Ketlen Vieira won a unanimous decision over Miesha Tate in the main event of UFC Vegas 43. In the co-main event, welterweight challenger Sean Brady won a decision against Michael Chiesa, improving his perfect record to 15-0. Today we will look into what is next for the losers of UFC Vegas 43.
Miesha Tate
Miesha Tate is now 1-1 since her big layoff that began back in 2016. Prior to her loss this past weekend, Tate was ranked eighth in the women’s bantamweight division. In her next fight, she should be looking to get another fight inside the top 15. Tate has an exciting, unique striking style in addition to her wrestling. Macy Chiasson is currently ranked number 11th in the division. Chiasson has finished six of her seven victories and also has an exciting fighting style. She is 5-1 in the UFC and her only loss is a decision loss against Lina Lansberg in 2019. Her stock is rapidly rising in the bantamweight division which means she could help Tate get another main event or co-main event slot in the near future.
Tate’s next fight: Macy Chiasson
Michael Chiesa
Michael Chiesa looked very impressive in his loss this past weekend against Sean Brady. He was dominated in the grappling but showed bright spots in his striking and even ended the fight trying to finish Brady with ground and pound. This loss puts Chiesa on a two-fight skid and urgently looking to get back in the win column. Chiesa came into this fight ranked number six in the welterweight division and lost to the number 14 ranked Brady. This means he will likely be ranked just inside, or even just outside of the top ten when the rankings are updated.
Li Jingliang is coming off a loss to Khamzat Chimaev in his last fight. Prior to that loss, Jingliang was 10-4 in the UFC. Jingliang is currently ranked 11th in the division and matches up great with Chiesa stylistically. Jingliang has decent takedown defense and power in all of his strikes. A fight with Jingliang would definitely help Chiesa stay relevant following back-to-back losses.
Chiesa’s next fight: Li Jingliang
Joanne Wood
Joanne Wood was submitted in the first round by Talia Santos at UFC Vegas 43. This fight puts Wood on a two-fight skid and likely means she will be on the backside of the top ten when the rankings are updated. Wood is 34 years old and has had a very long career in combat sports. She became a professional kickboxer in 2005 and a professional mixed martial artist in 2012. It seems like she will continue fighting following this most recent loss so she should be looking to fight the biggest draw she can in her next fight.
Casey O’Neill is an undefeated prospect that is coming off a huge TKO victory over Antonia Shevchenko in October. She is scheduled to fight number 12 ranked Roxanne Modafferi on February 12th at UFC 271. Modafferi has said that this fight will be her retirement fight. With that being said, if O’Neill can get past Modafferi that would be a huge opportunity for Joanne Wood.
Wood’s next fight: Casey O’Neill
Kyung Ho Kang
Kyung Ho Kang lost a decision to Rani Yahya this past weekend on the main card. Kang is coming off a two-year layoff and is currently 34 years old. He has been fighting professionally for almost 15 years. This inconsistency makes it a bit hard to play matchmaker for him. Given his level of activity, it’s likely we don’t see him fight for a while. This most recent layoff was the second big layoff of his UFC career. He took off for four years from 2014-2018 earlier in his UFC run, to serve his mandatory military service in his native South Korea.
If Eddie Wineland intends to fight again, that match-up could work. He’s coming off back-to-back losses and last competed in February.
Kang’s next fight: Eddie Wineland, if both intend to be active
Davey Grant
Davey Grant lost a razor-close split decision this past weekend against Adrian Yanez. A fight so exciting, it clearly won Fight of the Night honors. In Grant’s next fight, he should be looking to make one final run at the bantamweight division.
Felipe Colares has a UFC record of 2-3 and is coming off a split decision loss to Chris Gutierrez. Colares is a black belt in jiu-jitsu and has five submission wins on his record. He has also never been finished and would be an extremely exciting fight for Davey Grant. A win over Colares would put Grant back on the right path in the bantamweight division.
Grant’s next fight: Felipe Colares
