Biggest Winner: Arman Tsarukyan
If Dana White needed further convincing that Tsarukyan was the rightful person to challenge for Ilia Topuria’s Lightweight title next, he got it after the Georgian submitted Hooker. With the win, Tsarukyan earned his fifth straight, preserving his No. 1 spot in the crowded 155-pound division. Indeed, there is no one more deserving than Arman at 155 pounds, so there is no need to have him prove himself again. We know White can be petty, but enough is enough. Tsarukyan has done the work to get the chance to be “El Matador’s” first title defense.
Runner Up: Waldo Cortes-Acosta
Just this month alone, Cortes-Acosta has secured back-to-back first round knockout wins. He stopped Ante Delija just 21 days ago (see it here), but his stoppage win over Shamil Gaziev looks even better on him because he took the fight on super duper short notice after Serghie Spivac bowed out of the event. He improved to 7-1 and will now likely move into the Top 5 after stepping up to fill the void and delivering in impressive fashion.
Honorable Mention: Ian Machado-Garry
The title picture at 170 pounds is very crowded and exciting at the moment, especially after last weekend’s UFC 322 event, which saw the crowning of a new champion in Islam Makhachev. At that event, two surging contenders also proved themselves in Carlos Prates (No. 5) and Michael Morales (No. 3). Now, Garry has thrown his name in the hat after defeating Muhammad, a former division champion (although it wasn’t all that exciting). With the win Garry has set himself to move into the Top 5, though, he will likely need one more victory to get his championship fight because this win itself won’t be enough.
Biggest Loser: Belal Muhammad
Muhammad was hoping to bounce back and erase the memory of Jack Della Maddalena taking his title away from him at UFC 315 earlier this year. Instead, “Remember The Name” delivered a second straight tepid performance that saw him drop another unanimous decision. Those hopes of getting back to a title fight have drifted further and further away, especially with the new blood coming in and making some noise (and this). It is going to be a long road back to the top for Muhammad, who is on his first-ever losing streak. Middleweight move, perhaps?