Matches to Make After UFC 314

The Ultimate Fighting Championship returned to Miami for UFC 314. The main event featured a title fight for the vacant featherweight championship between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes. Featuring multiple ranked featherweight fighters and key lightweight and light heavyweight fights, the pay-per-view main card will have many repercussions for the rest of the year.

Here are five matches to make following UFC 314.

Alexander Volkanovski vs. Movsar Evloev

Volkanovski (27-4) is once again the best featherweight in the world. “The Great’ regained the 145-pound belt by beating Lopes (26-7) and snapping his opponent’s five-fight win streak. While Volkanovski had a lengthy reign before dropping the belt to Ilia Topuria, there are plenty of fresh contenders for him to defend against. Up first should be the undefeated Evloev, who is coming off back-to-back wins over Aljamain Sterling, Arnold Allen and even Lopes. The 31-year-old will provide another tough test for Volkanovski, who will look to expand his legacy against a new crop of top fighters.

Paddy Pimblett vs. Justin Gaethje

Pimblett picked up the biggest win of his career by notching a TKO win over Michael Chandler in the co-main event. It was a fight that wasn’t even close, and Pimblett has silenced many doubters in the process. “The Baddy” called out Gaethje for his next fight, and that’s an easy co-sign. While “The Highlight” wants a title fight next, I don’t think his second win over Rafael Fiziev will propel him to such. A fight between Gaethje and Pimblett is the most intriguing fight for both men at the moment, and a title fight could easily be next with a win given each fighter’s popularity.

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Yair Rodriguez vs. Aljamain Sterling

Rodriguez proved to be too much for promotional newcomer Patricio Freire. With the win, "El Pantera" is now 20-5 with 1 NC and is back in the win column after losses to Volkanovski and Brian Ortega. I'd like to see the former interim featherweight champion take on former bantamweight king Sterling next. "Funk Master' has had mixed results since moving up to 145, as he beat Calvin Kattar but fell short against Evloev. Let's see how much of a contender Sterling (24-5) truly is by giving him a tough contender fight.

Jean Silva vs. Youssef Zalal

Silva easily won his grudge match against Bryce Mitchell and forced his opponent unconscious with a ninja choke. Now 5-0 in the UFC, Silva (16-2) has quickly become a fan-favorite inside the Octagon. “Lord” deserves another streaking fighter, and Zalal fits the bill as "The Moroccan Devil" has won all four of his UFC fights, including a decision win over Calvin Kattar. The winner will be ready for a top featherweight after, so let’s see which 28-year-old prospect is ready for primetime.

Dominick Reyes vs. Carlos Ulberg

Reyes picked up his third-straight win with a brutal knockout of Nikita Kyrlov. The former light heavyweight title challenger is back to being a contender after a four-fight losing streak had fans writing him off. A fight against Ulberg would make a lot of sense for Reyes (15-4). "Black Jag" is 12-1 as a pro and is coming off impressive wins over Jan Blachowicz and Volkan Oezdemir. Both men are in the top 10 and would be a prime opponent for whoever emerges from the inevitable rematch between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira.