The UFC does not have a brand new heavyweight champion after UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, but it surely does not have a champion with a profitable title protection, both. As a substitute, it actually acquired a worst-case situation: a no contest due to an unintended eye poke. It is virtually sure the UFC could have champion Tom Aspinall run it again with Ciryl Gane, particularly for the reason that two opponents fought to such a fair first spherical earlier than the foul. The one query is when.
This is a take a look at these situations and what may very well be subsequent for the opposite UFC 321 main-card stars.
Tom Aspinall, heavyweight champion, and Ciryl Gane
What must be subsequent: UFC 323 on Dec. 6 in Las Vegas BOOK IT RIGHT NOW. If Aspinall didn’t endure everlasting or long-term harm to his eyes, get this factor on the books instantly. The UFC’s remaining pay-per-view of 2025 is on Dec. 6. E book it for that card. If not, e-book it for the primary occasion of 2026. Simply e-book it. Now. They’re in form, they simply ready for each other, simply answered one million questions on one another. Let’s go. The earlier the higher.
Mackenzie Dern, strawweight
Who must be subsequent: Tatiana Suarez
It is onerous to not be blissful for Dern, who took a 16-UFC struggle path to changing into a champion. Should you had requested me in 2018, when Dern first signed with the UFC, if she’d nonetheless be chasing a UFC title after 15 appearances, I doubt I might have mentioned sure. Not that Dern did not have coronary heart, in actual fact, that is one factor she all the time has had. However that is a very long time to be in competitors with out a UFC championship, and I most likely would have thought that she both would have burned out, moved on to one thing else, or that her submission abilities merely would not have translated into longevity. She’s on the prime now, and it is definitely not going to be simple to remain there. The apparent title problem right here is Suarez, who simply competed for the belt in February, however in opposition to former champion Zhang Weili.
Wild card: Zhang Weili
If Zhang comes up brief in her bid to seize a second title at UFC 322 subsequent month, one might simply see her going again to 115 kilos and instantly difficult for the belt. Zhang faces Valentina Shevchenko for the flyweight title Nov. 15 in New York. If Zhang loses and opts to return to strawweight, this could most likely be one of the best struggle to make, though the UFC might elect to do Dern vs. Suarez and have Zhang face the winner.
Umar Nurmagomedov, males’s bantamweight
Who must be subsequent: Winner of Merab Dvalishvili vs. Petr Yan on Dec. 6
Below regular circumstances, I doubt I might be suggesting a title struggle rematch so shortly. However these should not regular circumstances, because of the enigma that’s Dvalishvili. Dvalishvili has already defended his title twice since beating Nurmagomedov 10 months in the past, and if he defeats Yan at UFC 323, he’ll grow to be first in UFC historical past to win 4 title fights in a single calendar yr. With a champion as energetic as that, why would not Nurmagomedov be subsequent up? The champ wants as many challengers as he can get. If Yan wins, it is a recent matchup — an excellent recent matchup at that. Once more, in a distinct world, I might say there is no approach Dvalishvili ought to probably have to show round and struggle Nurmagomedov once more so quickly, however that is what he needs to do. I would watch it once more, no query.
Wild card: Sean O’Malley
There are rumors that O’Malley already has a struggle lined up in January. Regardless of the case, if O’Malley fights in January, if he wins, loses — no matter any of these particulars, this can be a strong matchup. A troublesome one, after all, for O’Malley, however he and Nurmagomedov are proper subsequent to one another within the rankings, and when O’Malley was the champ, he brazenly favored the thought of combating Nurmagomedov, and all the pieces related to the “Nurmagomedov” household identify. I doubt we find yourself seeing this subsequent for Nurmagomedov, however within the absence of a title struggle, it is a good choice.
Azamat Murzakanov, mild heavyweight
Who must be subsequent: Winner of Jan Blachowicz vs. Bogdan Guskov on Dec. 6
There’s not a lot left for Murzakanov to show after this one. At the very least not in terms of defining himself as an actual participant for the championship. He is undefeated, however that undefeated document did not imply a complete lot till this one, as he defeated a really actual, confirmed expertise in Aleksandar Rakic. Sure, Rakic had misplaced his previous three fights coming into UFC 321, however he misplaced to 3 former and present champions in Magomed Ankalaev, Jiří Procházka and Blachowicz. Rakic was hungry for this one, and Murzakanov put him away inside a spherical. I view that as a critical win. Blachowicz and Guskov is a superb matchup to get the division transferring. Blachowicz is ranked No. 4 by the UFC, regardless of the very fact he hasn’t gained in additional than three years. If Blachowicz proves he is nonetheless elite in opposition to the No. 11-ranked Guskov, nice. Have him struggle Murzakanov subsequent. And if Guskov elevates himself into the highest 5, a matchup in opposition to Murzakanov may be very acceptable.
Wild card: Magomed Ankalaev
Ankalaev is wanting on the unenviable process of successful no less than as soon as, most likely twice, to get again to a title struggle. Ankalaev can be an enormous soar up in competitors for Murzakanov, however I do not see any motive to gradual play him. Ankalaev does not have an apparent subsequent opponent, so I might truly see this one being the extra probably subsequent struggle for Murzakanov, even when I barely favor the Blachowicz/Guskov situation.