Robert Whittaker lands a punch against Jared Cannoniner in the co-main event at UFC 254. Whittaker won the fight by unanimous decision.
Matchmaker Monday following UFC 254
UFC 254 was the end of what may have been the most impressive era in UFC history as Khabib time is now over.
Khabib Nurmagmedov made the decision to retire following his second-round submission win over Justin Gaethje. At 29-0 he retires as an unbeaten dominate champion and may have turned in the greatest career of all time.
Meanwhile, Gaethje will most likely now have to wait for another title shot after coming up on the losing end of Saturday’s main event.
Also, Robert Whittaker showed why he is the true No.1 contender in the middleweight division.
Now let’s figure out some of the moving parts surrounding the aftermath of UFC 254 on the Matchmaker Monday.
The vacant UFC lightweight championship
Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier
With Nurmagomedov retiring, the UFC lightweight title is now vacant and the UFC needs to fight two people to fight for the championship in the UFC’s deepest division.
We’ll turn out McGregor and Poirier are already booked for January. Poirier is deserving of the title shot and McGregor is a former champ and the biggest star in the sport.
There you have it. Big payday for the UFC in January.
Justin Gaethje
Result: lost to Khabib Nurmagomedov by second-round submission at UFC 254
Next: Dan Hooker
Gaethje is stud and he losing absolutely no stock after Saturday. He’ll be back no doubt about it.
As for who next’s its tricky. McGregor and Poirier are booked. I really think the UFC should book Michael Chandler and Tony Ferguson. So therefore bring on Hooker.
Both are top five opponents, both a killers, both are dangerous on their feet and both love to go out there and fight. This would be a fun fight to make and it would have to be a main event because it has a five round war written all over it.
Robert Whittaker
Result: defeated Jared Cannonier by unanimous decision at UFC 254
Next: rematch with Israel Adesanya
Whittaker has earned a rematch and it’s that simple.
He was the champ. He lost. What has he done since? Comeback and win his next two fights.
Not to mention that Adesanya said if Cannonier won that he next. Well he lost and the guy that beat him should take that spot.
