Felice returned to the octagon after a relatively long lay off after a loss to Paige VanZant and looked good against a formidable opponent in Kailin Curran, winning by submission in the first round. Felice now needs to get back into the mix in the top 15 or very close to it and I think Randa Markos or Jessica Penne would be a good match-up for her. Penne is a good fight because she's coming off two TKO losses and a win over Felice would send her up the rankings.
2. Francis Ngannou VS Daniel Omielanczuk
After Ngannou's questionable stoppage victory at UFC Chicago it is largely accepted that he would have won that fight in convincing fashion anyway so we need to get a higher level opponent for him than someone who is making their UFC debut. Ngannou is now 3-0 in the UFC so deserves better opposition. Step in Daniel Omielanczuk, Daniel is on a 3 fight win streak and is 4-2 in the UFC and it would be a big step up in competition for both fighters. Also Daniel just fought at UFC fight night 91 so the timeline makes sense aswell.
3. Edson Barboza VS well... this is a difficult one
Some people are talking about a title shot for Barboza, I'm a big fan of him but that can't happen. Khabib Nurmagomedov is very likely getting the next title shot and that hasn't even been arranged yet so it will be a very long time until the second defence of the belt. Also a man ahead of him in the rankings by the name of Tony Ferguson is firmly before him in line with an 11-1 UFC records and a win over submission Edson just 2 fights ago. Then we've got the former champion RDA Rafael Dos Anjos who will likely be fighting Tony Ferguson soon so that's him out of the conversation. Below that is Nate Diaz who obviously has a fight with Conor McGregor at Welterweight so he's off limit. So unfortunately we're looking below him on the rankings then we find Pettis who he's recently beaten, then Melendez who he has just beaten. Then there's Will Brooks who I don't think deserves a shot at a top 5 yet, then there's Michael Chiesa who is ok but not the direction Barboza is looking to go.
4. Valentina Shevchenko VS Kat Zingano/Sara McMann
The women's bantamweight division is a mess right now and to be honest with you, the only way that's going to be resolved is Ronda Rousey coming back and dominating again. For Valentina it's just unfortunate timing. Earlier this month Amanda Nunes became the champion which was disastrous for Valentina's title shot hopes as she had recently lost to Nunes who will likely fight Juliana Pena in her first title defence although I think Pena should fight Valentina to create a clear number 1 contender. There's 1 other woman she can fight in that top 5 but that can't happen because of the next match-up, this leaves Kat Zingano and Sara McMann.
5. Holly Holm VS Miesha Tate
This would be a great rematch, Miesha won the first match but just got basically knocked out then submitted in her last fight and Holly also lost her last fight. They also both just fought in the same month so the timings would work out. Then hopefully one of them can work their way into a number 1 contenders spot or the title, then the return of Ronda Rousey.
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