Fights to make for Alexander Volkanovski, Alexandre Pantoja, and other UFC 290 winners
Just like that, international fight week came and went. In what has to be one of the most memorable pay-per-views in recent history, UFC 290 delivered on its promise of being electric from start to finish.
We saw one of the biggest prospects in MMA continue his rise, a fight of the year contender, a shocking upset, a title change, and an all-time dominant performance throughout the card. It is no joke, UFC 290 delivered for MMA fans and was exactly what everyone wished international fight week would be.
As the UFC calendar moves forward, here are the fights to make for those who walked away with their hands raised.
Fights to make for UFC 290's winners
Bo Nickal vs. Tresean Gore
Bo Nickal showed the world exactly what he is all about when he stopped last-minute replacement Val Woodburn inside 40 seconds. Although Nickal looked powerful and showed some new skills, it isn't a victory that necessarily tells us a whole lot about who he is as a fighter.
Rebooking him with Tresean Gore makes sense for multiple reasons. There's now history between the two since the bout was cancelled so last minute and presents the step up in competition that Nickal should be facing without throwing him into a very tough matchup.
Dan Hooker vs. Rafael Fiziev
Was this Dan Hooker's most impressive performance inside the Octagon? Despite being seemingly outclassed by Jalin Turner in the beginning of the fight, Hooker clawed his way back into it in what has the potential to be the fight of the year.
The split-decision victory for Hooker puts him back into top 10 contention. He's such a fan-favorite due to his style that matching him up against Rafael Fiziev is a no-brainer. Both men would meet in the middle and throw caution to the wind, giving us another Hooker classic in the process.
Driscus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya
In the biggest shock of the night, Driscus Du Plessis proved everybody wrong when he knocked Robert Whittaker out in the second round. Although very few fans gave him much of a chance, Du Plessis looked the part in what was his biggest challenge to date.
Considering what happened after he won, the Israel Adesanya fight is the only possible option. UFC 293 in Australia will see Du Plessis fight for his very first world title shot. A fight that he deserves, and promises to be huge.
Alexandre Pantoja vs. Brandon Moreno
Alexandre Pantoja went to hell and back to secure his first UFC world title. In perhaps the greatest flyweight title fight in UFC history, Pantoja and Brandon Moreno threw everything at each other as the crowd's oohs and ahs filled the T-Mobile Arena.
A split-decision victory was given to Pantoja, making even more sense to run it back. Although Moreno's been in the title picture for a long time now, there isn't anybody in the flyweight with as much fanfare as Pantoja and Moreno right now. A trilogy bout, one that Pantoja heads into two fights to zero, is what needs to happen next.
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria
The pound for pound king of the sport returned to his domain of 145 pounds and showed exactly why he is the UFC's most dominant champion at the moment. Alexander Volkanovski dismantled interim champion Yair Rodriguez, finishing the fight in emphatic fashion in the third round.
Volkanovski revealed that he needs arm surgery but the extent of his recovery is still unknown. That likely puts him out of UFC 293 in Australia in September and 294 in Abu Dhabi in October. Giving Ilia Topuria a shot, who is quickly becoming a superstar and got into a heated exchange with the champ after the fight, makes the most sense for Volkanovski.
He can heal up into next year and aim to make yet another title defense of his featherweight gold. A title defense that would continue to put his name among the greatest the UFC has ever seen.
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