Sunday Column: Here's What Should Happen Next In The UFC's Lightweight Division...

Sean Shelby and Nick Maynard have got quite the job on their hands sorting the next few months for the UFC lightweight division.

After a crazy few weeks where we believed it would end with us having some clarity as to who the movers and shakers are at 155-pounds, we’ve ultimately ended up with any even more confusing title picture.

Here’s how I think it should play out…

What next for Khabib Nurmagomedov?

Khabib Nurmagomedov is currently the man holding the strap and is the official UFC lightweight champion; the rest is where it gets a little complicated.

There are no shortage of no. 1 contenders with the likes of Dustin Poirier, Eddie Alvarez and Kevin Lee coming off big wins. Throw in the fact that both Conor McGregor and Tony Ferguson have been stripped of titles in recent weeks and the waters get even muddier.

From a business perspective at least, the fight to make for Nurmagomedov is McGregor. Morals, ethics, legal issues and everything else to one side, the fact of the matter is, it would be the biggest fight in UFC history and would likely create ripples outside of the usual MMA given the national press #McGregorBusGate received last month.

It’s too big not to make and whether you like it or not, it’s gonna happen.

Eddie Alvarez, Dustin Poirier and Kevin Lee

So what do you do with the Poirier, Lee and Alvarez triangle?

You can match up the three any way you like and you have a great fight. The most likely scenario right now and perhaps the one that makes most sense is to match Poirier with Lee, and to let Alvarez play a sweeper role and by staying on the sidelines ready for any injuries or fight cancellations. At 34, Alvarez shouldn’t be needing to take fights for the sake of it and he could almost fit in anywhere with the suggested fights being laid out here.

Two other fighters who need to be benched for the minute are Edson Barboza and Justin Gaethje. These guys have been on the end of some serious punishment of late and they’ve done it all in the name of blood, sweat and violence for the fans. I’d have zero problem with them hitting the beach and putting their feet up until 2019.

How about a Dec. 30 Gaethje vs Barboza showdown in Vegas to cap off the year? Hold my beer whilst I go fetch the contracts.

The rest…

So what do we have left? There seems to be no reason why we shouldn’t get Anthony Pettis vs. Michael Chiesa rebooked, whilst Dan Hooker last night appeared to talk himself into a showdown with Paul Felder in what turned out to be an entertaining post-fight Octagon exchange of words.

In the top-15 that now leaves us with Al Iaquinta, Alexander Hernandez, Olivier Aubin-Mercier and James Vick. I’ve no idea if there’s any connection between Vick and Hernandez who both hail from Texas, but a Vick versus Aubin-Mercier showdown sounds like it could be fun.

Other periphery players include the likes of Joe Duffy, Beneil Dariush and Francisco Trinaldo could all have a say in the shakeout of the division in the next few weeks.

So this is how I’ve got it….

Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Conor McGregor
Dustin Poirier vs Kevin Lee
Anthony Pettis vs Michael Chiesa
Dan Hooker vs Paul Felder
James Vick vs Olivier Aubin-Mercier
Joe Duffy vs Alexander Hernandez
Beneil Dariush vs Francisco Trinaldo