What’s subsequent for brand new and former champs after UFC White Home

As quickly as UFC CEO Dana White left the White Home grounds after UFC Freedom 250 on Sunday evening, he was being requested: “What’s subsequent?” Would there be extra out of doors, spectacle occasions like this sooner or later? Rapidly, his reply was “we’ll by no means do that once more.” The one-of-one present was a giant logistical puzzle that took numerous time, cash and planning to resolve. The UFC pulled it off, however for the fighters who noticed their arms raised on Sunday — and one who took the primary lack of his MMA profession — the query of the place their careers go subsequent continues to be to be answered.

Justin Gaethje is a first-time light-weight division champion at 37 years previous after forcing previously undefeated titleholder Ilia Topuria to retire on his stool after 4 rounds of nonstop motion. Was that sufficient of a storybook ending to persuade Gaethje to exit on prime? Will Ciryl Gane, who quieted the doubters and knocked out a fighter on the lookout for an elusive third division title, get the rematch with Tom Aspinall to unify the heavyweight titles? Might long-wanted matchups comparable to Topuria vs. Paddy Pimblett, Sean O’Malley vs. Umar Nurmagomedov and Diego Lopes vs. Yair Rodriguez lastly be on the horizon?

Let’s check out the choices.

Justin Gaethje, light-weight champion

Who ought to be subsequent: Retirement
Hear, as a lot as I really like watching Gaethje struggle, that is the perfect time for him to name it a profession. He has actually executed the whole lot that would presumably be executed. He is fought nearly everybody conceivable and placed on a few of the most exhilarating fights in UFC historical past. Certain, he may struggle No. 1 contender Arman Tsarukyan subsequent, however why? It isn’t that I do not assume he can win, however there’ll all the time be one other opponent ready within the wings. There’s actually not a greater option to exit than to power Topuria’s nook to cease the struggle on the grandest stage he’ll ever struggle on. Retiring as a champion is one thing no person would complain about.

Wild card: Arman Tsarukyan
If Gaethje decides to proceed combating, it is solely proper for Tsarukyan to get the primary crack on the title. He has been ready a extremely very long time for the chance, and it doesn’t matter what White might take into consideration him, Tsarukyan deserves it. There’s solely a lot rag-dolling of opponents he can do at Actual American Freestyle wrestling to maintain busy. However that is provided that Gaethje desires to maintain combating. I might argue towards it, but when he actually desires to, it needs to be towards Tsarukyan. — Andreas Hale

Ilia Topuria, light-weight

Who ought to be subsequent: Paddy Pimblett
So far as powerful first losses go, do they get any harder than Topuria’s? Not that it was actually in query, however Topuria confirmed his willingness to reply to adversity. It was a troublesome, troublesome bout, and he by no means seemed for a approach out. Who is aware of how a lot time he’ll require to get well, and lengthy breaks make it exhausting to foretell the subsequent transfer. The primary identify that involves thoughts, although, is Pimblett. Had Pimblett defeated Justin Gaethje in January, it may need been Pimblett on the White Home garden Sunday. He has a giant struggle towards Benoît Saint Denis in July. We’ll see what occurs with that, however for some time, Pimblett was one of many largest fights the UFC may make for Topuria. These two even squared off within the Octagon at an occasion final 12 months. It is a matchup that would all the time be revisited.

Wild card: Conor McGregor
Topuria holds a real disdain for McGregor. Topuria does not like McGregor’s out-of-the-cage actions or what he has stood for. McGregor has taken pictures at Topuria on-line. There could be numerous dangerous blood on this one, and they’re two of the most important names within the sport presently. Some may say it is ridiculous, since Topuria continues to be thought-about the most effective on the planet (even with this loss), whereas McGregor has been inactive. But when McGregor seems aggressive towards Max Holloway subsequent month, why cannot it occur? The UFC will probably be trying to profit from any McGregor look, and Topuria would do this. — Brett Okamoto

Ciryl Gane, heavyweight

Who ought to be subsequent: Tom Aspinall
Aspinall must get cleared and the UFC must align with Aspinall and make this occur. This division has been in shambles for lengthy sufficient. The Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic struggle (that by no means ought to have occurred for a title), the interim state of affairs with Aspinall, the lengthy await a megafight that by no means occurred as a result of Jones retired, the attention poke that stopped Aspinall vs. Gane final October — how can something transfer ahead besides Gane vs. Aspinall? The reply is the UFC will discover a option to transfer ahead no matter something that occurs as a result of they’re greater than anyone fighter or one struggle, however at this level, it is essential, for the legitimacy of the division, to get a struggle between Gane and Aspinall on the books.

Wild card: Sergei Pavlovich
See, for this reason the UFC must get on the identical web page with Aspinall. There’s nothing improper with a Gane vs. Pavlovich struggle. They’ve by no means fought earlier than and it is a enjoyable matchup. Nevertheless it does not really feel like a official, undisputed title struggle. Aspinall was elevated to undisputed champion between fights. Now it is going to occur to Gane as properly, if issues do not get set proper? I do imagine all of this ends with Aspinall getting medically cleared and taking the struggle. — Okamoto

Sean O’Malley, males’s bantamweight

Who ought to be subsequent: Umar Nurmagomedov
I am unsure what is going on on with the matchmaking of Nurmagomedov. The 30-year-old is 20-1, with one very shut loss to Merab Dvalishvili in January 2025, when Dvalishvili was on an absolute tear. Nurmagomedov already has rebounded with two wins since and is ranked No. 2 within the division — but, he has been booked towards No. 8-ranked David Martinez for a July 25 Combat Evening. The O’Malley matchup is correct there. O’Malley has known as for it earlier than. Squaring off with Nurmagomedov, with Khabib within the nook, would make for an enormous second. O’Malley could be going through numerous doubters, a task he is really thrived in — notably towards Petr Yan, whose belt O’Malley took in 2022. The UFC must do the trilogy between Yan and Dvalishvili later this 12 months, and it must also lastly ebook this struggle between O’Malley and Nurmagomedov that has made loads of sense for some time now.

Wild card: Cory Sandhagen
This struggle has felt inevitable for a very long time, and Sandhagen has spent numerous time campaigning for it. It got here as a shock to some that it wasn’t Sandhagen squaring off with O’Malley on the White Home garden. Sandhagen has a date booked already with Mario Bautista on July 11. If he wins, you possibly can wager the home he’ll make an impassioned case to struggle O’Malley subsequent. I just like the Nurmagomedov matchup only a hair higher, supplied Nurmagomedov takes care of enterprise towards Martinez, however O’Malley-Sandhagen is correct behind it. — Okamoto

Josh Hokit, heavyweight

Who ought to be subsequent: Sergei Pavlovich
It is good. Completely good. First off, Pavlovich is called one of many hardest hitters within the sport regardless of a three-year chilly streak by which he has didn’t get a knockout. His spotlight reel is strong, and Hokit has constructed himself right into a villain. So the potential for Hokit to get shocked could be sturdy in a matchup like this. I additionally simply actually like this struggle from a aggressive standpoint. Hokit’s cringe charade apart, he is a great fighter. Pavlovich carries the power to place Hokit’s lights out and, presently on a three-win streak, Pavlovich has momentum once more after a two-fight skid to start 2023.

Wild card: Alexander Volkov
I am going with this one as a result of rankingswise, it is sensible. Promotionally, it type of does not. Volkov’s consistency and longevity are unimaginable. That mentioned, his fights aren’t all the time essentially the most thrilling, and he isn’t a prefight talker. This matchup appears like a protracted shot for these causes, however I do not assume Hokit is kind of on the degree of one of many largest fights within the division (Tom Aspinall, Ciryl Gane and Alex Pereira). I’d give him another struggle first. That one ought to be Pavlovich, however Volkov would nonetheless preserve him rolling within the course of these huge three. — Okamoto

Who ought to be subsequent: Winner of Max Holloway vs. Conor McGregor at UFC 329 on July 11
Benoit Saint Denis was supplied to struggle Michael Chandler on the White Home however declined as a result of he wished a higher-ranked opponent. He acquired an incredible struggle towards Paddy Pimblett at UFC 329, however one has to surprise if he is kicking himself for not taking the primary choice after the assertion Ruffy made Sunday evening. After this efficiency, I’m excited on the considered Ruffy going back-and-forth on the toes with Holloway or McGregor. If McGregor pulls off a victory in his return in July and desires to compete once more, Ruffy is the type of struggle that may be fireworks. And Ruffy’s knockout of Chandler will probably be sufficient to make lots of people wish to see it.

Wild card: Paddy Pimblett
If Pimblett defeats Saint Denis at UFC 329, the UFC must take a tough have a look at this matchup. We’ll have to see the place all of the mud settles with the light-weight title state of affairs. Arman Tsarukyan is ready for his well-deserved shot. Charles Oliveira is again within the combine after defeating Holloway for the BMF title in March. The Holloway-McGregor struggle figures to have an enormous influence on the burden class, notably if McGregor exhibits curiosity in combating once more comparatively quickly. Loads to unpack, but when Pimblett defeats Saint Denis, Pimblett vs. Ruffy is sensible from each angle. — Okamoto

Bo Nickal, middleweight

Who ought to be subsequent: Roman Dolidze
Nickal acquired numerous criticism for his loss to Reinier de Ridder in 2025, however apparently, it has executed precisely what a loss is meant to: made him higher. If we’re being trustworthy, it was by no means a shock Nickal ran right into a hurdle. His rise was so meteoric, his jumps in competitors so vital, that he was certain to face turmoil. He seems extra snug now, extra fluid. He is determining the sport. I’m fully fantastic with transferring him forward pretty aggressively now. Dolidze, 37, is on a two-fight skid and trying to defend his top-15 rating. He is a veteran and a take a look at, regardless of most likely being on the again finish of his profession.

Wild card: Winner of Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Jared Cannonier on July 18
Duncan is chargeable for Dolidze’s final loss and could be an incredible matchup with Nickal. If Duncan beats Cannonier, although, he is most likely taking a look at a top-10 rating and may have his eyes targeted upward. Middleweight is beginning to look wholesome, with numerous new expertise climbing the rankings. Duncan is making an attempt to get it executed towards the previous guard in Cannonier. I feel it is sensible to have Nickal look to do the identical towards Dolidze. But when the UFC desires to pair Nickal and Duncan, I am right here for it. — Okamoto

Diego Lopes, featherweight

Who ought to be subsequent: Yair Rodriguez
All the time. We have been saying for over a 12 months that this struggle must occur. Rodriguez has been out of motion this 12 months because of hand surgical procedure, however this matchup at 145 kilos has tantalized followers due to its stylistic prospects and due to a back-and-forth between the 2 fighters at a information convention final spring. Lopes is ranked the No. 2 featherweight by the UFC; Rodriguez is No. 5. Till it occurs, this matchup will all the time be the primary thought for followers when discussing what’s subsequent for these two. It is all the time one another. It might be nice to see it lastly come collectively.

Wild card: Light-weight
A transfer as much as light-weight does not appear to be the likeliest route, with Lopes choosing up a big win towards Steve Garcia (and an already crowded discipline at 155 kilos). If there’s a want at light-weight as a result of an damage impacts a giant matchup or as a result of the UFC is trying so as to add some pleasure to a card, Lopes will reply that decision. He’ll struggle anybody at any time. Lopes, who acted because the alternate for the light-weight title struggle at UFC Freedom 250, will take a look at the waters at 155 in some unspecified time in the future, and it may occur subsequent. — Okamoto