Matches to Make After UFC Vegas 108

The Ultimate Fighting Championship made its return to Las Vegas after a month away with a 12-fight card from the UFC Apex. The UFC Vegas 108 main event featured a clash between flyweight contenders Tatsuro Taira and Hyun Sung Park. Also featuring intriguing fights in the lightweight, welterweight and women’s bantamweight divisions, the results will have plenty of impact on the UFC’s schedule for the rest of the year

Here are matches to make for the main winners of UFC Vegas 108.

Tatsuro Taira vs. Kai Kara-France

Taira (17-1) showed Park (10-1) that there are levels to this sport by handing the flyweight prospect his first career defeat via face crank. Taira looked good in his first fight since losing his own undefeated record to Brandon Royval and is now once-again in title contention in the flyweight division, especially since he hasn't fought Alexandre Pantoja yet. Up next should be another contender for the Japanese flyweight, who is just 25. New Zealand's Kara-France makes sense as "Don't Blink" is coming off a loss to Pantoja, so he isn't currently in the title picture but has proven himself a top-level fighter. Taira would be in a great spot with a victory and can continue growing as a mixed martial artist.

Chris Duncan vs. Renato “Money” Moicano

Duncan and Mateusz Rebecki put on a fight of the year contender as the two lightweights went all-out for three rounds. Ultimately, Duncan (14-2) got his hand raised and “The Problem” should be rewarded for showing that he’s willing to put everything on the line. The Scottish fighter deserves an opponent with name value, and I’d think “Money Moicano” would fit that bill well: he is a fan-favorite that also puts on entertaining scraps, but losses to Islam Makhachev and Beneil Dariush show that the 36-year-old isn’t a top contender. That’s why the best use of Carneiro (20-7-1) is to elevate another entertaining lightweight that will be entertaining fans for years to come no matter the result.

Esteban Ribovics vs. Manuel Torres

Ribovics lived up to his reputation as an action fighter as he took a decision over Elves Brener after 15 intense minutes. Now 4-1 in his last five fights, Ribovics (15-2) deserves a step up. Hopefully, "El Gringo" will go up against Torres next. Torres (16-3) is coming off a knockout of Drew Dober and it’d be guaranteed fireworks from "El Loco." This is one of the most fun and relevant fights to make in the lightweight division.

Karol Rosa vs. Julianna Pena

After a slow start, Rosa dominated Nora Cornolle on the ground en route to a unanimous decision victory. Now 19-7 as a pro, Rosa has won two of her last three and deserves a step up. Just 30, I’d like to see her serve as a bounce back opponent for former champ Pena. “The Venezuelan Vixen” is coming off a one-sided defeat to Kayla Harrison, so she needs to rebuild if she wants another shot at the belt she’s held twice. Rosa fits the bill nicely as she’s not a top contender that Pena (11-6) would derail but is a legitimate name that would show that the American still has some fight left in her at 35.

Neil Magny vs. Jake Matthews

Magny bounced back from two straight defeats by pounding out a hurt Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos. Now 2-2 in his last four fights, Magny (30-13) is one of the most reliable veterans in the welterweight division. The “Haitian Sensation” is a valued gatekeeper at this stage of his career, so a fight against Matthews next would make sense. Matthews (22-7) is riding a three-fight win streak but hasn't fought as tough a vet as Magny. It'd not only be a great test for the 30-year-old "Celtic Kid" but a fun fight as well.