UFC Brasilia may go down in history as the only UFC event to be held without an audience. Due to the coronavirus going around the world, the UFC was forced to hold the card behind closed doors. With so much being shut down globally, it is making it hard to predict the future of UFC events. Charles Oliveria defeated Kevin Lee in the main event of UFC Brasilia. In the co-main event, Gilbert Burns was able to submit Demien Maia in the first round. Today we will be taking a look at who these fighters should be fighting next. Whenever that might be.
Charles Oliveria
Number 13 ranked Charles Oliveria was able to submit number 8 ranked Kevin Lee in the main event of UFC Brasilia. This fight makes it seven straight wins for Oliveria, which means he should be pushed pretty high in the rankings. The two best fights for Oliveria are either Donald Cerrone or Paul Felder. Felder did make a point to say that after his last fight he was not sure if he was going to retire or not. Since then he has posted on social media hinting that he will come back to fight. Both Felder and Cerrone have great jiu-jitsu and kickboxing. This matches up great with Oliveria’s jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai style. A win over either man would push Oliveria immediately into the top five of the lightweight division.
Oliveria’s Next Fight: Either Paul Felder or Donald Cerrone
Gilbert Burns
After UFC Brasilia, Europe and the United States made a no travel pact. Meaning that no person would be able to travel to or from Europe from the US. This means that the fighters from the US would not be able to travel to London for UFC London next Saturday. The UFC is currently looking for alternate fighters and venues to hold these fights inside the US then pushed back their next three shows. After Gilbert Burns submitted Demien Maia this past Saturday he was quick to get on twitter and challenge Tyron Woodley. Woodley was left without an opponent for next weekend because Leon Edwards could not get out of London in time. Reports have come out that Woodley turned down the Burns fight and is looking to fight Rafael Dos Anjos.
Which makes us look a little down the line to see what’s next for Gilbert Burns. Burns should be ranked in the top ten after he beat Maia. Since the top of the division is being held up with the coronavirus pandemic, his next fight should be the power striking of Geoff Neal. Burns seems ready and Neal hasn’t fought since December. We have seen that Burns can produce great results grappling. Now its time to test him against a great power striker like Neal.
Burns’ Next Fight: Geoff Neal
Nikita Krylov
Nikita Krylov won a unanimous decision over Johnny Walker this past weekend. Krylov was able to grapple with Walker in the early rounds. Then he was able to outpoint a very tired Walker in the last two rounds. This win should allow Krylov to get inside the top ten at light heavyweight. A few months ago Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson announced that he will be entering the USADA pool and wants to make a UFC comeback. If that is the case he should be coming back within the next few months. If he was looking to make his return to light heavyweight, he would likely get a quick push to a top ten opponent. We have seen Krylov wrestle and defeat the unorthodox Johnny Walker. Question is can he wrestle and beat Junior College national champion wrestler and power striker, Anthony Johnson.
Krylov’s Next Fight: Anthony Johnson
Who do you think these fighters should fight next? Let us know in the comments down below.
