Win or lose, Anthony “Rumble” Johnson was going to leave UFC 187 on Saturday as a winner.
His admirable journey back to MMA prominence didn’t need to be validated by a UFC light heavyweight championship.
Sure, it would have splattered his growing resume with a gigantic exclamation mark, but Johnson’s return to stardom is all anyone could wish for.
Well, Rumble didn’t win that aforementioned belt.
Instead, it was Daniel Cormier’s pressure-cooking wrestling, relentless conditioning and unheralded chin that reigned supreme at UFC 187.
Johnson ultimately gassed out on the heels of fending off a 205-pound version of Cain Velasquez, but he landed significant shots throughout the fight.
At just 31 years of age, the Blackzilian has plenty of potential moving forward.
Here are three fights for Johnson to take next as he tries to stay afloat a rather top-heavy weight class.
Winner of Glover Teixeira vs. Ovince Saint Preux
This matchup makes the most sense for Johnson at this time.
The only problem is that Glover Teixeira and Ovince Saint Preux aren’t scheduled to fight until early August at UFC Fight Night 73, which wouldn’t pin Rumble against the winner until the end of the year.
That’s too long for a guy like Johnson, who is probably eager to get back inside of the cage and reclaim his divisional stake.
But at the end of the day, taking some time off to adjust his conditioning and reestablish his submission defense could be exactly what he needs.
And considering he was just submitted by DC, Johnson would probably opt to fight OSP instead of a Brazilian with a second-degree black belt in jiu-jitsu.
Alexander Gustafsson
Johnson simply obliterated Alexander Gustafsson when the two first met at UFC on Fox 14 in January, winning by first-round TKO, but a rematch between the two would certainly suffice in a division desperate for elite matchups.
Despite the defeat to Rumble, Gustafsson still remains a top-5 threat at light heavyweight and a name that carries more weight than 99.9 percent of the division.
With that said, The Mauler must shake off a recent back injury in order to fight Johnson by summer’s end.
It would serve as a great co-main event for UFC 191 on Sept. 5.
Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson
If Johnson is looking to fight a light heavyweight capable and willing to stand toe-to-toe, he should look no further than Quinton Jackson.
Having capped off a successful return to the Octagon in April at UFC 186 opposite Fabio Maldonado, Rampage is eager to display his newfound patient striking against a top name.
At this point in their careers, Johnson most certainly possesses more punching power and an ability to turn it on and finish, but Jackson brings a certain amount of experience to the cage that simply can’t be measured.
There wouldn’t be much for Rumble to gain from such a matchup, but it remains an intriguing fight that would be an easy sell for the promotion.
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