(ALSO SEE: Sean Shelby’s Shoes: What’s next for UFC 222’s losing fighters?)

The UFC women’s featherweight title was defended for the second time on Saturday when Cris Cyborg successfully retained her belt against Yana Kunitskaya in UFC 222’s headliner.

Cyborg (20-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) defeated Kunitskaya (10-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC) by first-round TKO to close out the five-fight pay-per-view main card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Three of those five bouts went to the scorecards.

Prior to Cyborg’s defense, Brian Ortega’s (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) locked up a title shot of his own, Sean O’Malley (10-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) built more hype as a prospect, Andrei Arlovski (27-15 MMA, 16-9 UFC) made heavyweight history, and Ketlen Vieira (10-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) remained unbeaten.

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 222’s winning fighters.

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Ketlen Vieira

Germaine de Randamie

Should fight: Germaine de Randamie
Why they should fight: Vieira continued an impressive unbeaten start to her UFC career when she overwhelmed Cat Zingano with a superior grappling attack for a split-decision win.

Although the scorecards made the fight seem closer than it was, Vieira got her rightfully deserved victory, and she has now beaten former title challengers Zingano and Sara McMann in consecutive fights. She’s the new blood the women’s bantamweight division needs, and she’s likely just one more win away from a title shot.

With champ Amanda Nunes expected to fight Raquel Pennington at UFC 224 in May (assuming Cyborg vs. Nunes isn’t booked), Vieira should look to further build her title case. Former UFC champ de Randamie (7-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) would be a perfect opponent. “The Iron Lady” hasn’t competed in more than a year, but she’s seemingly on the comeback trail in 2018. Her striking would prove to be a solid test for Vieira.

Andrei Arlovski

Timothy Johnson

Should fight: Timothy Johnson

Why they should fight: Just when it seemed Arlovski’s career had hit another brick wall, the former UFC heavyweight champion is back on a two-fight winning streak and showing new aspects to his game.

Arlovski used a takedown-heavy attack to pick up a unanimous-decision win over Stefan Struve. It marked his 16th UFC heavyweight victory, which ties Frank Mir for the all-time record in the weight class. “The Pitbull” seems like a timeless fighter who, even when he hits a long and difficult drought, finds a way to pull himself back up.

Given the thin nature of the heavyweight division, it’s not a stretch to call Arlovski a contender again. A few more wins, and a title shot would be realistic; he just needs to beat the right opponents. Johnson (12-4 MMA, 4-3 UF) is a grinder who wouldn’t offer Arlovski much of a knockout threat, but he has the grappling ability to test “The Pitbull,” who has the best takedown defense in UFC heavyweight history.

Sean O’Malley

Steven Peterson

Should fight: Steven Peterson
Why they should fight: O’Malley showed everything one would want in an MMA prospect when he overcame a agonizing leg injury against Andre Soukhamthath for a unanimous-decision victory.

At just 23, O’Malley is showing new tools in each performance. His striking was on point early at UFC 222, and his courage was on display later in the fight when he suffered a foot injury but fought through it until the final bell.

“Suga” has serious promise, and if he’s brought along the right way, there’s real potential for O’Malley to turn into a marquee fighter on the UFC roster. He doesn’t appear to be near title-ready, but if handled correctly, it’s possible he could get there in time.

Incremental steps up in competition in the bantamweight division are what O’Malley needs. Soukhamthath was by no means a gimme, and neither is Peterson (9-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC), who picked up a “Fight of the Night” bonus in his short-notice debut loss at UFC Fight Night 126 this past month.

Brian Ortega

Max Holloway

Should fight: Max Holloway
Why they should fight: Ortega took a chance by stepping in against former UFC champ Frankie Edgar on short notice, and it paid off in a big way in the form of a stunning first-round knockout win.

Ortega kept his perfect record and flawless UFC finishing rate intact when he became the first to stop Edgar not only with strikes, but in MMA period. It was another remarkable performance from “T-City,” who is proving that his striking can be just as dangerous as his grappling.

There’s only one option for Ortega going forward, and it’s a title fight with current featherweight king Holloway (19-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC). UFC President Dana White said he wants it to happen as soon as possible, and a co-billing underneath Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier on July’s UFC 226 lineup would be a fitting scenario.

Cris Cyborg

Should fight: Amanda Nunes

Why they should fight: Watch the video above to see why Cyborg should fight Nunes (15-4 MMA, 8-1 UFC) in a champion-vs.-champion fight next.

For complete coverage of UFC 222, check out the UFC Events section of the site.