settles into his new weight class. Out of the choices, Jacoby stands out to me. Jacoby is a veteran of the division, is on a four-fight win streak and has a enjoyable model to match up towards Whittaker. Jacoby has a struggle booked on the finish of the month towards Uran Satybaldiev. If he wins, there’s an opportunity he is within the high 10.

Wild card: Volkan Oezdemir

A former title challenger, Oezdemir can be a veteran of the division. He is an even bigger identify than Jacoby, so he would possibly curiosity the UFC a bit of extra. Oezdemir is quietly 3-1 in his previous 4 appearances. 4 years in the past, he misplaced to Krylov, who Whittaker simply beat on Saturday. That is an applicable step for Whittaker, and Oezdemir is already ranked No. 8 by the UFC, attaching actual stakes to this potential matchup.