Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) staged its latest pay-per-view (PPV) event last night (Sat., May 11, 2019), as UFC 237 went down inside Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In the main event of the evening, Jessica Andrade shocked the mixed martial arts (MMA) world by knocking out Rose Namajunas via slam to win the women’s Strawweight title (see it again here). In the co-headlining act, Jared Cannonier finished Anderson Silva in the very first round with a vicious kick to the knee the sent “The Spider” crumbling down in pain and put him out for the fight (recap here).
Winner: Jessica Andrade
Who She Should Fight Next: Tatiana Suarez vs Nana Ansaroff winner
Before Joanna Jedrzejczyk starts campaign for yet another shot at trying to win back the Strawweight title, she needs to win a few fights. While I’m sure she probably thinks now that Rose is no longer at the top of the mountain a title fight will come to her sooner, it won’t be next, as that will go to either Tatiana Suarez or Nina Ansaroff, as the two are set to throw down in a few week at UFC 238.
Suarez is still undefeated at 7-0, 4-0 UFC, while Nina has won four in a row. Those numbers are definitely good enough for a shot at the strap, and the winner should get next dibs no questions asked.
Winner: Jared Cannonier
Who He Should Fight Next: Chris Weidman
After scoring the biggest win of his career — much to the chagrin of the Brazilian crowd — Jared can now look ahead to top 10 challenges. Chris Weidman should be gearing up for a return sometime this summer, and he will be in need of a suitable fore to welcome him back.
Jared fits the bill perfectly, as he has won two in a row. While “All American” is looking for perhaps a more high-profile fight, it simply isn’t in the cards at the moment, as he was last seen getting waxed by Ronald Souza and is 1-4 in his last five outings. When you look at it that way, it might make you question why Cannonier would even consider that fight, but Chris still carries weight with his name alone, and a win over him will look good on anyone’s resume.
Winner: Alexander Volkanovski
Who He Should Fight Next: Max Holloway
Alex won his seventh in a row inside the Octagon and seventeenth overall after defeating Jose Aldo in Rio. There is no other 145-pounder on the roster as hot as “The Great,” so denying him a shot at the strap at this point would simply be criminal.
Frankie Edgar is trying his hardest to get it, but it simply shouldn’t happen. At least not next. If anything, “The Answer” can either hold off to see how a title fight between Max and Alex plays out and get the winner, or take another fight instead of waiting. Either way, Volkanovski has earned his shot next.
Winner: Laureano Staropoli
Who He Should Fight Next: Belal Muhammad
Staropoli sent the Brazilian crowd home unhappy after taking out Thiago Alves in a dominant win. Laureano still has a ways to go before he starts getting a bigger spotlight, so a fight against Belal next sounds fitting. Muhammad was last seen taking out Max Griffin at UFC 236 last month, so the return dates should lineup around the same time for both men. Belal has won five of his last six outings, so he would definitely be a step up for Starpoli, who showed he is more than up for the task.
Winner: Irene Aldana
Who He Should Fight Next: Yana Kunitskaya
Irena can expect to break into the top 10 after scoring her third straight win by dismantling Bethe Correia. That means the challenges will only get tougher for the Mexican-born combatant. I really like a showdown against Yana, as she also has been on a good run as of late, winning two straight after getting rag-dolled by Cris Cyborg in her debut.
But since she’s returned to Bantamweight. Kunitskaya has looked great, taking out Marion Reneau and Lina Lansberg. Aldana, meanwhile, also turned it around after dropping her first two fights inside the Octagon, and is primed to make some nose in the 135-pound weight class.
For complete UFC 237: “Namajunas vs. Andrade” results, including play-by-play updates, click here.