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(ALSO SEE: Sean Shelby’s Shoes: What’s next for UFC 219’s losing fighters?)

The UFC women’s featherweight title was defended for the first time in its existence on Saturday when Cris Cyborg successfully retained her belt against Holly Holm in the UFC 219 headliner.

Cyborg (19-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) defeated Holm (11-4 MMA, 4-4 UFC) by unanimous decision to close out the five-fight pay-per-view main card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Four of those five bouts went to the scorecards.

Dan Hooker (15-7 MMA, 5-3 UFC) was the lone fighter to get a stoppage, while Khabib Nurmagomedov (25-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC), Carla Esparza (13-4 MMA, 4-2 UFC) and Neil Magny (20-6 MMA, 13-5 UFC) got the nod from the judges, with Magny and Nurmagomedov’s wins coming convincingly.

After every event, fans wonder whom the winners will be matched up with next. And with another night of UFC action in the rearview mirror, it’s time to look forward, put on a pair of Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard’s shoes, and play UFC matchmaker for UFC 219’s winning fighters.

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Neil Magny

Jorge Masvidal

Should fight: Jorge Masvidal
Why they should fight: Magny scored one of the biggest wins of his career when he spoiled the octagon return of former WEC and interim UFC welterweight champion Carlos Condit.

Magny thwarted Condit by unanimous decision, marking his 13th UFC win since 2013, tied for the most in the organization. Magny is always an overlooked player at 170 pounds, but time after time he proves the naysayers wrong with signature performances.

Given his achievements, there’s always a chance Magny could slide into a title fight under the right circumstances. It’s not going to happen immediately, though, and in the meantime a matchup with Masvidal (32-13 MMA, 9-6 UFC), who called out Magny post-fight for a showdown that’s been brewing for quite some time, would be good for the division.

Carla Esparza

Karolina Kowalkiewicz

Should fight: Karolina Kowalkiewicz
Why they should fight: Former UFC strawweight champ Esparza surprised some when she outworked heavily hyped Cynthia Calvillo in one of her better showings in recent years.

Esparza surprised Calvillo with her striking for the unanimous decision win, and for the first time since losing UFC gold to Joanna Jedrzejczyk in March 2015, “The Cookie Monster” is a true part of the title conversation. It’s hard to gauge what her win really means because Calvillo is so unproven, but nevertheless it’s a solid name for her resume.

If Esparza can get a fight with another top 115-pound contender, she would be a real candidate to fight current champ Rose Namajunas, who she submitted in the division’s inaugural title bout in December 2014. A fellow title challenger like Kowalkiewicz (11-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) would help her do that, and given the Polish fighter is currently not booked, a matchup is logical.

Dan Hooker

Joseph Duffy

Should fight: Joseph Duffy
Why they should fight: Hooker kept his 100 percent finish rate in the octagon in tact when he choked out Marc Diakiese with a slick submission in the third round of their lightweight matchup.

Hooker called for a fight on February’s UFC 221 card in his home country of Australia, but given the fact it’s only six weeks away, there may not be a spot for him on the card. If the UFC can add him, though, and find a respectable opponent, then Duffy (17-3 MMA, 4-2 UFC) would be the ideal matchup.

Like Hooker, the Irishman has finished a high percentage of his career wins. Duffy is coming off a UFC 217 loss to James Vick, but a matchup with Hooker could be a good chance to rebound against an opponent with complimentary skills.

Khabib Nurmagomedov

Tony Ferguson

Should fight: Conor McGregor or Tony Ferguson
Why they should fight: Nurmagomedov once again showed what he’s capable of with a complete dismantling of Edson Barboza to post a 25th consecutive victory on his flawless MMA record.

“The Eagle” completely overwhelmed Barboza en route to a lopsided unanimous decision and made it look easy in the process. That should be terrifying for every other lightweight, and at this point, Nurmagomedov’s claim to the UFC belt is undeniable.

There’s a serious problem going on at the top of the 155-pound division, though, and Nurmagomedov is left in arguably the most difficult position. No one knows if champ McGregor (21-3 MMA, 9-1 UFC) is coming back, and interim titleholder Ferguson (23-3 MMA, 13-1 UFC) is waiting to find out. Nurmagomedov getting a chance to fight either man before a unification match would be absurd, and that means either waiting for the situation to play out or taking another fight.

Nurmagomedov said he wants to keep active and fight again in April, but if there’s a chance of McGregor vacating the title or being stripped, it seems in his best interest to find out if that will happen. Any other situation seems senseless after his showing against Barboza.

Cris Cyborg

Should fight: Megan Anderson
Why they should fight: Watch the video above to see why Cyborg should fight Anderson (9-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) next.

For complete coverage of UFC 219, check out the UFC Events section of the site.

Filed under: Featured, News, UFC, Videos