UFC 330 winners line up possible next fights after title victories

Islam Makhachev and Mackenzie Dern left UFC 330 with their titles intact, while Jalin Turner, Dustin Stoltzfus and several other winners strengthened their cases for meaningful follow-up fights.

Makhachev’s victory over Ian Machado Garry extended his UFC winning streak beyond Anderson Silva’s previous record. Garry had established himself as the leading contender at welterweight, but the 34-year-old champion found a way through the challenge after moving up from lightweight. Carlos Prates and Michael Morales are the leading options for his next defence, with Morales offering the larger physical test.

Dern’s decision win over Gillian Robertson produced another dominant performance from the champion. She controlled 20 of the 25 minutes before fading in the final round, but Robertson could not change the result. With Zhang Weili yet to confirm a return, Tatiana Suarez is the most logical next opponent for Dern and would present another high-level grappling contest.

Turner also made a strong case for a return to the rankings by defeating Kaue Fernandes, who entered the bout on a three-fight winning run. The result provided a clearer indication of Turner’s level than his previous victory over Edson Barboza, which came before Barboza’s later retirement. Drew Dober is a possible next opponent in a matchup built around their willingness to trade.

Stoltzfus delivered one of the card’s biggest upsets against Mansur Abdul-Malik. After absorbing Abdul-Malik’s early pressure, Stoltzfus hurt him and secured a rear-naked choke. The win keeps him in the role of a stern test for rising middleweights, and Donte Johnson, another UFC 330 winner, could be given that examination next.

Edson Barboza’s loss leaves Ribovics in position to face another opponent known for producing action. Manuel Torres is a potential choice, giving Ribovics a younger matchup while preserving the entertaining style that has kept him in the UFC’s plans.