UFC 143 Results: 5 Fights for Renan Barao to Take Next

Overshadowed by the controversy of Nick Diaz-Carlos Condit and Fabricio Werdum announcing his arrival, Renan Barao kept to his winning ways at UFC 143.

Barao dominated Scott Jorgensen in every facet of the game on his way to a unanimous decision win.

He prevented Jorgensen from taking him down and used his explosive striking to score points and inflict damage.

Riding a 28-fight win streak, Barao should be launched into the title picture. Although he has to wait for Urijiah Faber and Dominick Cruz to battle for a third time, there are other options for Barao.

Takeya Mizugaki

Takeya Mizugaki has proven to be a very durable bantamweight fighter. Fighting Mizugaki seems to be the barometer test to see who's ready to be "in the mix."

If Mizugaki can get past Chris Caraiso at UFC 144, a match with Renan Barao would be an exciting fight to clear up the rankings in the division.

Mizugaki's boxing is good enough to at least challenge Barao on the feet and was enough to defeat a highly touted grappler, Rani Yahya, in their bout.

Raphael Assuncao

Raphael Assuncao has been dealing with a nasal fracture injury since his win at UFC 134. A return fight against Renan Barao isn't exactly what the doctor ordered, but, with very few credible challengers at 135 pounds, it'd be a great opportunity for Assuncao.

Barao could also stay active, and a match with Assuncao could provide for some interesting grappling contests given the two men's jiu-jitsu credentials.

Edwin Figueroa

Edwin Figueroa is coming off a rough night in his UFC 143 performance. As if getting kicked in the groin multiple times wasn't bad enough, Figueroa won a split decision that many fans are going to consider a win for his opponent.

What better way for Figueroa to get back in the fans' good graces than derailing the Renan Barao hype train?

Barao would likely take the better boxer down to the mat, but he could use his quick kicks to keep Figueroa off balance as well. If the fight remained on the feet, it could be fight of the night material.

The Winner of Miguel Torres vs. Michael McDonald

In a classic old guard vs. new guard matchup, Miguel Torres and Michael McDonald will be meeting each other at UFC 145.

The winner of this bout will likely be ranked in the top 10 and could fight Renan Barao to determine the next No. 1 contender for the bantamweight title.

McDonald has impressed MMA fans at a young age, and Torres is the durable veteran that won't take no for an answer. Either man would provide to be an exciting fight for Barao.

The Winner of Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber

The majority of the fights on this list could be considered a step back for Renan Barao, considering how impressive he's been in the UFC.

Given the manner in which he's won, Barao could be next in line for a title fight at 135 pounds.The main issue with getting his title shot is that Barao would likely have to sit on the shelf for quite some time.

Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz are coaching the next season of The Ultimate Fighter and likely won't meet each other until the early summer. That means Barao could be sitting idly by until late July or August to step back in the Octagon.

But the wait may well be worth it. If Barao were to lose during that time frame, all his momentum from his 28-fight win streak would be snapped.