2017 is starting off with some much needed divisional sorting. A new heavyweight contender is on the rise, as well as some clarity in the women’s bantamweight title picture and some changing of the guard as gifted young fighters make their mark. UFC on FOX 23 had it’s highs and lows, but eventually delivered a lot of narrative for fans looking down the road at fights to come.

How quickly can Francis Ngannou contend? Does Shevchenko/Nunes 2 really make sense? Does featherweight have another star on the rise?

Joining me to answer a few of these questions this week is another BE reader: Dylan. He and I will be making picks for all the notable fighters from UFC on FOX 23, and I’ll be using the Silva/Maynard model of winner vs. winner, loser vs. loser, similarly tenured fighters against one another. If you want to join in for next week, start a comment below with “If you have to check a charley horse to the thigh, you don’t belong in the cage.” I’ll pick one winner from the comment section for this article. Now on to the match-ups!

VALENTINA SHEVCHENKO:

Dylan - This one's easy; Shevchenko vs. Nunes II. Book it.

Zane - The setup here is clear, but just for a moment, I’m going to pretend it isn’t. Mostly because, for a division that has played host to some of the UFC’s most marquee recent title fights, Nunes vs. Shevchenko II just has no pop to it. If the UFC decides to go with Nunes vs. the Holm/de Randamie winner, then I’d book Shevchenko against the Carmouche/McMann winner. Both women still have a name and would help Shevchenko continue building momentum for a bigger fight if she kept winning. Just in case the UFC decides to go for the “superfight” instead.

JULIANNA PENA:

Dylan - This one is tough. Pena should be in a position to face another top 5 bantamweight, but at this point there are no openings. There is one, and that is Ronda Rousey. I say this fight could work. It is something different for both fighters. If Pena wins, it would keep her in a good position and for Rousey, it's a chance to get back to where she was before Holm. Both coming off of a big loss and need to gain some momentum.

Zane - I love the idea of Rousey vs. Pena, but i’m not about to bet on Rousey making a comeback anytime soon (if ever). Instead, I think there’s still a great fight right there waiting for Julianna Pena, and that’s Alexis Davis. Davis returned from the birth of her child for a competitive loss to Sara McMann, and showed she’s a vet who still has something to offer the division. She also has a long history of being tricky for over-aggressive fighters who don’t respect her game. Pena vs. Davis would be a great fight to re-build the momentum of either fighter quickly.

JORGE MASVIDAL:

Dylan - What a massive win for "Gamebred" as he impressed many people who underestimated him. Masvidal's striking was great against Cerrone and he looked really good. I believe that the fight should have been stopped at the end of the first but he pulled out the victory. I think Masvidal should get another top 10 welterweight so I give him Dong Hyun Kim. Two guys coming off a win trying to gain major momentum in the stacked welterweight division.

Zane - My initially idea of Masvidal vs. Lawler was rebuffed by a sharp reminder that Lawler and Masvidal are BFFs from their ATT days (even if Lawler is no longer there). So in the mean time, the UFC has to figure out what to do with a hard charging Masvidal looking for another big fight (and probably soon). A bout against Demian Maia would be excellent if Maia is willing to take a chance on losing his shot at title contention. If Maia isn’t however, then I’ll say he should fight Neil Magny, especially since Magny’s also a dude who will fight whoever, whenever.

DONALD CERRONE:

Dylan - Crushing loss for Cerrone in his hometown of Denver. Four fight winning streak snapped but we all know he'll be back soon and with fire in his eyes. I know the perfect fight for Donald that has main event written all over it. That is a showdown with Carlos Condit. What a fun fight that would be. This all depends on Carlos returning or not and if he doesn't, a matchup with Tarec Saffiedine could work.

Zane - As cool as a Condit/Cerrone fight would be, I’m not sure I see the two JacksonWink fighters facing off against one another. Like the Lawler/Masvidal idea above, teams have a way of wrecking cool match-ups. Instead, I think it’s time for Donald Cerrone vs. Robbie Lawler. No team problems, never fought before and should be an insanely awesome matchup. Let’s make Lawler/Cerrone happen ASAP.

FRANCIS NGANNOU:

Dylan - Francis Ngannou is an absolute monster. He has emerged as the best heavyweight prospect in a very long time. A win over Arlovski who is a big step-up from his previous competition and the way he did it is incredible. His next fight for me is clear and will put him higher up in the rankings if he wins. That fight is the winner of Travis Browne/Derrick Lewis happening at UFC Fight Night 105. Imagine a matchup with the "Black Beast".

Zane - Yeah, I’m totally behind Ngannou getting the Browne/Lewis winner. And I’d also really love to see him face Ben Rothwell whenever Rothwell is ready to come back. Since he’ll have to be waiting either way though, I think the Browne/Lewis fight makes the most sense for Ngannou to look at next. Francis Ngannou vs. the winner of Browne/Lewis is the fight to make.

SAM ALVEY:

Dylan - That was a lackluster fight with not a lot of action. Alvey has now won five straight in the middlewight division but after this less than inspiring performance, I'm hesitant to give him someone in the top 15 due to this. Uriah Hall is a possibility at this point and Alvey called out Jack Marshman post-fight. I'm going to give him the winner of Elias Theodorou/Cezar Ferreira though. It could propel the victor into the top 15.

Zane - Alvey has put himself on a hell of a tear, even if he’s not always racking up the most impressive wins. Going 7-3 at middleweight is no small feat and has him bordering on a spot in the rankings. He called out Jack Marshman, but Marshman is booked and wouldn’t make much sense anyway. Instead, I’d be happy seeing Alvey take on Krzysztof Jotko, or if he can’t get a ranked opponent, then Anthony Smith coming off his big win over Elvis Mutapcic.

RAPHAEL ASSUNCAO:

Dylan - Really close fight by the two. Assuncao is finally back on track after losing to Dillashaw. There are a few decent options for Assuncao at this point. There could be a Lineker fight looming, however Lineker just lost. You could also put him into a fight with Dom for the #1 contendership (after Dillashaw fights Garbrandt). I'm going to say Jimmie Rivera as it is a good fight on paper and a win for either guy would mean a lot.

Zane - Rivera is a strong choice to face Assuncao right now, but I kinda feel like Assuncao deserves some reward for being the top 5 guy that can’t buy a title shot. Mind, I’m not saying he needs to get a title shot, but I love the idea of him fighting Dominic Cruz. It’d be a high profile fight for Assuncao, and a good bounce back fight for Cruz. So, lets’ book Assuncao/Cruz and give Assuncao the closest thing to a shot at the belt.

ALJAMAIN STERLING:

Dylan - Well, Sterling has hit a slump. Two straight losses for the young gun. He put up a close fight against Assuncao but the volume wasn't there. He needs to work on his striking and throw some more. Another guy who coming off a loss but is still top 10 talent is Michael McDonald. This is the fight to make right now. It will give both guys a chance to prove they should be in the top of the division.

Zane - McDonald would be a great fight for a lot of guys, unfortunately his recent quotes about taking a hiatus until he can afford to train again does not bode well for him taking a fight anytime soon. It’s a bit of a weird winner/loser matchup, but I think the UFC should book Sterling against Pedro Munhoz. Both guys are slick grapplers who have had trouble developing a dangerous striking game. A fight between them would be a chance for a fun grappling battle or for one of them to show real improvement on the feet. The other option might be Tim Elliott, now that Elliott’s up at 135.

OTHER BOUTS: Knight vs. Ortega, Caceres vs. Blanco, Marquardt vs. Evans, Li vs. A. Garcia, Nash vs. B. Camozzi, Johnson vs. Antigulov, da Silva vs. Cutelaba, Spicely vs. Dongi, Di Chirico vs. Gigliotti, de Lima vs. Bosse, Kimball vs. Safarov, Pantoja vs. Sandoval, Shelton vs. Lausa, Gonzalez vs. Volkanovski, Cottrell vs. Kasuya