Matches to make for UFC 284 losers

Matches to make for Josh Emmett, Alexander Volkanovski, and other UFC 284 losers.

The UFC departed from Australia after the spectacle that was UFC 284. The main card saw two warriors battle to a draw, a quick walk-off knockout, and a prospect announcing his arrival. On top of that, two title fights crowned an interim featherweight champion and saw the lightweight king defend his belt against the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

The future is bright and wide open for the winners. However, those who didn’t get their hand raised are clouded with questions about what’s next. Here are the matches to make for runner-ups at UFC 284.

What comes next for UFC 284 losers?

Jimmy Crute vs. Alnozo Menifield 2

Crute and Menifilied fought to a majority draw to open up the main card. Though this list is meant to be for the losers, it felt like both men were winners. They both found success in their respective styles, both got saved by the bell in two different rounds, and both want to run this back to a decision. It goes without saying that a rematch should be in the works soon.

Parker Porter vs. Jake Collier

Porter was on the unfortunate receiving end of Justin Tafa’s left hook in the open round of their bout. Tafa said in the post-fight interview that “if you reach, I have to teach,” and Porter was an eager student. It would be best to match him up with another fighter looking for redemption and sitting right below him on the roster is Jake Collier. Both have lost back-to-back fights and could provide a heavy-hitting contest to break their losing streaks.

Randy Brown vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio

Randy Brown’s four-fight win streak ended in the grips of Jack Della Maddalena. Despite the result, Brown is still a noteworthy contender on the verge of breaking into the welterweight division’s top 20. Brown can prove that this loss does not mean that he is heading for a slope, and he can do so against Santiago Ponzinibbio. Currently ranked 19th in the division, Ponzinibbio has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, while Brown has a brown belt of his own. This bout would easily be an entertaining display of high-quality BJJ, likely to end with a submission.

Josh Emmett vs. Brian Ortega

Josh Emmett absorbed Yair Rodriguez’s body kicks impressively. But in a turn of tables, the fight ended with the 37-year-old grappler getting submitted by the striker who stood opposite of him. Despite losing the interim championship bout, Emmett still holds a high position in the featherweight division. The matchup to make for him is against Brian Ortega. Both men are entertaining fighters and coming off losses to Rodriguez. This clash between top-5 contenders could play a key role in the title picture.

Alexander Volkanovski vs. Yair Rodriguez

Alexander Volkanovski did what nobody before him could by taking Islam Makhachev to the depths of a championship bout. Despite failing to capture his second belt, Volkanovski went up to lightweight and showed the rest of the division how to contain the boogeyman. Now it is time for him to return to featherweight and defend the belt against the newly-crowned interim champion, Yair Rodriguez. He was very impressive in his win against Josh Emmett. However, nobody has looked better after a loss than Volkanovski, who could create another classic with this title defense.