With another night of action in the rearview mirror at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, it’s time to look forward, put on a pair of Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard’s shoes, and play UFC matchmaker for UFC Fight Night 184‘s key winning and losing fighters outside the main event.

Cory Sandhagen

Aljamain Sterling vs. Cory Sandhagen

Should fight: Winner of Petr Yan vs. Aljamain Sterling at UFC 259
Why they should fight: I mean, come on? Does this one really need much of an explanation? Cory Sandhagen has made about as good of a case for a bantamweight title shot as you can possible ask for his in past two fights, with his killer knockout of Frankie Edgar being his crowning achievement.

Listen to Sandhagen’s (14-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC) argument below from the post-fight press conference, where he perfectly brushes off the notion he should fight T.J. Dillashaw next instead of waiting to see what happens in the UFC 259 title fight between Yan and Sterling on March 6 (via Twitter):

Where is the gap in logic here? I don’t see one. Unless something freaky happens in Yan (15-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) vs. Sterling (19-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC), such as a draw, an utterly astonishing judging robbery, some sort of bizarre referee blunder or injury finish that demands an immediate rematch, Sandhagen should be the guy to slide in to fight the winner for the 135-pound belt.

Yeah, the likes of Dillashaw, Cody Garbrandt and Jose Aldo might be more marketable, but none of them have the worth of Sandhagen at this point, even when taking his quick loss to Sterling at UFC 250 in June into account.

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Frankie Edgar

Dominick Cruz

Should fight: Dominick Cruz
Why they should fight: Many have already made the case as to why Frankie Edgar’s shocking and brutal knockout loss to Sandhagen should lead him down the path to retirement. I don’t necessarily disagree, but knowing Edgar and having seen him since Day 1 of joining the UFC, there’s a strong feeling in my gut that he’s not going to go out like that.

Something tells me that, even if Edgar resigns himself to the reality that reclaiming a UFC title is nearly non-existent at this point, he’s not going to accept the final image of his storied career being put on the wrong end of an all-time highlight-reel finish.

If I’m safe in that assumption, Edgar needs to fight someone in a similar position to him in their career, and that man is former UFC and WEC champ Cruz (22-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC).

Yes, I know Cruz is scheduled to fight Casey Kenney at UFC 259 on March 6. He must take care of that business first, but win or lose, he should be matched up against Edgar next.

This has been a dream fight of mine and many others since both men were at their highest highs in the sport as UFC champions. It’s a fight that’s made sense since the day Edgar announced his drop to bantamweight, and hopefully it can happen before it slips away forever.

Clay Guida

Nasrat Haqparast

Should fight: Nasrat Haqparast
Why they should fight: Clay Guida wants to be matched up against a younger, lesser-known face in the UFC lightweight division after outworking fellow veteran Michael Johnson to a unanimous decision? Sean Shelby will definitely make good on that one for you, brother.

It’s not often a fighter in Guida’s position is calling to essentially allow himself to be positioned as a stepping stone. “The Carpenter” is a unique one, though, and although it doesn’t seem like his intention is to be put in a spot where someone can use him as a name to build off, that’s what the sport requires to develop new names and give recognition for the next generation.

Guida might be biting off a little more than he can chew, however, because there is some serious, serious talent on the come-up at 155 pounds, and he ought to be careful what he wishes for.

Haqparast (12-3 MMA, 4-2 UFC) has been in the UFC for almost three years to this point, but his experience and exposure is still limited. The 25-year-old from Afghanistan is a hard hitter, though, and would certainly chomp at the bit to give Guida exactly what he desires.

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Beneil Dariush

Dan Hooker

Should fight: Dan Hooker
Why they should fight: Following a second win over Diego Ferreira in their “Fight of the Night” battle, Beneil Dariush made a very reasonable argument as to why he deserves a top-ranked name in the lightweight division. And to be honest, it’s hard to poke any holes in his case.

Dariush has now won six consecutive fights in arguably the most difficult weight class in the sport, and that warrants an opportunity for him to take a jump forward. There’s been several others throughout the course of history who have had to endure a similar road at 155 pounds, from Tony Ferguson to Charles Olivera, and eventually they got their shot to prove themselves through a marquee matchup.

Now it’s Dariush’s turn, and although he might not get the top three or five fight he most desires, a window exists for him through a matchup against Hooker (20-10 MMA, 10-6 UFC).

Hooker is coming off a tough pair of losses to Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler, but he’s still a highly regarded fighter who would represent upward movement for Dariush. Hooker has shown his willingness to take on all comers during his career, and there’s big upside to him stealing the momentum and hard work Dariush has built for himself though the winning streak. Make it happen.

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