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Fight Forecast: Matches to make after TUF 24 Finale

Stephen R. Sylvanie / USA TODAY Sports

After The Ultimate Fighter 24 finale, theScore's Themistoklis Alexis picks which matchups should be made for the evening's headliners and biggest winners.

Demetrious Johnson vs. Joseph Benavidez III

It's time to dip back into the old well for Demetrious Johnson's 10th title defense.

The reigning flyweight king had already cleaned out the division prior to besting a scrappy Tim Elliott in Saturday's "TUF 24" finale, leaving the UFC matchmakers little choice but to make his saga with Joseph Benavidez a trilogy.

Related: Johnson fends off Elliott to retain flyweight title in TUF 24 Finale

The public demand for a third meeting between the two isn't particularly high, as Johnson beat Benavidez to win the title at UFC 152 before knocking him out a year later, but "Joe Jitsu" just extended his win streak to six with a close decision over Henry Cejudo and has beaten nearly every other 125-pounder the UFC has to offer.

Related: Benavidez wins 3-round thriller over Cejudo

If Johnson is willing to sit a few extra months, Benavidez could meet another former contender in Kyoji Horiguchi - winner of three straight - to determine his next challenger.

Tim Elliott vs. John Dodson

Tim Elliott may have jumped the line to a title shot, but Saturday's career-defining performance puts him in line for some prime competition.

The "TUF 24" winner is eyeing a move up to bantamweight, and assuming he follows through, another former flyweight challenger awaits. John Dodson moved up to 135 pounds last year after a second failed crack at Johnson, and most recently dropped a split decision to John Lineker in October. Both Elliott and Dodson can set a furious pace and won't stop swinging until either the ref or the horn stops them. Book it.

Jorge Masvidal vs. Donald Cerrone

An unusual stoppage shouldn't rob Jorge Masvidal of the ranked competition he's been asking for.

Before Jake Ellenberger's freak toe injury brought their fight to an abrupt end via first-round TKO, Masvidal was lighting him up on the feet and nearly finished the bout himself just over a minute in. "Gamebred" called for a dance with Donald Cerrone postfight, assuming "Cowboy" makes it past Matt Brown at UFC 206 next week. If Masvidal's clairvoyance proves lackluster, the winner of a meeting between Johny Hendricks and Neil Magny at UFC 207 makes sense.

Related: Masvidal beats Ellenberger in bizarre TKO stoppage

Sara McMann vs. Julianna Pena

The suddenly streaking Sara McMann is back in the mix.

The 36-year-old wrestler earned her second straight win by submitting Brazilian jiu-jitsu whiz Alexis Davis - her first win by tapout in five years. Competing in a women's bantamweight division lacking a definitive top contender, opportunities abound for McMann, and the similarly gritty Julianna Pena tops the list.

Pena, a winner of four straight, needs to return to the company's good graces after petulantly calling for a title shot and threatening to leave the UFC if her wish wasn't granted. A fight with McMann would be a start.

Related: McMann taps Davis with arm-triangle choke in 2nd round

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