Despite Jose Aldo’s absence, UFC 189 was an event that won’t soon be forgotten.
There was some controversy around the decision to introduce an interim featherweight belt, but the card did produce a new UFC champion. In the main event, Conor McGregor silenced those who doubted his ability to beat a high-level wrestler by knocking out Chad Mendes in the second round.
Meanwhile, the co-main event between Robbie Lawler and Rory MacDonald hardly played second fiddle on Saturday. In an outstanding contest that left both men bloodied and battered, Lawler retained the welterweight championship with a needed knockout in the final stanza.
For McGregor, it appears certain that the UFC will re-book a title bout with Aldo. However, the future is less certain for the rest of the UFC 189 competitors.
Here are the opponents each UFC 189 winner and loser should face next.