UFC Fight Night 32: Matches to Make for the Entire Fight Card

Vitor Belfort continued on his path of destruction at UFC Fight Night 32, becoming the first fighter to stop Dan Henderson with strikes.

Now on a three-fight winning streak, Belfort has more than proved he's the top contender in the middleweight division behind Anderson Silva even though his bout on Saturday was held at 205 pounds. Accordingly, Belfort is likely to meet the winner of a UFC 168 bout between Silva and Chris Weidman.

There are many more matches to be made following UFC Fight Night 32, though. Here are the fights that should be next for every fighter who competed on Saturday.

Jose Maria vs. Marcos Vinicius

Jose Maria has now lost his first two UFC bouts.

In his home country, Maria was defeated by Dustin Ortiz on Saturday. After starting strong in the opening bout of UFC Fight Night 32, Maria faded later on and was stopped with ground-and-pound in the third round.

As a member of the still-shallow flyweight division, Maria is likely to get one more shot to pick up a win inside the Octagon. It could come in a loser-leaves-town bout against fellow Brazilian Marcos Vinicius, who has also lost back-to-back fights. 

Dustin Ortiz vs. Justin Scoggins-Richie Vaculik Winner

Dustin Ortiz started slow in his UFC debut on Saturday, but he finished strong enough to pick up a win in his first appearance inside the Octagon.

After weathering the storm that was Jose Maria's aggressive striking, Ortiz was able to take the fight to the ground and wore out his Brazilian adversary. In the third round, Ortiz made sure the outcome was not in the judges' hands by stopping Maria with ground-and-pound.

It's a start for Ortiz, but the 24-year-old will likely need another win before he gets matched with a Top 10 125-pounder. With Justin Scoggins and Richie Vaculik making their UFC debuts at UFC Fight Night 33, Ortiz could meet a fellow UFC newcomer who was victorious in his debut.

Justin Salas vs. Daron Cruickshank

UFC events in Brazil have not been friendly to foreigners. That trend continued for Americans Justin Salas and Daron Cruickshank on Saturday.

Facing Thiago Tavares at UFC Fight Night 32, Justin Salas was taken down early and submitted via rear-naked choke in the first round. Likewise, Cruickshank was unable to remain standing against a talented grappler in Adriano Martins, leading to a submission loss of his own.

With both losing two of their past three fights, Salas and Cruickshank are in similar spots. They both fought at UFC Fight Night 32, so they should also be ready to go again at around the same time, making a matchup between them quite likely.

Thiago Tavares vs. Adriano Martins

Brazilian lightweights Thiago Tavares and Adriano Martins took full advantage of their crowd support when they competed in their home country on Saturday.

Following a nine-month suspension for a failed drug test, Tavares made a statement with a submission win over Justin Salas. Competing inside the Octagon for the first time in his career, Martins also looked strong in a submission victory over Daron Cruickshank.

A veteran who has had his chances to break through, Tavares is probably going to be on gatekeeping duties until he proves he's clean. In the meantime, he'd be a good test for Martins.

Thiago Perpetuo vs. Brian Houston

Thiago Perpetuo started strong at UFC Fight Night 32, but he couldn't put his opponent away and ended up on the wrong end of a wild exchange in his home country of Brazil.

Multiple times, Perpetuo rocked Omari Akhmedov in the first round. However, as he pressed forward looking to finish his stumbling opponent, Perpetuo was clipped with a short right hand and suffered his first UFC loss.

Also coming off of his first UFC defeat, a knockout loss to Derek Brunson, Brian Houston would be a logical opponent for Perpetuo now.

Omari Akhmedov vs. Brad Scott

The UFC is finally bringing in some serious Russian talent. 

At UFC Fight Night 32, 26-year-old Omari Akhmedov became the latest promising Russian addition to the UFC roster. Although he was rocked multiple times by Thiago Perpetuo, Akhmedov stayed in the fight and landed a right hand while stumbling that put his Brazilian opponent away.

Following a back-and-forth win over an unproven TUF veteran, Akhmedov won't be getting a huge step up in competition. Instead, a bout with a TUF runner-up like Brad Scott would bring the Russian along slowly.

Godofredo Pepey vs. Mike Wilkinson

Godofredo Pepey has not earned a decisive win in three UFC appearances.

After picking up his first UFC victory via a narrow decision against Milton Vieira, Pepey was dominated in front of his fellow Brazilian on Saturday. Sam Sicilia quickly took Pepey down and stopped the Brazilian with ground-and-pound in the first round.

Despite his struggles to gain momentum inside the Octagon, the 26-year-old Pepey is still a promising fighter in the featherweight division. As is fellow TUF veteran Mike Wilkinson, who recently lost to the man who beat Pepey in the TUF: Brazil 1 finals, Rony Jason. 

In order to get one of the 145-pound prospects back on track, UFC matchmakers should pair Pepey with Wilkinson.

Sam Sicilia vs. Robert Peralta-Estevan Payan Winner

Sam Sicilia likely avoided being released from the UFC roster on Saturday.

Following back-to-back losses, Sicilia scored a win over TUF: Brazil runner-up Godofredo Pepey. The American took Pepey down early and made the Brazilian pay with damaging ground-and-pound en route to a first-round finish.

Sicilia may not be near title contention in the featherweight division, but his power makes him a fun addition to any preliminary card. A bout with the winner of a UFC 168 bout between fellow sluggers Robert Peralta and Estevan Payan would have Knockout of the Night potential.

Rony Jason vs. Robert Peralta-Estevan Payan Loser

Rony Jason's run of success came to an end at UFC Fight Night 32 on Saturday.

After winning his first three UFC bouts, Jason was overwhelmed by the power of former lightweight Jeremy Stephens. In the opening round, Jason ate a devastating head kick and suffered his first loss inside the Octagon.

The TUF: Brazil 1 winner will play a big role in the UFC growth in Brazil, so the promotion will give him every opportunity to get back into the win column. A bout with the loser of a matchup between Robert Peralta and Estevan Payan should give the Brazilian a good shot at rebounding.

Jeremy Stephens vs. Dennis Siver-Manny Gamburyan Winner

This move to 145 pounds seems to be working out just fine for Jeremy Stephens.

After beating Estevan Payan in his featherweight debut, Stephens put the 145-pound division on notice at UFC Fight Night 32. Just 40 seconds into his bout in enemy territory, Stephens blasted Rony Jason with a head kick and moved to 2-0 as a featherweight fighter.

A UFC veteran, Stephens can be put on the fast track toward title contention now. A bout with the winner of a UFC 168 bout between fellow former lightweights Dennis Siver and Manny Gamburyan would give Stephens an opportunity to crack the Top 10 already.

Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Jason High-Anthony Lapsley Loser

Although many felt he could have won TUF: Brazil 2 had it not been for an injury, Santiago Ponzinibbio already finds himself on the verge of elimination from the UFC roster.

The Argentinian was defeated in his UFC debut against Ryan LaFlare on Saturday. Over three rounds, Ponzinibbio was hit with more than 100 strikes and surrendered five takedowns.

Ponzinibbio's next fight could be for his UFC job. If fellow UFC newcomer Anthony Lapsley loses to Jason High at UFC 167, he'd be a good opponent for Ponzinibbio.

Ryan LaFlare vs. Sean Pierson

Undefeated in his first nine MMA bouts, Ryan LaFlare is becoming a fighter to watch in the welterweight division.

At UFC Fight Night 32, LaFlare won his second straight fight against a TUF veteran. While he couldn't put Santiago Ponzinibbio away, LaFlare won all three rounds and improved to 2-0 inside the Octagon.

With wins in his first two UFC appearances, LaFlare has earned a step up in competition. A bout with a veteran like Sean Pierson would be a good test for LaFlare now.

Paulo Thiago vs. Dan Miller

Paulo Thiago has not won consecutive fights since February 2010.

The Brazilian had a chance to do so on Saturday, but he was stopped by Brandon Thatch in the first round. With his defeat at UFC Fight Night 32, Thiago has now lost five of his past seven fights.

He's had a long run under the UFC banner, but Thiago hasn't really had a memorable victory in years. A bout with fellow struggling veteran Dan Miller could give the UFC an opportunity to part ways with a veteran in order to make room for a 170-pound prospect.

Brandon Thatch vs. Stephen Thompson

Brandon Thatch has the potential to become a serious contender in the welterweight division.

In knocking out Paulo Thiago on Saturday, Thatch picked up his 10th consecutive first-round finish. "Rukus" is now 2-0 inside the Octagon, stopping two tough grapplers rather easily.

Now, it's time for Thatch to be tested by another striker. A bout with Stephen Thompson would almost surely provide stand-up fireworks.

Rafael Cavalcante vs. Ovince St. Preux

Rafael Cavalcante picked up his first UFC win on Saturday and probably saved his UFC job in the process.

Just over one minute into his bout at UFC Fight Night 32, Cavalcante stopped Igor Pokrajac with strikes. Having now lost his past three official fights, Pokrajac is likely to be released from the world's top MMA promotion.

Cavalcante, meanwhile, could find himself in a matchup with fellow Strikeforce veteran Ovince St. Preux, who is also coming off of a first-round knockout victory.

Daniel Sarafian vs. Ed Herman-Thales Leites Loser

At UFC Fight Night 32, Daniel Sarafian was given his chance to prove he should have been the TUF: Brazil 1 winner.

Sarafian earned a spot in that season's finals, but he had the opportunity taken away by an injury. On Saturday, Sarafian started strong, but he ultimately lost in a decision against TUF: Brazil 1 middleweight winner Cezar Ferreira.

Despite his loss in the TUF final that should have been, Sarafian is still a promising fighter in the middleweight division. A bout with the winner of a UFC 167 bout between veterans Ed Herman and Thales Leites would give Sarafian a chance to rebound with a win over a notable fighter.

Cezar Ferreira vs. Ed Herman-Thales Leites Winner

Cezar Ferreira proved he's the rightful winner of the TUF: Brazil 1 middleweight competition.

"Mutante" originally won the reality show by beating Sergio Moraes. However, Moraes was a replacement for an injured Daniel Sarafian in the middleweight final. So, Ferreira's decision win over Sarafian at UFC Fight Night 32 finally removed any doubt he was the best 185-pounder on the first Brazilian TUF season.

Having fought unproven Brazilians in his first three UFC bouts, Ferreira is now due for a step up in competition. A bout with the winner of a UFC 167 fight between Ed Herman and Thales Leites would give Ferreira a chance to up his stock by beating a veteran.

Dan Henderson vs. Rich Franklin

While it's hard for a fighting legend to call it quits, Dan Henderson has to be considering retirement as a serious option right now.

Following his knockout loss to Vitor Belfort on Saturday, Henderson has no fights remaining on his UFC contract. It's likely Henderson will have to take a cut in pay now that he's on a three-fight skid, but UFC president Dana White revealed at the UFC Fight Night 32 post-fight press conference that "Hendo" said he's interested in re-signing with the world's top MMA promotion.

If Henderson does return to the Octagon, he'll need a winnable matchup that is still intriguing enough to keep him going at 43 years old. Rich Franklin still hasn't officially called it quits. If he's up for a retirement fight, a rematch with Henderson is a possibility.

Vitor Belfort vs. Chris Weidman-Anderson Silva Winner

There's no more denying Vitor Belfort a shot at the middleweight championship.

Although his fight with Dan Henderson was at 205 pounds, Belfort is a bigger title threat in the 185-pound division. Having won three straight fights with impressive knockouts, Belfort may have had a stronger 2013 than any other fighter on the UFC roster.

Now, he's clearly next in line to meet the winner of a UFC 168 title fight between Chris Weidman and Anderson Silva.