UFC on Versus 3 Results: What's Next for the Winners?

Just three fights after fighting B.J. Penn for the UFC Lightweight Championship, Diego Sanchez has established himself as a welterweight contender with his win over Martin Kampmann at UFC on Versus 3.

Mark Munoz and Rousimar Palhares also won their fights, showing why they are widely considered two of the best fighters in the Middleweight Division. Now, Joe Silva will have to determine what opponents make the most sense for these contenders.

Here are some options that Silva might look at for these and the other winning fighters at UFC on Versus 3. 

Igor Pokrajac

Igor Pokrajac looked solid in his win over Todd Brown at UFC on Versus 3. The win got Pokrajac back on track after losing to Stephan Bonnar in his last fight.

After the fight, Pokrajac called out Tito Ortiz, who seems to be a target for just about every fighter in the Light Heavyweight Division nowadays. If the UFC really wants to keep Ortiz around for his name, which it seems that they do or he would have been gone by now, a fight with Pokrajac would be a winnable one.

If the UFC would rather give Ortiz a higher-profile opponent, Pokrajac has other options for his next opponent in Krzysztof Soszynski and Cyrille Diabate. Soszynski is expected to fight at UFC 131 in June 2011.

Since Pokrajac came out of this fight mostly unscathed, he could be ready in time for UFC 131. Diabate also avoided taking much damage in his fight against Steve Cantwell, so there would be an opportunity for both fighters to make a quick turnaround if Diabate and Pokrajac fought. 

Rousimar Palhares

After a disappointing end to a great opportunity to become a contender in a fight with Nate Marquardt, Rousimar Palhares rebounded with a win over Dave Branch. Yet again, Palhares finished his opponent with a heel hook.

Palhares could make for an interesting opponent in the return to the Octagon of Alan Belcher.

Belcher has been out for an extended period with a career-threating situation with his eyesight. If a fight with Belcher wouldn't work out, Palhares could fight fellow rising contender and UFC on Versus 3 winner Mark Munoz. 

Dong Yi Yang

After losing to Chris Camozzi in his UFC debut, Dong Yi Yang bounced back with a win over Rob Kimmons. Despite the win, Yang is still in the process of establishing himself as a long-term UFC fighter.

Most likely, Yang's next fight will come against another fighter looking to do the same. Yang may fight a TUF participant for the second time in his UFC career because Nick Ring seems to make the most sense for Yang's next opponent.

Takeya Mizugaki

In his UFC debut, Takeya Mizugaki earned a split-decision victory over Rueben Duran. In his next fight, Mizugaki will attempt to win back-to-back fights for the first time since December 2008.

If the UFC wants to build Mizugaki up as a bantamweight contender once again, they may give him the winner of a fight between Nick Pace and McDonald. If not, Mizugaki may fight Eddie Wineland if he loses his UFC 128 fight against Urijah Faber. 

Shane Roller

Shane Roller represented former WEC lightweights well in his UFC debut by scoring a come-from-behind knockout of Thiago Tavares. Outside of the first fight of his career, Roller's only losses have come against WEC standouts Anthony Pettis and Ben Henderson.

Most likely, the UFC will test Roller against mid-level UFC talent again before throwing him in with one of the better fighters in the division. Fights with Yves Edwards or Jacob Volkmann seem like strong possibilities. 

Danny Castillo

Even more impressive than Shane Roller in his UFC debut, Danny Castillo beat one-time top contender Joe Stevenson by unanimous decision. Castillo does have a loss to Roller, but that may be forgotten in determining Castillo's next opponent after this performance.

Mac Danzig, who also defeated Stevenson recently, would make for an excellent opponent for Castillo. The winner of that fight would instantly become a borderline top ten lightweight in the UFC. 

Cyrille Diabate

Cyrille Diabate scored a dominating victory over Steve Cantwell at UFC on Versus 3. However, it was rather disappointing that Diabate was unable to finish Cantwell and that may be reflected in his next opponent.

Fabio Maldonado or fellow UFC on Versus 3 winner Igor Pokrajac would serve as a worthy adversary for Diabate in his next fight.

Brian Bowles

After a yearlong absence, Brian Bowles returned with a submission win over Damacio Page in a rematch. Amazingly, Bowles submitted Page with the same technique, a guillotine choke, and at the exact same time, 3:30 of Round 1, as he did in the first fight between the two fighters.

Bowles has his mind set on recapturing a bantamweight title. A fight against the winner of Miguel Angel Torres and Brad Pickett could give him an opportunity to become a top contender.

Chris Weidman

Chris Weidman validated the hype with his win over Alessio Sakara in his UFC debut. An outstanding grappler, Weidman used takedowns and ground-and-pound to earn the victory by decision.

Weidman's next fight could come against another rising star in the Middleweight Division. Maiquel Falcao or Court McGee would fit that description.  

Mark Munoz

Mark Munoz's knockout of C.B. Dollaway showed why he is considered one of the best middleweights in the UFC. Munoz is already one of the best wrestlers in the division, so he could become a serious title threat if his striking continues to show improvement.

Rousimar Palhares and Alan Belcher would make for interesting opposition in Munoz's next fight. If not, there is an outside chance of a fight with Michael Bisping.

Diego Sanchez

Controversial or not, Diego Sanchez's win over Martin Kampmann in Thursday's main event made him a welterweight contender. This is despite Sanchez losing to John Hathaway in his return to the Welterweight Division just nine months ago. 

A fight with another rising welterweight contender like Carlos Condit or Jake Ellenberger seems like the most likely option for Sanchez now.

UFC on Versus 3: Results, News and More

Sean Smith is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report MMA. For the latest insight and updates on everything MMA, you can follow Sean on Twitter @BR_Sean_Smith