Fight Forecast: Matches to make after UFC 208
After UFC 208, theScore's Themistoklis Alexis picks which matchups should be made for the evening's main card winners.
Germaine de Randamie vs. Cris Cyborg
Germaine de Randamie still has to prove she's more than a placeholder for the woman responsible for the women's featherweight division's inception.
"The Iron Lady" captured the 145-pound title with a unanimous decision over Holly Holm, but the win did little to alter the prevailing belief that the newly created division is Cris Cyborg's to rule. UFC president Dana White recently implied the provisionally suspended Cyborg could be cleared of her recent doping violation sooner than later, and given she's the raison d'etre for the newly launched weight class, expect her to make good on the promotion's investment and challenge de Randamie as soon as she's out of the woods.
Recap: De Randamie gets unanimous nod over Holm for 1st UFC women's 145-lb title
Anderson Silva vs. Robert Whittaker
Anderson Silva isn't going anywhere, and luckily for the consummate gamesman, there'll be plenty of potential matchups waiting for him once he's ready to get back in the saddle.
The middleweight legend's controversial decision win over Derek Brunson should keep him in the divisional top 10, and with most of the elite gunning for a shot at Michael Bisping's title, don't be surprised if he's tapped to face sixth-ranked Robert Whittaker, a winner of five straight who also bested Brunson in his last outing, albeit far more convincingly.
Should Whittaker be pitted against another middleweight stalwart, expect Silva to remain idle until Vitor Belfort and Kelvin Gastelum determine his next foe in the main event of UFC Fight Night 106 in March.
Recap: Silva snaps 4-year skid with controversial decision over Brunson
Ronaldo Souza vs. Luke Rockhold
"Jacare" may not have earned a title shot with his tapout of Tim Boetsch, but at least he can settle a long-standing score until his number is called.
Souza saw Luke Rockhold back out of their November rematch with an injury this past November, and with Yoel Romero expected to challenge Bisping for the title, there's no better time than the present to grant the Brazilian a shot at avenging the unanimous decision he dropped to Rockhold while fighting under the Strikeforce banner back in 2011.
Watch: Jacare overwhelms Boetsch with 1st-round submission
Glover Teixeira vs. Alexander Gustafsson
Teixeira didn't exactly steal the hearts of the Brooklynites that saw him outgrapple Jared Cannonier for three rounds, but he stands to benefit from competing in a talent-starved division.
With a dozen UFC fights under his belt, few truly stiff tests remain for the 37-year-old other than fellow light heavyweight title challenger Alexander Gustafsson. The pair have a loss to then-champion Jon Jones in common and saw a 2015 date fall through due to an injury to Gustafsson. Book it.
Recap: Teixeira smothers Cannonier to win unanimous decision
Dustin Poirier vs. Barboza-Dariush winner
"The Diamond" rejoined the cream of the lightweight crop with a hard-fought decision over the durable Jim Miller, and as is typical of the ever-stacked division, he'll have no shortage of takers once he's healthy.
Top-10 mainstays Edson Barboza and Beneil Dariush are set to duke it out in under a month's time at UFC Fight Night 106, and Poirier - who's won five of six since moving up from featherweight - now finds himself in prime position to face the winner and cement his status as a viable contender.
Recap: Poirier wins majority decision in dog fight with Miller