Every Monday after an MMA fight weekend, The Post’s Marc Raimondi will take a look at the next potential matchup for the fighters who competed.
This week, he breaks down the competitors from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night: Chael Sonnen vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.
CHAEL SONNEN (def. Mauricio Rua via first-round submission)
Sonnen was a slight underdog Saturday night, but made it look easy against Rua, taking him down, landing some solid ground and pound and eventually submitting him with a guillotine choke. It’s easy to forget how good of a fighter Sonnen actually is amid all his talking. But “The American Gangster” is likely a top-10 guy in two divisions – middleweight and light heavyweight.
Next for him will probably be Wanderlei Silva, who he called out after beating Rua. The Sonnen-Silva rivalry has been simmering for years now and a payoff only makes sense sometime before the end of the year. Sonnen will probably win that one much like he did Saturday night, with his wrestling.
Monday Matchmaker’s pick: Wanderlei Silva
MAURICIO RUA (lost to Chael Sonnen via first-round submission)
Where does “Shogun” go from here? Bellator? Nah, not quite. Rua is nowhere near the fighter he once was in PRIDE and even at times during his up-and-down UFC run. But he can still scrap a little bit. His bout with Dan Henderson was the Fight of the Year in 2011. Both men are coming off losses and Henderson won that in controversial fashion. Might be time to do that one over again. The UFC’s senior circuit would be in full swing.
Monday Matchmaker’s pick: Dan Henderson
TRAVIS BROWNE (def. Alistair Overeem via first-round knockout)
Don’t delude yourself. Browne is not a better fighter than Overeem. He just has exponentially more heart, guts and toughness. That’s why he won Saturday night. I’m not quite sure that Browne is ready for another top-five opponent since he did everything but get TKO’d by Overeem. A fun standup fight between Browne and the rising Stipe Miocic seems like it would make sense.
Monday Matchmaker’s pick: Stipe Miocic
ALISTAIR OVEREEM (lost to Travis Browne via first-round knockout)
Bellator and World Series of Fighting have to be licking their chops that Overeem gets cut. He would be a killer in the heavyweight division of either organization. In the UFC, though, he has been a disappointment. Who’s next for the big man? How about Mark Hunt? They fought in PRIDE, but that was five years ago. It would be an awesome standup war.
Monday Matchmaker’s pick: Mark Hunt
URIJAH FABER (def. Iuri Alcantara via unanimous decision)
Interim bantamweight champion Renan Barao meets Eddie Wineland next month. Faber has fought them both already, falling to Barao and beating Wineland. The next fight for “The California Kid” shouldn’t be for a title. There’s actually a more interesting matchup for him – 22-year-old phenom Michael McDonald, who destroyed Brad Pickett on Saturday night. Think of it as something of a passing of the torch – unless Faber finds a way to win. That’s a great fight.
Monday Matchmaker’s pick: Michael McDonald
MATT BROWN (def. Mike Pyle via first-round knockout)
It’s time for Brown to be truly tested. Enough of these not-quite-top-10 guys. Brown is legit and he needs to get an opponent matching his skill level. Carlos Condit and Martin Kampmann square off in the main event of next week’s FOX Sports 1 card. Give Brown the winner and make it a welterweight title eliminator. Let’s see what “The Immortal” is truly made of.
Monday Matchmaker’s pick: Carlos Condit-Martin Kampmann winner
CONOR McGREGOR (def. Max Holloway via unanimous decision)
Will the UFC fast track McGregor? I’m not sure and it really depends on his health after he suffered a knee injury Saturday night. Let’s say he’s out for a bit. Give him the winner of October’s fight between Jeremy Stephens and Rony Jason. Both guys are tough and like to stand and trade. That’s right up the Irishman’s alley.
Monday Matchmaker’s pick: Jeremy Stephens-Rony Jason winner