A new heavyweight champion was crowned at UFC 260, as Francis Ngannou knocked out Stipe Miocic in the second round. What’s next for Miocic, and the other main card fighters who came up short over the weekend? It’s time to look at just that.
Stipe Miocic
Stipe Miocic will most likely take some time off before coming back, if he even comes back. At this point in his career, it would be completely understandable if he wanted to retire from the sport of MMA. He has the most title defenses in the UFC heavyweight division. His spot in the Hall of Fame is assured. If he does decide to come back, he will likely not get an immediate rematch so it only leaves a few options for him. Jon Jones will probably get the next title shot against Ngannou. Derrick Lewis will be next in line right after Jones. So the question becomes does, Lewis fight Miocic in the meantime? Or does Miocic fight Curtis Blaydes later this year? Blaydes makes more sense. It would not be smart for Lewis to take another fight before he gets a title shot, and things may not work out with Jones financially anyway.
Miocic’s next fight: Curtis Blaydes
Tyron Woodley
Tyron Woodley was submitted in the first round by Vicente Luque at UFC 260. Woodley looked great up until getting tagged and submitted, but this loss puts him on a four-fight losing streak. Woodley will be turning 39 years old in a few weeks. After UFC 260, Dana White would not comment on Woodley’s spot in the company but he implied that it did not look like they would be giving him another shot. That could change, but Woodley’s future may lie outside the UFC if he decides to continue fighting.
Woodley’s next fight: Outside the UFC
Thomas Almeida
Thomas Almeida was knocked out in the third round by Sean O’Malley at UFC 260. This loss puts Almeida on a four-fight losing streak with his last win being against Albert Morales in November of 2016. This brings his UFC record to 5-5. Almeida is only 29 years old so Dana White will probably give him another shot. Eddie Wineland would be the perfect next opponent for Almeida. Wineland is on a two-fight losing streak. Those losses have seen him losing by knockout to both Sean O’Malley and John Castaneda. Wineland is 1-4 since 2017 and is likely fighting for his job in his next fight. Almeida seems like he is in the same situation so the match-up seems perfect.
Almeida’s next fight: Eddie Wineland
Gillian Robertson
Gillian Robertson lost a unanimous decision to Miranda Maverick on Saturday night. This loss puts her on a two-fight skid. She holds a UFC record of 6-4 and has wins over Poliana Botelho, Courtney Casey, and Molly McCann. Her loss on Saturday will likely push her outside the top 15 of the division. With that being said she should fight Montana De La Rosa in her next fight. Both women have great grappling, but have been somewhat back and forth since getting into the UFC. Unfortunately, De La Rosa is fighting Ariane Lipski in June. Robertson may want some time off so giving her the winner or loser of that fight would work perfectly.
Robertson’s next fight: Montana De La Rosa or Ariane Lipski
Khama Worthy
Khama Worthy was knocked out by Jamie Mullarkey in the first round of their bout at UFC 260. This loss brings Worthy to a 2-2 record inside the UFC octagon. Worthy lives and dies by the knockouts. His next opponent should be someone with a similar fighting style as himself. That man might just be Alexander Hernandez. Hernandez is 12-4 and has five wins by knockout. Hernandez has also had a back-and-forth UFC career. He currently is sitting at 3-3 in the UFC. The timing would match up perfectly because Hernandez just lost a decision to Thiago Moises on February 27th.
Worthy’s next fight: Alexander Hernandez
