What’s Next For UFC Fight Night 42’s Main Card Winners?

UFC Fight Night 42 took place last night inside the Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico and it was another great card for the promotion.

There’s been a lot of talk as usual following the event and UFC matchmakers Joe Silva & Sean Selby have a lot of work to do in booking matchup’s for last night’a winners. So LowKick is here to help them out, here’s what’s next for last nights main event victors:

Fighter – Bryan Carraway
Weight Class – Bantamweight
Ranking – No.14 (not yet updated)
Who they should fight next – Iuri Alacantra

After a year out with injury, Bryan Caraway made his successful return to the Octagon last night and put in a solid performance to finish Erik Perez. The 29-year old is now 5-1 in his last six with his lone defeat coming in the form of a controversial loss to Takeya Mizugaki. He has earned himself a step up in competition and deserves to challenge someone in the top ten.

That person could be Iuri Alacantra who picked up an impressive win last week when he knocked out Vaughan Lee. With the bantamweights fighting a week apart a bout between the two shouldn’t be too hard to set up and would give a good idea of where both men sit in the division.

Fighter – Piotr Hallman
Weight Class – Lightweight
Ranking – Outside of top 15
Who they should fight next – Danny Castillo

Piotr Hallman dominated UFC vet Yves Edwards to get himself back in the win column last night. “Pletwall” is now 2-1 in his UFC career and is emerging as a possible contender. But, he needs a win over a well known name to get him into contender status and for that reason he should fight Danny Castillo.

Castillo himself got back to winning ways recently with a first round knockout over Charlie Brenneman. The Team Alpha Male standout emerged from the bout injury-free so a matchup between the two shouldn’t be hard to setup.

Fighter – Rafael Dos Anjos
Weight Class – Lightweight
Ranking – No.8
Who they should fight next – Nate Diaz

Brazil’s Rafael Dos Anjos came out on top against a tough challenger last night in Jason High and cemented himself as one of the best fighters at lightweight. He needs to get back against a top ten opponent and despite what the UFC rankings say, Nate Diaz is one of them.

Diaz has been out of action now for seven months since knocking out Gray Maynard in the TUF 19 finale. He’s had problems with the UFC recently but he will be looking to get back in the cage soon and RDA is the perfect opponent.

Fighter – John Dodson
Weight Class – Flyweight
Ranking – No.3
Who they should fight next – winner of Demetrious Johnson vs. Ali Bagautinov

“The Magician” put in another spectacular performance last night to pick up his second straight stoppage. Dodson now has two TKO wins over top flyweights since his failed title attempt and i think that’s early him another crack at the belt.

Let’s not forget, Dodson gave Demetrious Johnson the toughest test of his title reign. He’s a clear cut above the rest of the division and he has to get the next shot.

Fighter – Diego Sanchez
Weight Class – Lightweight
Ranking – Outside top 15
Who they should fight next – Retire

Let me start by saying I love Diego Sanchez and respect everything he has done throughout his career. But, let’s be clear here his best days are well behind him. Sanchez was beat by Ross Pearson last night. I know it, you know it and anyone who watched that fight should too.

Last night it looked like all the wars had caught up with “The Nightmare” and he looked a shadow of his former self. He should take lasts nights win as a miracle from God, count his lucky stars that he still has all his marbles left (well most of them) and call it a day. Has he really got anything else left to prove?

Fighter – Benson Henderson
Weight Class – Lightweight
Ranking – No.1
Who they should fight next – Khabib Nurmagomedov

Henderson showed what a warrior he truly is last night after getting outworked and out-stuck for three straight rounds to pull of the finish in the fourth. The former lightweight champion is just too good to face anyone bud the best in the division right now and that should start with him taking on the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Let’s face it, there’s no one else in the division with a resume like “The Eagle” and a bout with Henderson it’s the only matchup which really makes sense. Pit the two standout lightweights together and give the winner the next shot at the title.