The UFC’s recent event in Salt Lake City was a thrilling spectacle, capped off by a stunning knockout finish by light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, Julianna Peña’s reclaiming of the women’s bantamweight title, and Kayla Harrison solidifying her position as the top contender for Peña’s belt.
Pereira’s impressive fourth-round TKO victory over Khalil Rountree Jr. marked his fourth consecutive knockout win. Meanwhile, Peña narrowly edged out Raquel Pennington via split decision in the co-main event.
Looking ahead, Pereira’s next opponent should be the winner of the upcoming Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakic bout at UFC 308. However, a potential wild card scenario could see Jon Jones calling out Pereira if he defeats Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, which would create a massive showdown.
Rountree Jr. should face Jamahal Hill in his next outing, a matchup that was initially scheduled for UFC 303. Alternatively, a rematch against Johnny Walker could be an intriguing option.
Peña’s next opponent is a no-brainer: Kayla Harrison. Despite Peña’s post-fight callout, Harrison is the logical choice and the only viable option. There isn’t a more compelling matchup for Peña at this time.
Henry Cejudo should face off against Bautista next, a fight that makes sense given their Arizona-based training camps. If Cejudo continues to be selective, he risks losing his ranking.
Finally, José Aldo deserves a high-profile bout against Sean O’Malley, a matchup that would elevate both fighters’ profiles. Alternatively, a fight against Song Yadong could be an exciting option, pitting two fighters close in the rankings against each other.
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