UFC 145: What's Next for Each Fighter?

UFC 145 came and went yesterday, providing us with fantastic knockouts, surprising winners and a main event between two adversaries.

Now that the dust has cleared, what is next for every fighter on the card? Who will be cut and who will move further up the ladder?

Let's take a look at where everybody goes from here.

Maximo Blanco

Maximo Blanco lost a split decision yesterday, in which we saw him not engage very much in the fight. He did more in his post-fight flip-off with Marcus Brimage than we saw him do in the entire three rounds they fought.

Where Blanco goes from here is yet to be seen. He is a fighter with a lot of hype coming out of Japan, but he's faltered in both outings in the USA. A bout against Hacran Dias, who recently signed with the UFC, would be a good measure for both men.

Marcus Brimage

The winner of the split decision over Maximo Blanco, Marcus Brimage was impressive last night, despite a lack of action. Brimage stood and banged with a powerful striker and did not back up an inch.

Brimage looks to be a solid talent at featherweight. He is very short, but he has long arms and is extremely strong. A fight against Robbie Peralta, who has proven difficult for many fighters, would be a nice test to see if Brimage is ready for upper-level opponents.

Keith Wisniewski

Keith Wisniewski should have won the fight last night. He was the victim of a horrible stand-up by Fernando Yamasaki and he controlled the fight. He may have been handled on the feet, but he was more aggressive and took Chris Clements down whenever he wanted to.

It looks like he will be cut, which is a shame for a respected veteran like Wisniewski. Should the UFC keep him around, his back will be against the wall. A bout against another guy who is need of a win, Dan Stittgen, could be warranted.

Chris Clements

Chris Clements was a very impressive striker yesterday, using a variety of spinning attacks and powerful strikes to get the nod from the judges. It does look like his ground game needs some work, but he has time between now and his next fight.

It will be interesting to see how the UFC handles Clements from here. They should test his ground game by giving him a fight with a guy like Justin Edwards, who would pressure Clements to engage in a ground war.

Efrain Escudero/John Alessio

Efrain Escudero could find himself without a job following his loss to Mac Danzig. He was dominated by Danzig despite hurting Danzig's ankle early in the fight. 

John Alessio stepped up on late notice to fight Mark Bocek, but unfortunately, he dropped a decision to his fellow Canadian.

Both these men will need a fight against another guy coming off a loss. If Escudero isn't cut and receives one more fight, he could find himself opposite John Alessio, who is similarly in need of a victory.

Mac Danzig

Mac Danzig was very impressive last night, showing the potential that we should have seen earlier in his UFC career. He showed great toughness despite apparently injuring his ankle in a foot lock by Efrain Escudero.

Danzig has a lot of options here. The lightweight division is full of fighters ready to go, if Danzig is in good health. A bout against rising star Reza Madadi would serve as a great test for Madadi and prove if Danzig can be consistent.

John Makdessi

John Makdessi is flashy and exciting when he fights, that much is certain. But missing weight and losing your fight is never good for job security, especially in the UFC lightweight division.

If Makdessi is not cut following his second loss in a row, he should learn to cut weight and drop to featherweight. He looked tiny compared to Anthony Njokuani last night. A bout against another guy in need of a win, Tommy Hayden, could serve as a loser-goes-home bout.

Anthony Njokuani

Anthony Njokuani got back in the win column, winning a striking battle against fellow striker John Makdessi. Njokuani is still vulnerable to wrestlers, so he may need to test himself in his next fight.

The lightweight division is full of fighters who can challenge you in any aspect of your game. A bout against Ramsey Nijem, who is currently scheduled to fight, would be a good test for Njokuani's ground game and Nijem's striking game as well.

Stephen Thompson

The picture that accompanies this slide basically sums up Stephen Thompson's night. He was thoroughly dominated on the ground against Matt Brown, showing a need for Thompson to work on his game.

From here, Thompson needs to improve and take this loss as a motivator to get better. A bout against fellow loser last weekend, Besam Yousef, would serve as a nice rebound fight for Thompson, as Yousef has shown powerful striking and ability in a ground fight.

Matt Brown

Matt Brown won last night, making it the first time he has back-to-back wins since 2009. The win was huge for Brown, as he was able to derail the hype train that was Stephen Thompson.

Brown is a brawler and a solid wrestler. From here, a bout against James Head, who was a winner in Sweden last weekend, could serve as an excellent test for both men to see who moves further up the ladder of the welterweight division.

Chad Griggs/Brendan Schaub

Both Chad Griggs and Brendan Schaub were losers last night, with Griggs succumbing to submission and Schaub being knocked out. Schaub has continually shown a suspect chin, which came back to haunt him again last night.

These two should be matched up in their next fights. Griggs is as tough as they come, and Schaub is in desperate need of a victory following two straight losses.

Travis Browne

Travis Browne continues to impress, gaining the only submission win last night. Browne is still undefeated, thus warranting a shot against a top heavyweight going forward from here.

A lot of the top heavyweights are tied up with fights right now, but a bout against the winner of the "Big Foot" Silva/Roy Nelson fight could be in the cards for Browne.

Mark Bocek

Mark Bocek showed us yet again that he is a force to be reckoned with last night. He controlled a very tough John Alessio for the better of 15 minutes last night.

Bocek is strong on the ground, which is a great tool for him going forward. A fight against Joe Lauzon would be an awesome battle, as Lauzon is an aggressive submission artist and Bocek is great at controlling opponents on the ground.

Mark Hominick

Mark Hominick lost again last night, which could be the end of the line for the popular Canadian. He has now dropped three fights in a row, including a title fight against Jose Aldo.

Should he stick around for one more fight, he could fight at UFC 149 in Calgary. A fight against fellow loser last weekend, Eric Wisely, could decide who stays in the UFC and who leaves.

Eddie Yagin

Eddie Yagin was a big winner last night, embracing the underdog tag and defeating Mark Hominick. It likely saved his job, but at the same time, it boosted his stock big time.

Yagin is a good striker who needs his ground game tested. In the meantime, a bout against Jason Young, another solid striker, could be in the cards for Yagin.

Miguel Torres

It looks like time has finally caught up to Miguel Torres, as he fell victim to a vicious knockout last night to Michael McDonald. This bout may have signified a changing of the guard in the bantamweight division.

It is tough to tell where Torres goes after this devastating loss. Walel Watson is another guy coming off a loss, and he presents an interesting matchup, as both Watson and Torres are tall, lanky fighters.  

Michael McDonald

If there is one thing we learned last night, it's that Michael McDonald is a certified star. He knocked out an extremely tough opponent in Miguel Torres last night, announcing his arrival to the top of the division.

McDonald is ready for a top-five opponent. Brian Bowles is currently without an opponent and is as tough as they come. This would be an excellent test for McDonald to prove he is ready for a title shot.

Ben Rothwell

A guy who likely saved his job last night, Ben Rothwell showed that he is always dangerous. He blasted Brendan Schaub with a great punching, knocking him silly and out of the fight in general.

Rothwell is as tough as they come in the heavyweight division, possessing well-rounded skills and one helluva chin. A bout against up-and-comer Stipe Miocic could serve as a great test for Miocic and give Rothwell a tough opponent to work with.

Che Mills

Che Mills fell victim to hype and a guy with a lot more of it in last night's loss. Mills was battered by a clearly superior Rory MacDonald en route to a stoppage.

Mills is a gifted striker, but he showed that he is vulnerable on the ground. A fight against fellow Brit James Wilks, who has not been seen in ages, could serve as an intriguing bout, as Wilks is the man who knocked Mills out of The Ultimate Fighter a few years back.

Rory MacDonald

It looks like Rory MacDonald is ready for a title fight, although it is likely he would not fight Georges St. Pierre. MacDonald is an imposing welterweight, as exemplified in his demolition of Che Mills last night.

I would love to see MacDonald fight Josh Koscheck, who is scheduled to fight Johny Hendricks in two weekends at UFC on FOX. Koscheck has fought MacDonald's teammate, Georges St. Pierre, and it would serve as the ultimate test for the young Canadian.

Rashad Evans

Rashad Evans lost out on his title aspirations last night, dropping a decision to adversary Jon Jones. If there is one positive from the fight, it's that he was not finished by the champ, as so many others have been.

Evans is still a top light heavyweight in the world. Last night was only his second career loss. A fight against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira would be a nice rebound fight for Evans, as Nogueira is well-rounded and a tough out for anybody.

Jon Jones

What Jon Jones proved last night is that he is the best fighter in the world right now. He dominated Rashad Evans to a clear-cut decision last night, leaving little doubt in everybody's mind who the better man was.

His next fight is basically set in stone, as he is on a collision course with the legendary Dan Henderson. Henderson has the power in his hands to once and for all test Jones' chin.