Discover who the winners of UFC London should fight next. Tom Aspinall eyes a title shot, Julia Stoliarenko seeks tougher competition, and Nathaniel Wood aims to regain momentum. Read more.
UFC London Winners: Who Should They Fight Next?
Now that UFC London is in the books, it’s time to analyze the main card winners and speculate on their next opponents. Tom Aspinall made a triumphant return to the Octagon, dispatching Marcin Tybura in just over a minute. With his knee injury behind him, Aspinall is ready to challenge for a title. Julia Stoliarenko impressed with a first-round armbar victory over Molly McCann, but she needs to face tougher competition to prove herself in the flyweight division. Nathaniel Wood earned a hard-fought unanimous decision win over Andre Fili, but he’s still searching for momentum in the featherweight division. Paul Craig had a spectacular middleweight debut, finishing Andre Muniz, and now he’s ready to take on Derek Brunson. Fares Ziam narrowly defeated Jai Herbert, but we need to see him against other unranked lightweights to gauge his true potential. Lerone Murphy showcased his skills with a dominant victory over Josh Culibao, and now he’s ready to face off against David Onama. Finally, Daniel Marcos remained undefeated with a split decision win over Davey Grant, and he’s now set to take on Douglas Silva de Andrade.
Tom Aspinall: A Title Shot?
Tom Aspinall’s quick victory over Marcin Tybura has put him in the spotlight. With his knee injury a thing of the past, Aspinall is ready to challenge for a title. While a shot at the winner of Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic would be well-deserved, there’s also the possibility that both men could walk away from the division, leaving the throne vacant. Aspinall has expressed interest in fighting the winner of Ciryl Gane and Sergei Spivac before challenging for the title. Regardless of who his next opponent is, it’s clear that Aspinall is on the fast track to a title shot.
Julia Stoliarenko: Testing the Waters
After a string of losses, Julia Stoliarenko needed a win to reestablish herself in the flyweight division. Her first-round armbar victory over Molly McCann was an impressive start, but it doesn’t say much about her chances against the rest of the division. Stoliarenko needs to face tougher competition to determine her ceiling at 125 pounds. The winner of Miranda Maverick and Priscella Cachoeira would provide a good litmus test for Stoliarenko.
Nathaniel Wood: Regaining Momentum
Nathaniel Wood’s unanimous decision win over Andre Fili was hard-fought and entertaining. Wood has had success against respectable opponents but has yet to regain the momentum he enjoyed earlier in his UFC career. A matchup against Pat Sabatini, who recently defeated Lucas Almeida, would be a good next step for Wood.
Paul Craig: Middleweight Debut
Paul Craig had a successful middleweight debut, finishing Andre Muniz in impressive fashion. Now, Craig is ready to dive into the deep end of the division and take on Derek Brunson. Brunson is coming off a loss to Dricus Du Plessis and will provide a tough test for Craig.
Fares Ziam: Seeking Clarity
Fares Ziam’s close decision win over Jai Herbert didn’t provide much clarity on where he stands among the unranked lightweights. To get a better gauge of his potential, Ziam should face the winner of Ignacio Bahamondes and Ľudovít Klein, who are set to fight in August.
Lerone Murphy: Rising Prospect
Lerone Murphy’s dominant victory over Josh Culibao solidified his status as an intriguing prospect in the featherweight division. To continue his ascent, Murphy should face off against David Onama, another up-and-comer looking to make a name for himself at 145 pounds.
Daniel Marcos: Undefeated Streak
Daniel Marcos remained undefeated with a split decision win over Davey Grant. Now, Marcos needs to prove himself against a more experienced opponent. Douglas Silva de Andrade, who recently defeated Cody Stamann, would provide a tough test for Marcos.
