Joe Silva's Shoes: What next for UFC Fight Night 65's winners?

Andrei Arlovski

The UFC made its seventh stop in Australia with UFC Fight Night 65, which took place Saturday at Adelaide’s Adelaide Entertainment Centre. The event, which streamed on UFC Fight Pass, saw all but two fights end in a stoppage – and six finishes came in the first round.

In the main event, heavyweight contender Stipe Miocic (13-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) continued to build his case for a title shot when he battered Mark Hunt (10-10-1 MMA, 5-4-1 UFC) for a fifth-round stoppage.

The co-main event saw Robert Whittaker (14-4 MMA, 5-2 UFC) knock out fellow “TUF” alum Brad Tavares (13-4 MMA, 9-4 UFC) while Sean O’Connell (17-6 MMA, 2-2 UFC) and James Vick (8-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) picked up quick wins to round out the four-fight main card.

After every event, fans wonder whom the winners 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.

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James Vick

Chad Laprise

Should fight: Chad Laprise
Why they should fight: Vick got his hand raised in the octagon for the fourth consecutive time when he put the first blemish on the record of formerly undefeated Jake Matthews.

Vick was somewhat sloppy in his previous bout after he missed a full year of competition due to injuries. In this fight, however, he seemed to be in top form. He forced Matthews to submit with a slick guillotine choke to keep his own perfect record intact.

Laprise (10-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC), like Vick, is another undefeated fighter who mostly relies on his imposing physical tools to top opponents. “The Disciple” earned a “Fight of the Night” victory at UFC 186 this past month and would make for a high-action clash of styles with Vick.

Sean O’Connell

Nikita Krylov

Should fight: Winner of Nikita Krylov vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima at UFC Fight Night 69
Why they should fight: O’Connell showed he can hang with a longstanding UFC veteran when he demolished Anthony Perosh in just 56 seconds for what he described as the biggest victory of his career.

O’Connell is proving to be a nice additional to the thin light-heavyweight division. However, as he said himself, he needs a few more wins before he starts facing the bigger names in the weight class.

“The Real OC” is still looking to build his name to get those fights. Krylov (18-4 MMA, 3-2 UFC) and Rogerio De Lima (13-2-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) are looking to do the same. All three men are on the younger side of the 205-pound roster, and the winner of UFC Fight Night 69 matchup on June 20 in Berlin would be an exciting dance partner for O’Connell.

Robert Whittaker

Roan Carneiro

Should fight: Roan Carneiro
Why they should fight: Whittaker has been one of the most successful winners from the international branch of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality show. After picking up his third-straight UFC win, it’s time for “The Reaper” to get another stern test in the middleweight division.

Carneiro (20-9 MMA, 3-3 UFC) made an emphatic return to the UFC in February when he submitted Mark Munoz in the first round. It was his first octagon appearance since 2008, and in that bout, the Brazilian proved he’s still a player at 185 pounds. He’s currently sidelined with injury but said he’ll be ready to return to the octagon later this year.

At 36, Carneiro is running out of time to make a title run. A win over a highly touted up-and-comer like Whittaker would reveal whether he’s capable. As for Whittaker, defeating an established veteran such as “Jucao” would be another shining addition to his budding resume.

Stipe Miocic

Travis Browne

Should fight: Winner of Travis Browne vs. Andrei Arlovski at UFC 187
Why they should fight: Despite the fact he dropped a decision to Junior Dos Santos in his previous bout, Miocic is in an opportunity-filled position in the heavyweight division after his throughly dominant win over Hunt.

Miocic added yet another impressive victory to his record and has now won four of his past five UFC fights, with the lone defeat in the stretch against Dos Santos. Legitimate contenders in the UFC’s highest weight class are few and far between, but Miocic is on the shortlist of fighters with a valid argument for a title shot.

With champ Cain Velasquez set to put his title on the line against interim titleholder Fabricio Werdum at UFC 188 in June, Miocic could be matched against the winner. Another big win, however, would make his credentials undeniable.

If that’s the case, the winner of Browne (17-2-1 MMA, 8-2-1 UFC) and Arlovski (23-10 MMA, 12-4 UFC), who are scheduled to tangle on the UFC 187 main card later this month, would be the most obvious potential opponent. Although Browne or Arlovski would likely have a solid title argument with a win at UFC 187, the infrequent title defense rate at heavyweight could create a fight with Miocic.

Regardless of what happens next, Miocic is knocking on the door of a title shot after mauling Hunt.

For more on UFC Fight Night 65, check out the UFC Events section of the site.