Matchmaking: This is the fights we want to see after UFC Vegas 61!

Ilir Latifi fought at UFC Vegas 61. Photo: UFC

UFC Vegas 61 went down on Saturday, October 1 inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main event featured a strawweight bout between Yan Xiaonan and Mackenzie Dern.

Click ”Next” to check out fights to make after the event!

Yan Xiaonan vs. Rose Namajunas

”Thug” Rose Namajunas. Photo: USA Today Sports

With the win over Mackenzie Dern in the main event, top ranked Chinese strawweight Yan Xiaonan should break into the top five of the stacked strawweight division.

With No. 2 ranked Zhang Weili facing champion Carla Esparza, a fight against No. 4 ranked Jessica Andrade, or No. 1 Rose Namajunas makes sense.

Stylewise, former two-time champion Namajunas is perhaps the more interesting fight to make, since both Xiaonan and ”Thug” are fast and entertaining strikers with great footwork. However, Rose might rather prefer to wait to see how Weili vs. Esparza in November plays out.

Sodiq Yusuff vs. Dan Ige

Dan Ige (left) fighting Korean Zombie. Photo via Instagram (@ufc)

No. 12 ranked featherweight Sodiq Yusuff secured a first-round submission against Don Shainis. With  6-1 in the UFC, Yusuff should be ready for tougher opponents than that. How about the durable veteran Dan Ige who’s ranked No. 11 in the division?

Ige lost to Movsar Evloev in June and needs to get back in the win column again.

Yusuff, however, looks higher up the ladder and wants No. 6 ranked Korean Zombie next.

“If he wants to do it in December, that’s fine. But me and ‘Zombie,’ I think we’re two very entertaining guys.”

Randy Brown vs. Alex Morono

Alex Morono. Photo: Jerry Lai – USA TODAY Sports

At the Apex, Randy Brown won his fourth straight victory when he defeated 44-year-old veteran Francisco Trinaldo via unanimous decision. His four-fight winning streak includes names like Alex Oliveira, Khaos Williams and Jared Gooden.

“I’m ready,” Brown said after the fight. “I just want to bounce back in, get one more for the year. I just want to keep moving forward and keep running it up.”

How about a fight against Alex Morono, who also rides a four-fight winning streak?

Ilir Latifi vs. Blagoy Ivanov

Swedish heavyweight Ilir Latifi. Photo: Perry Nelson – USA TODAY Sports

Ilir Latifi defeated Alexey Oleinik with a solid performance in their heavyweight bout at the Apex. After the fight, the Swede wasn’t sure if he will be competing in the UFC in the future.

“This was my last fight on my contract. You know, I turn 40 now, and I don’t know what happens after this. I want to say special thanks to the UFC, it’s been a amazning run.” Latifi said. “We see what happens after this.”

However, if the Swede chose to sign a new deal with the promotion, a fight against No. 14 ranked heavyweight Blagoy Ivanov would be interesting.

The 35-year-old Bulgarian veteran would be a good fight to get into the rankings.

Read more: Seasoned veterans and promising prospects – The 25 best UNRANKED fighters in the UFC right now!

Follow Frontkick on Instagram!