UFC 138: What's Next for the Main Card Winners?

The UFC went to the LG Arena for UFC 138 in Birmingham, England, and it featured a main event between middleweight power-punchers Mark Munoz and Chris Leben, who were fighting for a potential shot at the title.

In the co-main event, Renan Barao fought WEC standout and hometown fighter Brad Pickett. The winner is in line to face the UFC bantamweight champion sometime next year.

Other main card bouts include Terry Etim vs. Edward Faaloloto, Anthony Perosh vs. Cyrille Diabate and Thiago Alves vs. Papy Abedi.

This is what's next for the main card winners.

Terry Etim Def. Edward Faaloloto by Submission in Round 1

After an extensive layoff from MMA, Terry Etim returned in front of a hometown crowd to submit Edward Faaloloto in just 17 seconds of the very first round.

Etim came out quick with leg kicks and head kicks before stunning his opponent, who clinched onto him before being caught in a tight guillotine choke as he dropped to the ground. The tap came soon after, giving Etim the 15th win in his career.

For Etim, a bout with Matt Wiman be a fan-friendly fight that could see potential fireworks.

If not Wiman, the lightweight division is full of matchups that suit the 25-year-old.

Anthony Perosh Def. Cyrille Diabate by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) in Round 2

In tonight's second main card bout, Anthony Perosh upset the odds and submitted highly regarded kickboxer Cyrille Diabate in the second round.

It was Perosh's second victory in the UFC's light heavyweight division, and it puts him in a position that many did not see him being in when he lost to Mirko Cro Cop last year.

There aren't many contender matchups for Perosh at the moment, but he can settle to face the best of the mid-tier fighters, including Brandon Vera and Stanislov Nedkov.

Thiago Alves Def. Papy Abedi by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) in Round 1

Former UFC welterweight title contender Thiago Alves returned for the first time since his loss to Rick Story earlier this year to defeat Papy Abedi in the very first round of their matchup.

Abedi was overwhelmed with Alves' superior striking technique halfway through the first before succumbing to a rear-naked choke submission four minutes into the round.

It is Alves' second win in five fights, but his losses have only come against the best of the division, including Georges St-Pierre, Jon Fitch and Rick Story.

If the Brazilian decides to stay at welterweight, he can face Martin Kampmann if the Danish fighter is successful against Story, at UFC 139.

Renan Barao Def. Brad Pickett by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) in Round 1

Brazilian prospect Renan Barao extended his win streak to 27 after submitting highly touted opponent Brad Pickett in the first round of their bantamweight co-main event.

Along with winning the fight of the night bonus, Barao may have set himself up for a possible title shot in 2012.

If the winner of Brian Bowles vs. Urijah Faber doesn't get the shot against Dominick Cruz, it will probably be because Barao gets it.

Barao doesn't have the biggest name in the division, so the UFC may decide to get him one more fight before a title shot.

One bantamweight contender who isn't lined up with a fight is Scott Jorgensen, who recently defeated Jeff Curran at UFC 137.

If the UFC doesn't want to risk Barao's momentum-gaining victory for a shot at Jorgensen, who lost to Cruz last year, they may give him another name that isn't as big.

Mark Munoz Def. Chris Leben by TKO (Doctor Stoppage) in Round 2

Mark Munoz is one of the stronger punchers in the middleweight division, and he proved it after busting up Chris "The Crippler" Leben over two rounds in the main event.

Munoz was able to damage Leben for the better part of 10 minutes before Leben's corner stopped the fight due to successive damage and swelling on the Ultimate Fighter 1 contestant's face.

For Munoz, he has lined himself up for a shot against the winner of Michael Bisping vs. Jason "Mayhem" Miller, which goes down in December.

That fight will determine the next opponent for the UFC middleweight championship.