In the wake of UFC 292 in Boston, there were several notable events that took place. Sean O’Malley emerged as the new UFC bantamweight champion after defeating Aljamain Sterling in a second-round TKO. O’Malley’s victory solidifies his status as a rising superstar in the UFC. Meanwhile, Zhang Weili showcased her dominance with a record-setting performance against Lemos, and Ian Machado Garry proved himself to be a rising star in the octagon. These exciting developments have opened up new opportunities for future matchups.
Following his win, O’Malley called out Marlon Vera as his next opponent. However, there is another contender waiting in the wings to avenge Sterling’s loss. Merab Dvalishvili, Sterling’s training partner and the current No. 1 contender in the bantamweight division, would be an ideal challenger for O’Malley. Their matchup would be highly anticipated, especially considering the history between Dvalishvili and O’Malley, with Dvalishvili still holding the red jacket he stole from O’Malley.
Another compelling fight to make in the bantamweight division is between Petr Yan and Marlon Vera. Both fighters have a reputation for their explosive fighting styles and would undoubtedly put on an entertaining show.
In the featherweight division, a matchup between Brian Ortega and Aljamain Sterling could be intriguing. While Sterling has been considering a move to featherweight, this fight would serve as a test for him against a tough opponent like Ortega.
For the women’s strawweight division, a showdown between Zhang Weili and Yan Xioanan in China would be an ideal matchup. This historic fight between two Chinese fighters competing for a UFC title would undoubtedly draw significant attention.
Amanda Lemos, who recently fought Zhang Weili, could face off against Tatiana Suarez in a title eliminator. This matchup would serve as a final test for Suarez before she aims for a shot at the title.
In the welterweight division, Stephen Thompson and Ian Machado Garry could square off in an exciting matchup. Garry, who called out Thompson after his win over Neil Magny, would provide an interesting challenge for Thompson.
