UFC 332 was a standout event. Natalia Silva ascended to become the new women’s flyweight champion, Payton Talbott added another former titleholder to his resume, and Johnny Walker may have identified a lasting home at heavyweight. The card also delivered Roberto Soldić’s long-awaited UFC debut, alongside Roman Kopylov reinforcing the message that Ateba Gautier still has work to complete.
With the event concluded, the attention shifts to what comes next. Here are five bouts I would stage following UFC 332.
1. Natalia Silva vs. Valentina Shevchenko
Natalia Silva has taken control of the women’s flyweight division, and her initial title defense should target the athlete who held the belt in the Octagon for years. If Valentina Shevchenko is sufficiently healed to return, this is the fight to make.
Shevchenko was compelled to relinquish the title due to injury, yet she remains one of the most accomplished competitors the division has ever produced. Silva earned her opportunity after compiling a 15-fight winning streak, but defeating a former champion like Shevchenko remains the definitive method to solidify her reign.
That said, the UFC should not expedite Shevchenko’s return before she is fully ready. Once she receives clearance to compete, however, there is little justification for overcomplicating the matchmaking. Silva gains a platform to validate her status, while Shevchenko receives a chance to reclaim the title she never lost in the ring.
2. Payton Talbott vs. Sean O’Malley
Talbott made a definitive statement against Deiveson Figueiredo, defeating the former flyweight champion in the first round and issuing a challenge to Sean O’Malley afterward. At this juncture, it is unclear what else he needs to accomplish to secure a major bout.
O’Malley has acknowledged the callout, though he noted that his next move relies on the outcome of the upcoming bantamweight title contest between Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili. If Yan prevails, O’Malley seeks another championship opportunity. If Dvalishvili wins, a fight with Talbott becomes considerably more plausible.
I understand O’Malley’s position; he has earned the right to pursue another title shot. However, Talbott is one of the division’s most electrifying young fighters, and he has now defeated Henry Cejudo and Figueiredo in consecutive appearances. A matchup with O’Malley would represent a significant elevation and an opportunity to prove he is prepared to compete with the elite. Should the championship picture not align for O’Malley, this is the bout to pursue.
3. Esteban Ribovics vs. Benoît Saint Denis
Ribovics secured a significant victory over King Green, finishing the veteran in the opening round and adding another highlight to an already entertaining UFC tenure. Now, the question is how he handles an opponent capable of matching his aggression.
That opponent is Benoît Saint Denis.
The Frenchman consistently seeks to turn a fight into a war, and Ribovics is not the type to shy away from one. With neither fighter requiring much persuasion to exchange strikes, selling this matchup presents little difficulty.
Saint Denis has faced stiffer competition, which raises the question of whether Ribovics is ready for that level. That uncertainty is precisely why I am drawn to this pairing. Ribovics deserves a challenge after defeating Green, and Saint Denis offers him a chance to demonstrate whether he belongs in the conversation among the division’s more dangerous contenders. This one could become brutal in the most desirable way.
4. Roberto Soldić vs. Geoff Neal
It required patience to bring Roberto Soldić into the UFC, but his debut against Khaos Williams demonstrated why the promotion wanted him signed. After shaking off some early jitters, Soldić took control of the fight, integrated his grappling, and earned a unanimous decision.
That was a strong first outing, but the next step should be against a more established welterweight. Geoff Neal feels like the appropriate test.
Neal has operated within the division’s upper tier for years and has shared the cage with serious competition. He is also a dangerous striker who would force Soldić to be sharp from the opening bell. Soldić has built his reputation on finishing opponents, but the Williams fight proved he can win when things do not unfold exactly as planned.
Neal would reveal considerably more about where Soldić fits within the UFC’s welterweight landscape. If Soldić can prevail against an opponent with that level of experience, the discourse surrounding his potential becomes far more interesting.
5. Johnny Walker vs. Marcin Tybura
Johnny Walker’s heavyweight debut could not have concluded more favorably. After struggling to find consistency at light heavyweight, Walker moved up and knocked out Mick Parkin with a knee strike in the first round. It was the type of performance that raises the question of whether he should have relocated divisions sooner.
Walker has always possessed the physical tools and explosive power to create drama. The issue at 205 pounds was putting everything together consistently. Fighting at heavyweight may offer slightly more room to operate without the same punishing weight cut, but one win does not immediately elevate him to contender status.
This is why Marcin Tybura makes sense. He is an experienced heavyweight capable of providing a genuine test without immediately throwing Walker into a matchup with one of the division’s top names. Tybura’s durability and experience would clarify whether Walker’s heavyweight success is something he can build upon.
Walker has already indicated interest in returning quickly and facing Tybura next. Sometimes, matchmaking is simply that straightforward. Give him the fight, let him build momentum, and see where this new chapter takes him.
