What’s Next For UFC Fighters After UFC 298?

There’s quite the shake up in more then one division after UFC 298.

We’ll start off with the main event and work our ways down.

Ilil Topuria was crowned the new king of the 145 division, all featherweights better watch out, because Ilia looked like a problem.

Topuria knocked Alexander Volkanovski out in the second round in dominating fashion, Volk who’s been the king of the 145 division for almost 3 years, didn’t look like the same man who beat Max Holloway 3 times.

So what will be next for the new generation champion Topuria.

Yair Rodriguez and Brian Ortega face off this weekend in a 5 round co-main event in Mexico City this Saturday. This could absolutely be a title eliminator. These men fought in July ‘22 resulting in Yair coming out victorious due to Ortega having a shoulder injury.

Next up is the co – main Paluo Costa vs. Robert Whittaker.

What a fight. Not super high action but it had its moments, Costa came out blazing looking amazing, the best he’s looked in years, landing a flush spinning wheel kick at the end of the first almost finished Robert.

Rob weathered the storm an came back an convincingly won rounds 2 and 3 giving him the unanimous decision victory.

This puts Costa in a weird spot, giving the fact he’s fought at the top for so long but has always come up a little short, I seen a lot of people calling for him to fight Khamzat, but I disagree, I think it’s time he gives someone between the top 10-15 a opportunity to break into the top tier. Someone like Jack Hermansson who’s currently ranked number 9 or even Anthony Hernandez, who also fought on 298.

For Rob, if Sean Strickland don’t get a rematch against DDP for the belt, line up Rob vs. Sean.

Next, Geoff Neal vs. Ian Garry.

Ian won via split decision and I think they got the call right, but… What a boring fight. Between Neil getting clinch control on the cage and holding there, and Ian running the entire fight landing quick flurry’s here and there, this was easily the most boring fight of the night.

Ian went on to call out Colby Covington, which I think is a perfect fit for a headline for a fight night in months to come.

For Neil, at this point of his career, I think he’d be more comfortable at middleweight instead of welterweight. Maybe set him up against Chris Curtis.

Next was the bantamweights in a title eliminator, Henry Cejudo vs. Merab Dvalishvili.

This was a good tilt, both men having moments, well Henry had a moment, rocking Merab early in the first. The rest of the bout went in favour of Merab, out wrestling the wrestler, carrying him around the cage. Henry had some pretty bad lumps at the end of the fight, one of his forearms were lumped up pretty bad, aswell as his lead leg, Merab tired out an beat up the former champ. Claiming the unanimous victory

Merab went on to call for a title shot, while Henry took off his gloves in what we can only imagine is his final time being in the octagon.

Next was the main card opener, Anthony Hernandez vs. Roman Kopylov.

This fight lost me some money, I was so high on Kopylov, thought he would dominate but damn…. Was I ever wrong.

Kopylov came out firing his fiery kicks, but Hernandez just took a couple minutes found his timing and took Kopylov down an did what he dose best, grappling, and got the submission victory in round 2.

Like I said earlier, match Hernandez up against Costa.

For Kopylov, send him back to the unranked guys, just for now, this was his opportunity to break into the top 15 an he failed, he’s still a great competitor and I’m sure at some point he will be ranked, but it’s time for someone else to get a opportunity.