Dec 7, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, UNITED STATES; Ciryl Gane (red gloves) hugs Alexander Volkov (blues gloves) after their fight at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

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What Is Next For The UFC 321 Fighters?

Dec 7, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, UNITED STATES; Ciryl Gane (red gloves) hugs Alexander Volkov (blues gloves) after their fight at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Every UFC event creates winners, losers, and complicated situations that shape future matchmaking decisions. Some fighters earn clear paths toward title shots with dominant performances and spectacular finishes. Others find themselves stuck in limbo waiting for divisions to sort themselves out completely. UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi delivered one of the most unusual cards in recent memory. The main event ended in disaster while other fights created new champions and extended winning streaks. Now the matchmakers must figure out what comes next for everyone involved in the chaos.

The fallout from October 25th creates interesting scenarios across multiple weight classes moving into 2026. Champions need challengers, contenders need high level opponents, and rising prospects need ranked opponents to test their skills. Let’s break down the logical next steps for the fighters who made the biggest impacts.

What’s Next For Tom Aspinall And Ciryl Gane

Tom Aspinall faces the most pressure heading into his future despite retaining his heavyweight championship. Dana White confirmed an immediate rematch with Ciryl Gane will happen once Aspinall’s eye heals completely. That fight probably won’t occur until early 2026 given recovery time needed for the injury.

Yesterday's main event was over too soon…

When and where do you want to see @AspinallMMA vs @Ciryl_Gane fight for the heavyweight title next? #UFC321 pic.twitter.com/NqUXUmIS4W
— UFC (@ufc) October 26, 2025

Ciryl Gane enters the rematch with momentum despite the no contest ruling Saturday night in Abu Dhabi. He looked sharp early and was potentially winning the first round before the accidental eye poke. The French heavyweight has a real chance to capture undisputed gold if he replicates his performance.

What’s Next For Alexander Volkov After UFC 321?

Alexander Volkov becomes the odd man out despite earning a solid split decision over Jailton Almeida. Dana White stated Volkov isn’t the number one contender right now because of the main event disaster.

Huge win for @AlexDragoVolkov tonight 👏

He's leaving #UFC321 with a split decision victory! pic.twitter.com/2QCJtRrNMS
— UFC (@ufc) October 25, 2025

The Russian will likely need to wait or fight another time to maintain his position near the top. A fight against someone like Curtis Blaydes makes sense while waiting for clarity.

Who Can Be Mackenzie Dern’s Next Opponent?

Mackenzie Dern begins her reign as UFC strawweight champion with immediate challenges awaiting her arrival. Her unimpressive decision victory over Virna Jandiroba raised questions about her dominance at this level.

Her journey to the top has been a special one 👏

Last night @MackenzieDern became the strawweight champion of the world! #UFC321 pic.twitter.com/3G3Ll2Zj4Q
— UFC (@ufc) October 26, 2025

Top contenders like Tatiana Suarez, Yan Xiaonan, or Amanda Lemos will be circling for their title shots. Dern needs a statement defense to prove her championship material against elite competition consistently.

Will Umar Nurmagomedov Get Another Title Shot After Defeating Mario Bautista?

Umar Nurmagomedov bounced back impressively with his unanimous decision over Mario Bautista at UFC 321 successfully. He stated wanting to fight again in January or February 2026 to stay active and sharp. A matchup against Sean O’Malley, the loser of Merab Dvalishvili vs Petr Yan, or Marlon Vera makes sense. He needs one more win before earning another crack at the bantamweight title.

The Young Eagle is back 🇷🇺🦅@UNmgdv put on a clean performance yesterday at #UFC321!

Who do you want to see him face next? 👀 pic.twitter.com/bFxkS8AJVU
— UFC (@ufc) October 26, 2025

Mario Bautista suffered his first loss in a while but proved he belongs among the elite. His performance against Nurmagomedov showed technical skills and toughness that demand respect from everyone watching. A ranked opponent like Deiveson Figueiredo would be perfect for Bautista to rebuild momentum quickly.

Rising Stars Make Their Mark – Azamat Murzakanov, Quillan Salkilld And Valter Walker

Azamat Murzakanov remained undefeated at 16-0 with his devastating knockout of Aleksandar Rakic in round one. The Russian called for a number one contender fight and has earned that opportunity clearly. A matchup against Johnny Walker, or Jamahal Hill would test his championship credentials. Murzakanov represents the next generation of light heavyweights knocking on the door of title contention.

STILL UNDEFEATED 😮‍💨

Azamat Murzakanov gets the first round finish #UFC321! pic.twitter.com/MmXibfBwph
— UFC (@ufc) October 25, 2025

Quillan Salkilld (10-1) delivered a knockout of the year candidate with his head kick finish of Nasrat Haqparast. The Australian took the fight on short notice and earned a $50,000 bonus for his troubles. A ranked opponent like Mauricio Ruffy or Michael Chandler would be the logical next step for the rising prospect.

A couple crazy finishes tonight 😮‍💨

Quillan Salkilld & Valter Walker take home a #UFC321 POTN bonus!

[ B2YB @PrimeHydrate ] pic.twitter.com/2TX4RlmYrI
— UFC (@ufc) October 25, 2025

Valter Walker continued his incredible heel hook finishing streak with another first-round submission victory over Louie Sutherland. That’s four straight UFC wins, all by first-round heel hook, which is absolutely remarkable consistency. Walker deserves a step up in competition against a ranked lightweight to test his grappling against elite opponents. He called out Hamdy Abdelwahab after the fight. But in all honesty, he deserves a better skill heavyweight in the roster like Tallison Teixeira or Marcin Tybura.

(Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie – Imagn Images)

Alexander Volkov

Azamat Murzakanov

Ciryl Gane

Mackenzie Dern

Mario Bautista

Quillan Salkilld

Tom Aspinall

UFC 321

Umar Nurmagomedov

Valter Walker

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!