UFC 138 Results: Who's Next for Renan Barao After Crushing Brad Pickett's Face?

After an exciting battle that never left the first round, Renan Barao earned himself a win over a game Brad Pickett by way of rapid-fire striking, fast-acting boxing and a beautiful Muay Thai "Tiger Knee" to the chin of Pickett, all of which led to the display of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Pickett's demise, and now it's our turn here at Bleacher Report MMA to ask, "Who's next for Renan Barao?"

One would like to think that somehow the winner of UFC 139's Urijah Faber-Brian Bowles bout doesn't get their rematch with Dominick Cruz, but Barao's 2-0 in the UFC and while a title fight is starting to make sense, it's not going to realistically be the next fight for Barao, especially considering the promise made to the victor of the aforementioned UFC 139 bout.

So, if Cruz really is getting the winner of Faber vs. Bowles, where does that leave Barao?

He has more options than one thinks, actually.

Consult with Sherdog, and they'll say the winner of the Nick Pace-Miguel Torres fight at UFC 139 will be a good starting point, particularly if it is the former WEC bantamweight champion that prevails.

One could see the crafty submission specialist Pace getting it as a reward for beating Torres if the win comes convincingly, but Torres remains as one of the ultimate tests of a bantamweight's true stature, and with a win comes the problems that the lanky Torres always creates for opponents.

Also for matchmaker Joe Silva's consideration are Scott Jorgensen and Demetrious Johnson, both top-card wrestlers with punishing top games, quick footwork, speed and a direct offense.

They are products of two separate but very noted trainers, as Jorgensen is a Kit Cope protege and the AMC Pankration standout known as "Mighty Mouse" is a Matt Hume student.

Many fans dabbled with the prospect of Barao vs. Jorgensen online after the fights went on live in the UK, thinking the fight would excite crowds of all types. And considering how Jorgensen's time with Jeff Curran went last weekend at UFC 137, neither that concept nor the prospect of a Barao-Johnson fight would seem to disappoint anyone.

If neither Jorgensen nor Johnson, Torres or Pace should get Barao next, that would only leave Joseph Benavidez, the only UFC bantamweight to have his only career losses come to the same man.

Unquestionably the best bantamweight in the world besides the champ, as well as  one of the best flyweights in the UFC until John Dodson signs under the Zuffa banner, the Team Alpha Male speed-demon possesses one of the most frighteningly energizing offensive displays of striking, wrestling, "joe-jitsu" and ground-and-pound games to have ever been displayed at this level of competition. While Barao is a beast on the ground, Benavidez's "joe-jitsu" means Benavidez blitzes BJJ black belts for his breakfast.

Whether it's Jorgensen's ground and pound, Johnson's speed, Torres' all-around skill set and lanky frame, Pace's submission game, or Benavidez's hellish offense, Barao has challenges at his doorstep waiting for him before Barao even gets to Cruz.

It's a matter of "when" more than "if," when it comes to Barao's title shot, and with one more win over any one of these five bantamweights, it might be a question about "in which round" Barao will dethrone Cruz and not "if" Barao will dethrone Cruz.