UFC: What’s next for the middleweight division?

(Photo courtesy of the Associated Press)

Well, here we are. Alex Pereira did it, he dethroned Adesanya. Where does that leave the Middleweight Division? What comes next?

“Poatan” is now the new champ via a 5th round TKO over the now former champion Israel “The Last Stylebender” Adesanya. So what the UFC would naturally want, is a rematch.

Adesanya seems game, given his latest appearance on The MMA Hour where he said as much. The question rests with Pereira. He’s now beaten Adesanya head to head 3 times, 2 of those 3 were in the kickboxing ring but still, 3 times.

Perhaps he may be looking for something new. If he is, there are a number of intriguing matchups. The problem is, the 4 top 5 contenders other than Adesanya, are all fighting at some point in the next 4 months.

If it’s not Adesanya, the natural choice would be the former champ and the number 2 ranked Middleweight Robert Whittaker. However, Whittaker fights the number 6 ranked Middleweight Paulo Costa at UFC 284 in February.

So ok you look to the 3rd ranked Jared Cannonier. Well he’s fighting 7th ranked Sean Strickland on December 17th. Derek Brunson? It’s a longshot and he’s fighting 8th ranked Jack Hermansson on December 3rd.

So it rests with Pereira. Will he be willing to wait potentially all the way until sometime around the middle of 2023 for a new challenger to separate himself, or will he take the rematch with Adesanya?

My guess is we get Pereira v. Adesanya 2 sometime around late February or early March.