After a week on the sidelines, the UFC returned to action on Saturday, setting up shop in the Apex once again for UFC Vegas 97. The main event saw Sean Brady move past Gilbert Burns, establishing a two-fight win streak, while Natalia Silva announced her arrival as a contender in the co-headliner. What’s next for these and other main card fighters could get rather interesting, so read on.
Sean Brady
Two years ago, welterweight Sean Brady was undefeated, but ran into Belal Muhammad at the wrong time. Brady became the rare finish on Muhammad’s record, but that loss has aged better than most thanks to Muhammad going on to become champ earlier this year.
Brady’s other obstacle has been activity, having fought just once in each of the last three years. Let’s hope he can correct that moving forward, because to stake a claim in the welterweight division, you need to be present. Or be Colby Covington.
Brady entered UFC Vegas 97 ranked #8 in the weight class, and having defeated #6 Burns, should jump up at least a few spots. He’ll want to fight up the rankings, but that may prove difficult. However, there are a couple of options in former champs Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman. In particular, Usman is ranked #2 in the division, but is coming off three straight defeats. It’s another step up for Brady, but with Usman having been out for the better part of a year, it seems like a good time to catch him. Either Brady lands in contention, or Usman returns to the mix.
Brady’s next fight: Kamaru Usman
Natalia Silva
Brazilian Natalia Silva announced her arrival as a real player at women’s flyweight by defeating Jessica Andrade in the UFC Vegas 97 co-main event. Silva has yet to taste defeat under the UFC banner, and was ranked #8 to start the night. With Andrade at #6, an identical situation to Brady-Burns plays out. Silva will want to fight up, but the options are limited as Rose Namajunas is booked against Erin Blanchfield in November, while Valentina Shevchenko faces champ Alex Grasso next weekend. Maycee Barber has been facing some serious health issues, which leaves Manon Fiorot and Katlyn Cerminara.
Of the two, however, there’s really only one option. Fiorot is serving as backup for Grasso vs. Shevchenko 3, and probably has the next title shot locked up. With that in mind, #7-ranked Cerminara might be the best option, even if Silva is likely to inch past her in the rankings when they update.
Silva’s next fight: Katlyn Cerminara
Steve Garcia
Don’t you dare mess with the Mean Machine, with apologies to Sugar Ray (the band, not boxer). Actually, Steve “Mean Machine” Garcia might want to walk out to that track for the sheer nostalgia, but regardless, he was very much a wrecking machine as a short-notice replacement opposite Kyle Nelson at UFC Vegas 97.
That’s the kind of opportunity that doesn’t come along often, but having fought twice in basically two months, Garcia is likely to take some time off. Here’s where we can have some real fun, however. Nelson was supposed to fight Calvin Katter, ranked #8 at featherweight. Why not give Garcia that fight when both are ready? Garcia has won five straight bouts and finished all five of them. Three of those wins saw him earn Performance of the Night bonuses.
Garcia’s next fight: Calvin Kattar
Cody Durden
Fortunes certainly have changed for flyweight Cody Durden. Just over two years ago, he was steamrolled by Muhammad Mokaev at UFC London, in March 2022. He then embarked on a four fight win streak, dropped two straight, then returned to the win column with a slick, bonus-winning choke of Matt Schnell, who retired following the fight.
Durden was ranked #15, Schnell #11 to start the night. Since Schnell will be exiting the rankings, a few names will be moving up. Durden’s best bet, assuming he’s ready to return from injury, would be former title challenger and TUF winner Tim Elliott. That just feels like a fun fight all around.
Durden’s next fight: Tim Elliott
Yanal Ashmouz
Israel’s Yanal Ashmouz improved to 2-1 in the UFC care of a win over Trevor Peek on Saturday. He’s now going into a key fight, one that either puts him at .500 with a loss, or 3-1 and sitting pretty after his first four fights. Who that bout comes about is the question, and Ashmouz is still way down the lightweight division priority list. He’s also still under 10 fights as a pro, something to factor in when matchmaking.
Viacheslav Borshchev is 8-4-1 as a pro, and Slava Claus is coming off a win. He’s 3-3-1 in the promotion, and like Ashmouz had less than 10 fights when he arrived via the Contender Series a few years back. That match-up works on a number of levels.
Ashmouz’s next fight: Viacheslav Borshchev
