What's Next for UFC on Fuel TV Winners

The UFC made its first foray onto Fuel TV Wednesday night, and it was an unbridled success.

Headlined by a welterweight bout with title implications between The Ultimate Fighter Season 1 winner Diego Sanchez and Jake Ellenberger, the fight card featured an array of mid-level fighters pushing to make a name for themselves.

Following an exciting action inside the world-famous Octagon, the question remains: What is next for those fighters who came out victorious? 

Jake Ellenberger

Ellenberger got a tougher fight than what he expected with Sanchez but he was able to come away with a definitive unanimous decision victory.

Ellenberger is one of the most talented fighters in the top-heavy welterweight division, and he deserves to fight the top guys from now on. He has terrific knockout power and a strong wrestling base, enabling him to dictate where the fight takes place.

With a six-fight win streak and his only loss coming to current interim welterweight champion Carlos Condit in a close split-decision loss, Ellenberger is knocking on the door for a title shot.

A rematch with Condit makes the most sense at this point. Georges St-Pierre is on the shelf until at least November, and the UFC would like to keep the belt in circulation while they wait for the chosen one to return.

If that fight doesn't materialize for some reason, look for the UFC to match "The Juggernaut" against perennial contender Jon Fitch or the winner of the Thiago Alves/Martin Kampmann fight. 

Stefan Struve

Arguably the most exciting fighter in the heavyweight division—if not the entire UFC—Struve has been living and dying by the sword in the UFC.

He has been up and down since joining the UFC and has faltered against top-level competition. Thus, he is the ultimate gatekeeper for the UFC, as his fan-friendly style will keep him in favor with Dana White, but out of title contention.

Up next should be yet another fan-friendly fight where Struve can stand toe to toe with his opponent and bang. Strikeforce import and rising star Shane Del Rosario will gladly oblige.

Ronny Markes

While not overly impressive, a win is a win, and with one over a game Aaron Simpson doesn’t hurt.

Markes will not challenge for the belt anytime soon, nor should expect to get a step up in competition.

He is a solid ground practitioner with some punching power to back it up. However, only after another win or two could he even begin to think about asking for a step up in competition.

Markes should test his skill against another up-and-coming fighter next or one that has fallen on hard times. A fight with The Ultimate Fighter winner Court McGee or fellow alum Brad Tavares would be an excellent test. 

Stipe Miocic

This young heavyweight has a bright future, and after his knockout win over a very tough Philip de Fries, it’s easy to see why.

As the Brit found out, Miocic has heavy hands and a strong wrestling base to boot. He is now 2-0 in the UFC with his wins coming over respectable yet beatable opponents. 

He is still a project at this point and should be brought along slowly. Another fight with a mid-level heavyweight will be ideal for the Croat-American. A fight with Matt Mitrione or a Strikeforce import would be a great test for him at this point. 

TJ Dillashaw

The runner-up in The Ultimate Fighter Season 14 put on the best performance of his career against a game Walel Watson.

He thoroughly dominated Watson for the better part of three rounds and was never in any form of trouble. I would have loved to see him put Watson away, but a sheer dominant performance is not too bad either.

Dillashaw needs to prove himself at least one more time against a mid-level fighter before he starts to ask for top guys. A fight with UFC 143 winner Edwin Figueroa or Alex Caceres would do just fine in this young fighter’s continued development.

Ivan Menjivar

A veteran in the fight game and currently undefeated in the UFC, Menjivar put himself into the mix with his gutsy win over John Albert.

Menjivar took tremendous shots and showed great heart to fight out of multiple submission attempts. Known mainly for his striking ability, he was able to show off his improved groundwork with the submission.

With the bantamweight division currently feeling the pain from the wave of fighters dropping down the newly created flyweight division, Menjivar put himself in a position to get a top-tier fighter. A fight with Scott Jorgensen or Damacio Page would be guaranteed fireworks and would keep him in the hunt for a title shot.

Jonathan Brookins

People were quick to write off this TUF winner following his loss to highly touted contender Eric Koch, but boy did he get people back on the bandwagon.

In stopping Vagner Rocha in Round 1, Brookins shot himself back up the rankings in the featherweight division.

Brookins deserves to fight a top guy; however, with the majority of the top featherweights tied up or injured, a fight with another rising prospect could be just what the doctor ordered. A fight with highly touted prospect Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira would be a guaranteed barn-burner and a meaningful fight in the 145-pound division.