The UFC returned to Fight Island this past weekend for UFC 294, as Islam Makhachev defended his lightweight title against Alexander Volkanovski, for the second time this year.
Due to how the main and co-main event came about, neither of the losing fighters lost any stock. Let’s take a look at what could be next for the losers of the night.
Alexander Volkanovski
The featherweight champion once again dared to be great. This time, under much more unfortunate circumstances. Despite only having 10 days notice, Alexander “The Great” made championship weight and seemed prepared for the moment.
Subsequently, the 35-year-old suffered just his second loss via knockout, as Islam Makhachev caught him with a perfect left high kick.
During the post fight press conference, Volkanovski emotionally opened up to the media, admitting that he was getting to a dark place in his mind when he didn’t have a fight booked, and that was the reason he took the fight on such short notice. Before his fight with Islam, the plan seemed for Volkanovski to defend his 145lb title against Ilia Topuria in January.
Volkanovski wants to stick to that plan and said he wants to get back in there as soon as possible, and implored the UFC keep him busy. I envisage a busy 2024 for the featherweight King.
Volkanovski’s Next Fight: Ilia Topuria
Kamaru Usman
Similarly to Volkanovski’s situation, former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman came into his fight with Khamzat Chimaev with nothing to lose.
Chimaev is one of the most feared fighters in the world, so for Usman to drop everything he was doing and to take the fight on 10 days’ notice at UFC 294, was nothing short of admirable. Not only that, but he put on a terrific performance and had a case for winning the fight.
However, two of the three judges scored it in favour of “Borz” and Usman’s losing skid continued.
Despite that, we now get to see “The Nigerian Nightmare” properly prepare for another fight at middleweight. This fight with Chimaev had high stakes attached to it, as Dana White announced that the winner would fight for the middleweight title next.
With that being said, it is only right that Usman’s next fight is with a top five contender. Dricus Du Plessis is likely going to get snubbed for the next title shot. He is seemingly being punished for not accepting a short turnaround fight with Israel Adesanya for UFC 293. I wouldn’t be too surprised to see Usman and Du Plessis matched up next.
Failing that, I’d like to see Usman vs Vettori next.
Usman’s Next Fight: Marvin Vettori or Dricus Du Plessis
Magomed Ankalaev & Johnny Walker
Fans were practically robbed of getting to see this number one contender fight as it was called a no contest after Ankalaev landed an illegal knee to the head of a downed Walker.
After Dan Movahedi called in the ringside doctor, he did his routine tests to see how compromised Walker really was. After asking him ‘what country are you in?’ and Johnny Walker replying ‘the desert’, he decided that wasn’t good enough and told the ref to call the fight.
The only thing that makes sense from here, is for these two to run it back. Ankalaev’s last two fights have been highly controversial which has been extremely unfortunate for his title push.
Magomed Ankalaev & Johnny Walker to run it back
Warlley Alves
After losing back-to-back fights in the 170lb division, the 32-year-old Brazilian decided to move up to middleweight to try and turn his fortune around.
Unfortunately for Alves though, he was met by the high-rolling Ikram Aliskerov, who brutally KO’d him inside the first round.
It is uncertain whether Alves will decide to stay at middleweight or if he will move back down to welterweight for his next fight, but I think the move up could be beneficial for him.
For his next outing, I wouldn’t mind seeing Alves vs Brundage.
Alves’ Next Fight: Cody Brundage
Muin Gafurov
After an unsuccessful UFC debut back in June, Tajik Muin Gafurov was looking to pick up his first win under the UFC banner.
He was once again given an extremely tough matchup at UFC 294, giving him the task of trying to solve the Said Nurmagomedov puzzle. Unfortunately for the 27-year-old, the puzzle stood as too tall of a task as he was submitted in round one.
With the bantamweight division arguably being the deepest in the UFC, there are a multitude of fun matchups for Gafurov.
Dan “The Determined” Argueta is someone I’d like to see him face next.
Gafurov’s Next Fight: Dan Argueta
