Glover Teixeira won the light heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 267 this weekend. In the co-main event, Petr Yan won the interim bantamweight title with a decision over Cory Sandhagen. Today we will be looking into what is next for the winners of UFC 267.
Glover Teixeira
It is looking like Jiri Prochazka is going to be next in line to challenge for the light heavyweight title. After he won the title, Teixeira called out Prochazka and said he would be ready to fight again sometime after the first quarter of 2022. Prochazka’s last fight was in May so that would mean he would be taking nearly a year off. That is unlikely as Prochazka is in the prime of his career. If he wants to take a fight in the meantime, Aleksandar Rakic seems to be just the man for the job. Rakic is coming off back-to-back wins against Anthony Smith and Thiago Santos. He has good kickboxing skills and would be a great match-up for the unique striking of Prochazka.
Teixeira’s next fight: Prochazka, or the winner of a hypothetical Prochazka-Rakic fight
Petr Yan
Petr Yan won the interim title so it is only right that his next fight is a unification fight for the bantamweight title. Yan was supposed to be fighting Aljamain Sterling this past weekend but when Sterling had to back out of the fight due to his neck injury, Sandhagen stepped in to make this fight an interim title fight. Sterling should be recovered by the beginning of the year sometime.
Yan’s next fight: Aljamain Sterling for the bantamweight title
Islam Makhachev
Islam Makhahev submitted Dan Hooker in the first round at UFC 267. Makhachev will be fighting someone in the top three in his next fight. Beneil Dariush matches up very well with Makhachev. Dariush has great jiu-jitsu skills and has developed his striking significantly in his last few fights. Dariush is ranked third in the division and is on a seven-fight winning streak. Makhachev is on a nine-fight winning streak. The winner of this fight would immediately be next in line for a title shot in the lightweight division.
Makhachev’s next fight: Beneil Dariush
Alexander Volkov
Alexander Volkov won a unanimous decision over Marcin Tybura this past weekend. With two of the three judges saying that Volkov won all three rounds. Volkov is 3-1 in his last four fights and should be in line to get another fight inside the top five. Volkov lost to Curtis Blaydes in 2020 and struggled against future interim champ Ciryl Gane earlier in 2021. To prove he is championship worthy, Volkov should try to get a rematch with Blaydes. If he can prove that he can stuff a takedown and beat Blaydes with his striking, he would prove that he is ready for another shot at Gane.
Volkov’s next fight: Rematch with Curtis Blaydes
Khamzat Chimaev
Khamzat Chimaev kept his hype train going with an early first-round submission win over Li Jingliang at UFC 267. Chimaev is now 4-0 in the UFC and has won all of his UFC wins in impressive fashion. He is almost certainly guaranteed a top ten fight in his next fight. Neil Magny is currently ranked eighth in the division and has been calling for this fight with Chimaev for a long time. Magny is extremely durable and has great wrestling. Magny’s boxing has looked phenomenal against his last few opponents, showing a remarkable improvement. He might just be the kryptonite that can take down this phenom in Chimaev.
Chimaev’s next fight: Neil Magny
Magomed Ankalaev
Magomed Ankalaev won a decision over Volkan Oezdemir this past weekend and is currently on a seven-fight winning streak. His win at UFC 267 will likely get him a shot at someone in the top five of the division. Anthony Smith and Thiago Santos are the best opportunities for Ankalaev in his next fight. Ankalaev has power in his hands and good grappling. Thiago Santos would be the best match as those two attributes match Santos’ fighting style.
Ankalaev’s next fight: Thiago Santos
