JACKSONVILLE, FL – Shemayev’s Buds stole the present, as anticipated, at UFC 273 Saturday night time by unanimously defeating Gilbert Burns in what Dana White referred to as one of many biggest fights he is ever seen. Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovsky made his personal present by stopping Chan Sung-jung within the fourth spherical. And whereas Aljamain Sterling could not have silenced all of his critics, his victory in a separate resolution over Petr Yan to defend his huge welterweight belt will possible shift his focus to a special opponent.
So who’s subsequent for Shemayev? White stated Colby Covington can be on board if Chemayev gained. Is that this the appropriate battle?
And whereas Jan believes he deserves the choice and needs to play a 3rd match towards Sterling, who gained the title when Jan was disqualified for an unlawful knee on March 6, 2023, would the UFC have an interest within the treble?
And what about Volkanovsky?
This is who needs to be subsequent – with a wild card – for these winners, in addition to for Mackenzie Dern, who defeated Tecia Torres, by cut up resolution.
Alexander Volkanovsky retains Chan Sung Jung guessing all through his battle and wins the match by TKO.
Table of Contents
Alexander Volkanovsky, featherweight champion
Who needs to be subsequent: Max Holloway
This can be a no-brainer. The three-way battle between these two was alleged to occur at this occasion, however Holloway needed to deal with a long-term damage. He was already cleared in time to battle on Saturday, however the UFC had already moved on by then with Jung as his substitute. Volkanovsky is the hero – there’s nothing to speak about there. However given how shut his victory over Holloway was, there was at all times a requirement for them to finish the trilogy. Holloway has been a thorn within the hero’s facet. Volkanovsky couldn’t bypass him. Clearly, his third win will permit him to just do that. And if Volkanovsky could make a turnaround comparatively shortly, I believe that can occur in August.
Wild Card: Henry Segudo
I am about to joke. This won’t occur. Nevertheless, there isn’t any different battle for Volkanovsky. No different featherweight competitor might be worthy. There isn’t any room for him to modify to light-weight for any cause. It is the Holloway trilogy and nothing else.
But when Cejudo immediately desires to return out of retirement (and on his previous contract, as a result of it would not appear to be the UFC desires to pay him extra to do it), this battle goes to be enjoyable.
Chan Sung-jung, featherweight
Who needs to be subsequent: Giga Chikadze
Jung is 35 years previous and says he nonetheless has a couple of issues left within the tank. Any path to a different title appears unlikely, nevertheless it nonetheless ranks extremely. He undoubtedly nonetheless managed to high the cardboard.
Chikadze emerges from a reasonably dominant loss to Calvin Katar. Previous to that battle in January, he seemed like a really authentic contender for the title. A win over Jung would put Chikadze straight again into the combination, among the many high six or seven within the division. Stylistically, it is a fantastic battle — as a result of a lot of these are at featherweight, to be sincere.
This can be a dynamic division now. This can be a robust battle, and I would not thoughts seeing it as a five-round most important occasion.
Wild Card: Arnold Allen
This isn’t a perfect possibility, as a result of Allen takes a win. However Allen continues to be seeking to construct his profile, and a battle towards Jung will just do that. It is also only a very enjoyable battle. And although Jung loses, he nonetheless ranks very excessive.
The UFC is wanting ahead to returning to England this summer time. Jung’s battle towards Allen in London will likely be a fantastic one for a number of causes.
Shemayev Khamza, medium weight
Who needs to be subsequent: Colby Covington
Oh my God, what a battle. We needed to see Shemayev take a look at, and we obtained it. And I will inform you, that was a kind of good conditions for Kemayev, as a result of defeat stared him within the face. I believe he made some errors on this battle. I believe he could have taken Burns evenly. He realized useful classes, and he didn’t need to lose. It could be extra harmful due to this. Covington is the plain subsequent battle. A part of me hates seeing them battle as a result of one has to lose and you then lose a possible title contender. However Shemayev appeared human on this battle, and Covington is without doubt one of the finest on this planet. It is a good match. Let’s go.
wild card: Winner of Camaro Usman vs. Leon Edwards
That is the title of the subsequent battle. If Covington did not battle Shemayev, and if he wasn’t , there was nothing else to do however wait. Chimayev hates ready, and will wish to advance in a middleweight battle whereas he waits for his flip, however that was a tricky battle he simply had with Burns. Trip most likely would not be the worst factor. Let him sit subsequent to Usman reverse Edwards, and convey him to the cage to face the winner. view. And an effective way to finish the yr at welterweight.
Gilbert Burns, welterweight
Who needs to be subsequent: Jorge Masvidal
Let’s reward Burns, we could? This man will battle anybody. He’ll achieve this every time the UFC asks. He was prepared to take the battle that the remainder of the squad did not need in Chemayev, and practically forged her out as an necessary underdog. Earlier than all that, he gave among the finest performances of his profession, even within the occasion of a loss. He deserves one other huge battle, get out of this battle. Followers love him as they need to. Burns involves battle, he is entertaining, he is humble, he would not surrender. Masvidal hasn’t gained his previous three matches, however he is made as huge a reputation as anybody within the division, and he is nonetheless ranked. That is.
Proper name! However what a rattling boys battle!!! Tweet embed And Tweet embed Take the bow, guys!
– Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) April 10 2023
wild card: Loser from Camaro Usman vs. Leon Edwards
If Edwards loses to Usman, it is smart – though I’ll say, I believe the UFC will take a more in-depth take a look at Edwards towards Masvidal, which would go away Burns out. If Usman loses, he could get a direct rematch, or not, with all the nice choices at welterweight. There are quite a lot of shifting elements in all of this, and I do not know if Burns and Osman will ever battle once more, until there is a title on the road. Perhaps not. However from a classification perspective, that is probably the most logical, if not Masvidal.
Aljamain Sterling wins his long-awaited rematch with Petr Yan through cut up resolution at UFC 273.
Aljamin Sterling, Bantamweight Champion
Who needs to be the next: TJ Dillashaw
Whether or not or not you agree with Saturday’s scorecards, you may as well skip the Sterling and Jan match. As a result of the UFC will. Sterling already has it. It was a detailed battle that would have gone both manner, however the UFC is not about to restart it once more. Dilacho has been ready for the title shot since his comeback and beat Cory Sandhagen final July. Maybe ready wasn’t the appropriate time period, he was recovering from the accidents he had sustained in that battle. Sterling desires to battle it. It is the largest title battle the UFC can have on the Bantamweight in the meanwhile. Subsequent will likely be. Dillachaux informed me he wish to do it on October twenty second in Abu Dhabi, however will do it wherever he desires Sterling.
wild card: Peter Yang
If the UFC did not do Dillashaw for no matter cause, working that again can be the one factor that is smart. Maybe if the anger over the choice is excessive sufficient to have a 3rd assembly. However I do not anticipate that to occur.
Peter Yan, Bantam Weight
Who needs to be the next: Merab Dvalishvili
It might appear grim for Lian now that he is misplaced to the identical opponent twice in title fights, in a heartbreaking manner. Of their first assembly he price himself an illegitimate knee, and paid dearly for it. Then, dropping that call, by way of a cut up resolution, was robust. However he is truly not removed from the belt. This battle is smart to me. Dvalishvili is Sterling’s classmate and shut good friend. There’s a story constructed behind this battle already. I would not thoughts seeing Yan towards somebody who would beat him up, however I believe that is the one to make due to the story.
wild card: Dominic Cruz
Cruz is without doubt one of the greatest names within the division, and is, in my view, the best weightlifter of all time. Cruz is now not in his prime, however he deserves an enormous battle, which may give him one final probability to win the UFC title. Yan suits this regulation. Yan is a fearsome opponent, and Cruz should be good. Is Cruz capable of implement a sport plan much like what Sterling simply did? undoubtedly. Yan fights the partition legend. Cruz fights somebody who can ship him to a belt. Win, win.
Mackenzie Dern, straw weight
Who needs to be subsequentWinner of Jesica Andrade vs Amanda Lemos match on April 23
Dern battles imply. Her fixed strain forces her opponents to battle, and Dern secures her chin. She’s able to battle in a telephone sales space. And it results in chaos that advantages it as a result of it’s harmful to scramble or extract submission. She has quite a lot of profession left, and it will be attention-grabbing earlier than all is alleged and carried out, as she retains getting higher between every contest. Andrade is again within the flyweight division, and she or he’s going through an actual rookie within the Limos. In a perfect world, Dern would stay lively. There isn’t any rush. You needn’t have a title battle in 2023. Preserve constructing. This match will likely be an actual take a look at.
wild card: Amanda Ribas
This will appear unusual as a result of Ribas is shifting upwards for flight weight. Catelyn Chukajian fights Might 14th. If she loses that battle and decides she desires to retest the 115, I believe this match may make quite a lot of sense. Ribas has a win over Dern as of 2019. If Ribas beat Chukagian, she would clearly nonetheless be at 125. Even when she loses that match, she will keep on the flyweight. However I can see a world during which this battle is happening, and as soon as once more, it is about holding Dern lively. There will not be many choices in the meanwhile who’re making use of them within the division.