Joe Silva's Shoes: What's next for UFC 189's losing fighters?

Chad Mendes

(ALSO SEE: Joe Silva’s Shoes: What’s next for UFC 189’s winners?)

Defeats are rarely easy for fighters to accept. For UFC 189’s losing competitors, however, they can take solace in the fact they helped contribute to what many have called the best pay-per-view card in history on Saturday at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Conor McGregor (18-2 MMA, 6-0 UFC) proved the hype real in the main event when he denied Chad Mendes (17-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) of the interim UFC featherweight championship and took the gold for himself with a second-round TKO.

Rory MacDonald (18-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC) also had his championship aspirations squashed when Robbie Lawler (26-10 MMA, 11-4 UFC) stopped him with strikes in the fifth round of the welterweight title co-headliner.

Dennis Bermudez (14-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC), Brandon Thatch (11-3 MMA, 2-2 UFC) and Brad Pickett (24-11 MMA, 4-6 UFC) also failed to have their hands raised, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying. All three went for the kill but were stopped inside the distance.

After every event, fans wonder whom the losing fighters will be matched up with next. And with another night of UFC action in the rearview mirror, it’s time to look forward, put on a pair of Joe Silva and Sean Shelby’s shoes, and play UFC matchmaker for the losing fighters.

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Brad Pickett

Joe Soto

Should fight: Joe Soto
Why they should fight: Although he didn’t come out on the winning side, Pickett pushed highly touted prospect Thomas Almeida to his limit before a second-round knockout loss in former’s return to the bantamweight division.

At 36, Pickett’s best years may be behind him, but he’s still more than serviceable and is exciting to boot.

“One Punch” had been absent from the 135-pound division after a brief stint at flyweight. There are plenty of fresh matchups that he hasn’t had the chance to experience. Soto (15-4 MMA, 0-2 UFC) is one of them.

Soto is desperate for his first UFC win after a strange start to his tenure. He unsuccessfully challenged for the title in his debut after a dramatic last-minute main-event switch at UFC 177 in August. He finally returned to competition after a 10-month layoff and suffered a first-round knockout loss to Anthony Birchak.

The former Bellator MMA champion has the ability; he just hasn’t put it all together for a UFC win. Pickett would afford him another chance to achieve that goal, but it certainly won’t be easy.

Brandon Thatch

Thiago Alves

Should fight: Thiago Alves
Why they should fight: Thatch is on a two-fight skid after he entered the UFC on an 11-fight winning streak. Both of those losses came by submission to undersized welterweights in fights he was favored to win.

Although the defeats came against elite competition in Gunnar Nelson and Benson Henderson, it’s clear Thatch has some holes in his game. He should be afforded time to develop against a fighter who won’t necessarily be focused on a submission win.

Alves (21-10 MMA, 13-7 UFC) is that guy. “The Pitbull” has long been considered one of the top strikers at 170 pounds and can finish a fight with a variety of techniques. His style would mesh perfectly with Thatch, and a win for either fighter would be positive for the resume.

Dennis Bermudez

Should fight: See below

Rory MacDonald

Rory MacDonald

Should fight: A ranked opponent
Why they should fight: Typically a specific opponent would be suggested for a fighter like MacDonald after a loss in a championship bout. However, this is a unique circumstance. MacDonald took a beating of otherworldly measures from Lawler and shouldn’t consider fighting again for an extended period of time.

MacDonald suffered a broken nose and foot in his fifth-round knockout loss. Those will likely heal much faster than the mental toll charged from the grueling bout.

At 25, there’s absolutely no point in rushing MacDonald back to the octagon. It’s possible the fight with Lawler cut time off his career in a way only a lengthy rest could help redeem. MacDonald is one of the very best welterweights in the world and will have the chance to prove it again after an appropriate layoff.

Chad Mendes

Dennis Bermudez

Should fight: Dennis Bermudez
Why they should fight: Mendes’ loss put him in a situation in which he’s part of a small group of fighters who are 0-3 in UFC title fights. It’s a dreaded scenario, but luckily for him, a rematch with McGregor or a third meeting with champ Jose Aldo are still viable matchups.

Bermudez is campaigning for a rematch with Jeremy Stephens after his third-round knockout loss at UFC 189. If he plays his cards right, however, he could get Mendes, which would be an even bigger fight for his career.

“The Menace” was recently on a seven-fight UFC winning streak, but he’s since hit a slump of back-to-back losses. Bermudez has the talent to start another winning streak, though his struggle to absorb powerful blows will be a roadblock in his rise.

Mendes is among the most powerful punchers in the weight class and would be another threat to test Bermudez’s chin. At this point, Mendes game is pretty straightforward. He’s either going to wrestle and smother his opponent on the mat or stand and look for a knockout. That strategy was almost enough to win the interim title against McGregor, and it should be enough to top most others in the division.

For more on UFC 189, check out the UFC Events section of the site.