Five fights to make after first UFC card of 2024

Paul Felder vs Jim Miller is one of the fights I think should be booked following UFC Vegas 84. It’s a perfect addition to UFC 300! Photo by Per Häljestam / Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

The very first UFC event of 2024 is in the books as UFC Vegas 84 wrapped up at the Apex in Las Vegas moments ago, with light heavyweight contender Magomed Ankalaev settling the score with Johnny Walker with a vicious knockout in the main event.

Now, let’s look ahead to what might be next. Here’s five fight I would book for some of the biggest stars of UFC Vegas 84.

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Related: UFC results: Magomed Ankalaev viciously knocks out Johnny Walker in rematch headliner

Magomed Ankalaev vs. Khalil Rountree

Sure, Magomed Ankalaev definitely deserves another title shot as he has gone undefeated in twelve straight UFC bouts with ten wins, one No Contest and one draw in his first attempt to capture the belt. However, considering former champ Jamahal Hill is most likely next in line to face current title holder Alex Pereira, the timing and current landscape of the division doesn’t seem to work in favor of Ankalaev at the moment.

Unless he’s willing to wait and be out for quite some time (which UFC seldom wants nor rewards), Ankalaev will probably have to fight someone else before getting another shot at the championship. While my first choice would be to match him up against Jiri Prochazka, Prochazka is already booked against Aleksandar Rakic for UFC 300 so I figure that No. 8 ranked Khalil Rountree would be the most suitable option of the available matchups.

With five wins in a row–including four knockouts–Rountree deserves an opportunity to prove himself as a potential contender. I think Ankalaev vs. Rountree would be a good title eliminator and as far as I’m concerned, it’s the fight to make next.

Johnny Walker vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu

So what about Johnny Walker? A win against Ankalaev would’ve been massive and could’ve catapulted him right into the title picture. But now he lost and he did so in brutal fashion.

Walker might drop a spot or two in the rankings and first of all, he should take some time off considering the nature of the finish. But when he’s ready to go again, let’s put him against someone who’s ranked a bit lower in the top 15.

I find Kennedy Nzechukwu to be a great option. They’re both coming off losses and stylistically, it should be a good fight.

Jim Miller vs. Paul Felder

Jim Miller, the absolute legend and OG, added another victory to his now three-fight win streak and also extended his UFC records for most fights and most wins inside the octagon as he submitted Gabriel Benitez in the UFC Vegas 84 co-main event.

Now, everything is pointing towards UFC 300 next and I think he made the perfect callout when he suggested a matchup against Paul Felder on the milestone card on April 13. While Felder is technically retired, he seems to like the idea of returning for one final bout against Miller and I’m all for it.

Felder is as game as they come and I’m sure he’d put up a great fight. He hasn’t fought since losing a couple of split decisions to Dan Hooker and Rafael Dos Anjos in 2020, but I feel he’s almost become a bigger name as a solid UFC commentator octagon side and a comeback at UFC 300 would be big. Make it happen!

Mario Bautista vs. Rob Font

With six wins in a row, Mario Bautista looks to be a real threat to the top bantamweights and he’ll now enter the top 15 after winning a unanimous decision against Ricky Simon in what was a great fight.

Bautista called out No. 7 ranked Rob Font in his post-fight interview, and don’t think we have to make this any more complicated. Font has lost four of his five most recent bouts, he has a ranking spot that the up-and-comer Bautista wants and he should have to fight him for it.

This should be a banger and it makes a lot of sense.

Brunno Ferreira vs. Paul Craig

Last but not least, the powerful middleweight Brunno Ferreira scored a brutal and quite scary knockout against Phil Hawes as he certainly lived up to his ”Hulk” nickname. He’s now 2-1 in the UFC with two solid wins inside the octagon, and I think a fight against No. 12 ranked submission artist Paul Craig would be the perfect matchup for him next.

I believe Craig got ranked a bit too quick at middleweight and now coming off a loss, he should have to defend his spot in the rankings against an up-and-comer like Ferreira.

I’m pretty sure this potential bout would end in a finish one way or the other, either Ferreira by knockout or Craig by submission.

What do you think of the proposed matchups following UFC Vegas 84? Head over to Frontkick’s Facebook page and let your voice be heard in the comments!

Read more: Who is fighting on UFC 300? (Latest fight card, ticket prices & info)

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