UFC 305's main card produced some spectacular winners, and by extension, some bitter losers. Rebounding from losses like the ones we saw on this main card is never an easy task, but there's a path back to contention for nearly every single one of Saturday's defeated fighters.
(2) Israel Adesanya: Jiri Prochazka, first pay-per-view of 2025
How the mighty have fallen. Adesanya is now 1-3 in his last four fights, losing two by finish and one by utter domination. Despite how bad that looks on paper, Stylebender has been highly competitive in all but one of his losses, including Saturday's defeat. He clearly still has plenty left in the tank, but the middleweight division is bereft of reasonable next matchups. Jiri Prochazka has been contemplating a move down to 185, and a huge matchup with Izzy might be enough to lure him in. Former champion would face former champion in one of the most interesting stylistic matchups in recent memory, and the winner gets right back into immediate contention. Something to note is that the matchup between Khamzat Chimaev and Robert Whittaker scheduled for October will almost certainly need a backup fighter. If Adesanya is ready and willing to take a huge risk for a huge reward, stepping in on any short-notice booking and winning would do wonders for his stock.
(7) Steve Erceg: (9) Manel Kape, UFC 310
Mixed martial arts is a fast-moving sport, something that Erceg can now testify to firsthand. He's gone from narrowly dropping a title fight to being finished in the first round, creating the first losing streak of Erceg's career. Defeat, especially in the form that Erceg experienced Saturday is tough to swallow, but there shouldn't be a shred of panic from him. Astroboy is still 29, and he very clearly has the skills to hang around with the best flyweights in the world. A matchup with fellow kickboxer Manel Kape checks every box Erceg should be looking for; a highly-ranked opponent, a good stylistic matchup, and a guy who can successfully play the heel on a big stage. Book it as the featured prelim on UFC 310 and give both fighters a chance to turn things around.
(5) Mateusz Gamrot: Winner of Renato Moicano vs. Benoit St. Denis, UFC Fight Night in December
With the news of a likely interim lightweight title fight later this year, a victory against Dan Hooker would've almost guaranteed Gamrot a shot at temporary gold. We know that things didn't play out that way, forcing Gamrot back onto the contender circuit to build back a winning streak. Most of the top of the division is already earmarked for specific fights, making it likely that Gamrot looks further down the rankings than he would like. The winner of the Paris main event will need a top-ten opponent, and without any other real options, the UFC will probably look to Gamrot or Beneil Dariush. Gamrot has always been the more active of the two, making him a solid fit to try and rebound against Moicano or St. Denis.
(10) Tai Tuivasa: Shamil Gaziev, UFC Fight Night in December
It's time to finally read the writing on the wall. Tuivasa has lost five straight, four of which came inside the distance. Cutting him is a legitimate option for the UFC, but putting his ranking on the line against an up-and-coming heavyweight that the promotion has been trying to push makes more sense. This fight would be a massive opportunity for both men. Gaziev could earn a spot in the top 15 for the first time in his career, and Tuivasa could get back in the win column against a fairly well-respected name and prove he still has what it takes to compete in the upper echelon of the division.
Li Jingliang: Nicolas Dalby, first quarter of 2025
Jingliang's long-anticipated return to the UFC was spoiled in a big way. A thudding knockout at the hands of Carlos Prates welcomed the Leech back to competition, a painful reminder that the welterweight division didn't wait around for him in his absence. Jingliang was on the brink of the rankings before his spinal injury, so it makes sense to put him up against another veteran in a similar situation. Nicolas Dalby is looking to get back in the win column and campaign for a ranked opponent once more after a loss to Rinat Fakhretdinov. Book this for early 2025 and let the winner reestablish themselves in a crowded welterweight top 25.
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