After a two-week break, the MMA leader was back in action, this time in Houston, Texas. While UFC Houston got off to a very slow start on the prelim portion, the main card delivered some big-time highlights.
Risers Jacobe Smith, Melquizael Costa and Uros Medic all kept their win streaks alive with thunderous knockouts while the night was capped off by Sean Strickland putting on what might be his best performance since winning the title back in 2023. With UFC Houston now in the rearview mirror, let’s look at what’s next for Saturday’s winners.
Sean Strickland
While there will be a lot of fan appetite for a Chimaev/Strickland title fight, I do believe that meritocracy needs to prevail on some levels. For that reason, I think Nassourdine Imavov should still be awarded the next shot. In the meantime, there’s no question that Strickland has earned himself a big fight. The winner of the upcoming Seattle main event would produce the kind of opponent Strickland should be looking for. Either it’s an Israel Adesanya rematch, which is unquestionably still big business, or Joe Pyfer, which would make for an all-American number one contender fight, something the U.S. market badly needs.
Strickland’s next fight: Adesanya/Pyfer winner
Uros Medic
The man they call “The Doctor” is now officially on his first UFC three-fight win streak. Not only has Medic never gone to the scorecards, he has only gotten out of the 1st round four times in his 16-fight career. With the promotion seemingly favouring more action-oriented matchups since signing their new broadcast deal with Paramount, it’s no wonder they wasted no time giving the Serbian fighter a shot at the rankings. It’s easy to see why a fighter with such a style would get a push by the promotion, and I don’t see this push slowing down any time soon. I think a fight with former champion Leon Edwards could be in play. The Englishman is now barely holding on to a top10 spot, while Medic will enter the rankings and look upwards. Winner of three straight verses loser of three straight: a true crossroads fight.
Medic’s next fight: Leon Edwards
Melquizael Costa
This Brazilian fighter keeps impressing in new ways. At the start of 2025, he was gathering momentum with his activity level, fighting three times in three months. More recently, it’s been the nature of the finishes that have kept his momentum going. Back-to-back sensational head kick KOs will help boost anyone’s profile, but Costa is doing it as the level of competition keeps rising. Dan Ige is a man who’s fought a ridiculous level of competition for years, but it’s now Melquizael Costa who can claim to be the first to ever finish him. I think the UFC should look to keep pushing him forward. A fight inside the top10 should be on the table and I think a name like Arnold Allen makes a lot of sense.
Costa’s next fight: Arnold Allen
Serghei Spivac
A win is a win, but this kind of forgettable win won’t do Serghei Spivac, or the heavyweight division, any favours. It’s good for the 31-year-old to get back in the win column after dropping two straight, but the division is in such a place where it’s hard to see any meaningful matchup on the horizon. For the time being, a meeting with Rizvan Kuniev probably makes the most sense.
Spivac’s next fight: Rizvan Kuniev
Jacobe Smith
Jacobe Smith’s elite athletic abilities were on full display as he reversed a takedown from Josiah Harrell mid-air before proceeding to absolutely drill the then fellow undefeated Harrell into the canvas. While Smith faced more adversity than anticipated last June against Niko Price, he should still be viewed as a blue-chip prospect. If there is one thing that all blue-chip welterweight prospects seem to have in common is that they all had to face Neil Magny at some point. I think Smith has reached the chapter of his career where he has to pass the all-important Magny test.
Smith’s next fight: Neil Magny
Michel Pereira
Streaky seems like an understatement when describing Michel Pereira. After dropping two straight fights early in his UFC tenure, Pereira then won 8 consecutive bouts before then losing his last three. He was facing Zachary Reese in a fight that may have cost him his job had he not gotten his hand raised. It was a split decision, but Pereira still managed to stop the bleeding. I think his fight style seems like a perfect match for a guy like Shara Magomedov. To me, a meeting between “Bullet” and “Demolidor” sounds like a lot of fun in Macau in late May.
Pereira’s next fight: Shara Magomedov
