5 fights to make for UFC San Antonio winners

The UFC's return to San Antonio delivered on all fronts. The Fight Night card featured numerous exciting matchups, topped off by a stellar bantamweight headlining bout between Cory Sandhagen and Marlon Vera.

Vintage @CorySandhagen on display! #UFCSanAntonio https://t.co/iD058fKe6j

The victors at UFC San Antonio will be looking to continue their ascent towards gold and it remains to be seen who they get matched up against down the line. In saying that, we have a few suggestions.

Here are five fights to make for UFC San Antonio winners.

#5. C.J. Vergara vs. Jake Hadley

C.J. Vergara pulled off a stunning come-from-behind victory in his home city this past weekend, earning a post-fight bonus for his efforts. The San Antonio native blew the roof off the AT&T Center with his second-round TKO win over Daniel Lacerda after getting dominated in the opening frame.

A wild back-and-forth bout in the prelims!

@CJVergara1991 and Daniel Lacerda earn FOTN honors at #UFCSanAntonio 💸

[ B2YB @ToyoTires ] https://t.co/IxP1X8AgMJ

C.J. Vergara hasn't been able to string a win streak together since earning a UFC contract in Dana White's Contender Series back in 2021. The 31-year-old American flyweight is now 2-2 inside the octagon and will be looking to break into the divisional top 15 sooner rather than later.

However, with promising contenders like unbeaten Japanese phenom Tatsuro Taira and highly-touted Englishman Jake Hadley also unranked, Vergara will need a high-profile win to crack the rankings. Having already lost to Taira, he should look to take on Hadley next.

Hadley is coming off a quick finish of Malcolm Gordon at UFC 286 earlier this month. The Brit matches up well against Vergara, so this should make for an exciting clash, with the winner potentially getting a ranked contender later on.

Vergara vs. Hadley [Images via @cjvargara91 & @jakehadleymma on Instagram]

#4. Maycee Barber vs. Amanda Ribas

Maycee Barber picked up her fourth win on the bounce at UFC San Antonio, edging out a decision victory over Andrea Lee to move further up the flyweight ladder. 'The Future' is gunning for current champion Alexa Grasso, who she has already shared the octagon with.

"I feel like if that was a five-round fight, I would've won."

Maycee Barber wants a second crack at Alexa Grasso, with or without the UFC women's flyweight title on the line.

#UFCSanAntonio | Full interview ▶️ bit.ly/3lxjH6i https://t.co/cAUBgVD9cJ

Maycee Barber will likely claim Andrea Lee's No.11 spot in the rankings with her recent win. The 24-year-old is clearly on an upward trajectory and is growing in confidence with every passing bout, so should get another top-ranked contender for her next outing.

A fight between Barber and No.9-ranked Amanda Ribas appears to make sense for all parties involved.

Ribas had the chance to vault up the rankings when she took on perennial contender Kaitlyn Chookagian last year, but suffered a narrow split-decision loss. She bounced back with a win over Viviane Araujo earlier this month, showing new layers of her game as she continues to improve.

With so many former title challengers ahead of both Barber and Ribas in the rankings, a fight between the two will produce a fresh face in the top tier of the division and could earn the victor a high-profile bout down the line.

Barber vs. Ribas [Images via @mayceebarber & @amandaufcribas on Instagram]

#3. Nate Landwehr vs. Dan Ige

Nate Landwehr has delivered non-stop action since switching over from M-1 Global to the UFC over three years ago. With his submission win over Austin Lingo at UFC San Antonio, 'The Train' has now earned three wins on the trot and is finally on the cusp of breaking into the featherweight rankings.

Nate 'The Train' was feeling himself after the win 🚂 #UFCSanAntonio https://t.co/vRJf3zGERR

Notably, Nate Landwehr was originally slated to fight No.15-ranked Alex Caceras this past Saturday, but an injury forced the UFC veteran out of the bout.

Nevertheless, Landwehr cruised past late replacement Austin Lingo quite comfortably and cut another impressive promo in his post-fight interview, establishing himself as one of the most entertaining 145-pound contenders on the roster. 'The Train' should ideally get a ranked contender for his next fight.

No.13-ranked Dan Ige is the perfect next opponent for Landwehr. Ige returned to the win column in January after three successive defeats to top-ranked featherweights. '50k' isn't in a position to demand ranked opponents, which should ensure this matchup comes together without any hiccups.

Stylistically, this is a very explosive matchup between two insanely durable, well-rounded and experienced featherweights, both in their 30s and running out of time if they are to work their way to the top.

Ige vs. Landwehr [Image via @dynamitedan808 & @natethetrain on Instagram]

#2. Holly Holm vs. Julianna Pena – Winner fights for the UFC women's bantamweight championship

Holly Holm saw her championship aspirations get derailed when she suffered a controversial split decision loss to Ketlen Vieira last year. The former women's bantamweight champion put herself back in title contention at UFC San Antonio, where she ran through Yana Santos in the co-main event to return to winning ways.

41-year-old Holly Holm is gearing up for another title run after signing a new 6-fight UFC contract. 🏆

#UFCSanAntonio | Full story: bit.ly/3yXueun https://t.co/rEJQlk1AiJ

Holly Holm signed a new contract with the UFC prior to her fight with Yana Santos. 'The Preacher's Daughter' is now looking to re-claim her belt and is seemingly just one big win away from a shot at the title, which is currently held by former foe Amanda Nunes.

With Nunes rumored to be taking on Irene Aldana next, a fight between Holm and fellow former champion Julianna Pena is a no-brainer. Pena is 1-1 in her rivalry with Nunes and is chasing a trilogy bout against 'The Lioness', so a fight against Holm would be a clear-cut No.1 contender bout.

Considering Holm and Pena's history with Nunes, there are storylines galore atop the division, and a fight between the two contenders is only logical.

Holm vs. Pena [Image via @BigMarcel24 on Twitter]

#1. Cory Sandhagen vs. Merab Dvalishvili – Winner fights for the UFC bantamweight championship

Cory Sandhagen solidified his status as one of the best bantamweights in the world in the main event of UFC San Antonio, putting on a clinic against a surging Marlon Vera to re-enter the title mix. The American called out No.1-ranked Merab Dvalishvili in his post-fight interview, which is clearly the next fight to make.

Cory Sandhagen has a message for Merab Dvalishvili 🗣 #UFCSanAntonio https://t.co/AUuZ60Lnbz

The title picture in the bantamweight division is quite convoluted at the moment, with former Henry Cejudo returning from a three-year hiatus to take on reigning titleholder Aljamain Sterling. Sean O'Malley has seemingly been promised the victor for his next bout, leaving Sandhagen and Dvalishvili with only one another.

Dvalishvili thoroughly outclassed former champion Petr Yan earlier this month to put himself in title contention, but his friendship with the champion has halted any talk of a fight between the two. As such, the Georgian welcomed Sandhagen's call-out and is open to the matchup.

Sandhagen vs. Dvalishvili is a mouthwatering clash of styles. A classic striker vs. wrestler pairing, this matchup is all but guaranteed to produce fireworks. Both fighters have tremendous output and cardio, and have improved leaps and bounds in the weaker facets of their respective skillsets.

While this bout would be a perfect Fight Night headliner, putting it on the undercard of a bantamweight title fight would be the perfect way to carry the division forward.

If this is the next matchup...

WHO YOU GOT? 😤 #UFCSanAntonio https://t.co/H5GCtLdzNK