The final UFC pay-per-view for 2024 is over. Saturday’s card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas sets the stage for some important fights over the next year.
Alexandre Pantoja, Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ciryl Gane are the names to circle this weekend as 2025 approaches. The UFC flyweight champion made relatively short work of promotional newcomer Kai Asakura before ‘calling the division’s most decorated fighter. Rakhmonov staked and successfully defended his shot at the UFC welterweight title defeating Ian Machado Garry. And like it or not, Gane is still in the heavyweight title picture.
Take a look at the best fights worth booking in the flyweight, welterweight and heavyweight divisions after UFC 310.
Flyweight
UFC Flyweight Championship – Alexandre Pantoja (c) vs. Like the French Warrior: Line them up and Pantoja knocks them down. Amir Albazi and Tatsuro Taira were eliminated as new contenders by Brandon Moreno and Brandon Royval, respectively. There isn’t much juice for either rematch, so Pantoja needs a new opponent. Kara-France (No. 4) is the highest-ranked flyweight contender Pantoja has not fought professionally. The Kiwi fighter recently knocked out Steve Erceg, with the latter winning five rounds in Pantoja in May. There’s an interesting story thread after Pantoja beat Kara-France in an exhibition fight on “The Ultimate Fighter” in 2016. Pantoja called out the former UFC flyweight king and ONE Championship, Demetrious Johnson after the fight. Johnson refused the fight social networks but if he can legitimately fight a fight after retiring from ONE Championship in SeptemberThis is definitely one to book.
Kai Asakura vs. Steve Erceg: Asakura has proven himself to be an elite striker, but his overall game needs to improve. A fight between Asakura and Erceg is real gangbusters. Erceg is one of the best boxers in the division, but he is primarily a submission artist. Erceg doesn’t have the pressure or offensive struggle of Pantoja. This is a chance for Asakura to find his feet in the UFC. For Erceg, this is an important opportunity to recover from his KO defeat against Kara-France.
Welterweight
UFC Welterweight Championship – Belal Muhammad (c) vs. Chavkat Rakhmonov: Rakhmonov’s undefeated record improved to 19-0, but he took a decision for the first time in his career. His competitive fight with Garry poses some interesting questions about what the fight against Muhammad would look like. Rakhmonov was supposed to challenge Muhammad before the champion withdrew from the UFC 310 main event due to a bone infection. The two clashed after the fight. It makes sense that the UFC would book him again.
Ian Machado Garry vs. Colby Covington or Joaquin Buckley: I wouldn’t be surprised if Garry moved up from #7 in the official UFC welterweight rankings after his spirited showing against Rakhmonov. Garry was originally scheduled to fight Buckley (No. 9) at UFC Fight Night in Tampa before replacing Muhammad a week prior. Whoever comes out on top next week could be ranked ahead of Garry. Fighting Buckley’s winner against Covington puts Garry back on track toward a title shot. The timing aligns perfectly if participants are relatively healthy. You could pit Garry against Sean Brady or Jack Della Maddalena – who currently share the fourth-ranked welterweight ranking – but I’d rather see them fight.
Heavyweight
UFC Heavyweight Championship – Tom Aspinall (c) vs. Ciryl Gane*: Listen to me before you throw a tantrum. Aspinall vs. Gane is a fight worth making only if Jones vacates his title instead of unifying it with Aspinall. Gane would be the highest-ranked challenger on the best race in this scenario. Many believe Volkov deserved to win on Saturday, but two judges ruled against him. We must move forward. Gane told CBS Sports he wants to fight twice next year. If Jones vs. Aspinall drags on too long, a fight between Gane and Jailton Almeida is an intriguing matchup between striker and grappler. This fight would depend on Almeida defeating Sergehi Spivac at UFC 311.
Alexander Volkov vs. Jailton Almeida or Serghei Spivac: Volkov shouldn’t back down too much after his controversial setback. It’s hard to find new matchups in the heavyweight division. But Volkov hasn’t fought Almeida or Spivac in his 17 fights and eight years in the UFC. Volkov may fight either man, preferably the winner, depending on how things go with Gane and the heavyweight title.
