UFC 136 Fight Card: What's Next for the Losers from Saturday Night?

From top to bottom, UFC 136 featured some of the best talent the UFC has to offer, including two current champions in Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar.

Both champions were set to defend their UFC titles against their toughest opposition, and they both successfully defended their belts with flying colors.

Edgar stopped Gray Maynard in their bout, which was the third in a series that left Edgar without a victory going into their third epic encounter. Aldo defeated Kenny Florian, a former lightweight title challenger who had a wealth of experience going into the most important fight of his career.

Also in action were Nam Phan, Leonard Garcia, Melvin Guillard, Joe Lauzon, Chael Sonnen and Brian Stann.

This is what's next for the losers.

Melvin Guillard Loses to Joe Lauzon by Submission in Round 1

Just when everyone thought Melvin Guillard was in line for a title shot, he fell to the tenacious Joe Lauzon in the opening minute of their bout that kicked off the pay-per-view.

Guillard appeared to be more confident than ever, and it turned out to work against him as Lauzon dropped him and submitted him just 47 seconds into the bout. Lauzon entered the bout as a 3-to-1 underdog and proved a lot of the critics wrong.

For Guillard, he lost for the ninth time in his extensive career. He was on a five-fight win streak before the bout and will still carry momentum gained from those fights.

A suitable opponent for him could be Takanori Gomi, who is also coming off a loss. That fight could promise fireworks from two of the division's most powerful punchers.

Leonard Garcia Loses to Nam Phan by Unanimous Decision

After Leonard Garcia lost in a fan-friendly fight with Nam Phan, he set the stage for a third epic encounter between him and his opponent, whom he had beaten before.

After three intense rounds of featherweight action, Phan walked away with a unanimous decision. Their first bout ended with Garcia taking a highly disputed split decision.

There is only one thing to do, and that's have a rubber match between two fighters who won't make a run for the title but will always put on entertaining fights.

Brian Stann Loses to Chael Sonnen by Submission in Round 2

The former U.S. Marine came into his bout with Chael Sonnen as a heavy underdog but with a lot of confidence knowing he had a puncher's chance.

After going 3-0 in the UFC's middleweight division, Stann appeared to be on his way to a potential title shot when Sonnen dominated him before pulling off an arm-triangle choke that forced Stann to tap in the second round.

Stann can take on the loser of the upcoming Michael Bisping vs. Jason "Mayhem" Miller bout, which goes down in December.

Kenny Florian Loses to Jose Aldo by Unanimous Decision

Kenny Florian finds himself in a very tough spot after losing a unanimous decision to UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo.

After going 0-2 in UFC lightweight title shots, Florian made the move down to featherweight, hoping to finally capture UFC gold.

It was a failed attempt, but one that Florian can still use to grow as a fighter.

At 35, Florian might not have much time to make another run for a belt, but he can take on the best of the up-and-comers in the featherweight or lightweight divisions. Fighters like Pablo Garza and Dustin Poirier could be future opponents that get Florian back on track.

Gray Maynard Loses to Frankie Edgar by KO in Round 4

Gray Maynard was the only one to hold a victory over UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar, but that fight came at a time when neither guy was a contender.

After their rematch ended in a draw in January, there was nothing to do but set up the rubber match.

Maynard appeared to be on his way to extending his undefeated record after rocking Edgar in the first round. Edgar recovered and won the next two rounds before finding his mark and knocking Maynard out with a flurry of punches in the fourth round.

So what's next for Maynard?

The lightweight division isn't short on intriguing matchups, but coming off his first loss, Maynard might have to settle for another fighter coming off a loss. A fight versus Jeremy Stephens or Melvin Guillard can get "The Bully" back to his winning ways.

If he decides to take on someone coming off a win, there is no shortage of 155-pounders whom he can fight.