(ALSO SEE: Joe Silva’s Shoes: What’s next for UFC 187’s losers?)

UFC 187 was arguably the biggest event the organization has put together so far this year, and it delivered in a big way.

Daniel Cormier (16-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) filled the championship void left in the light-heavyweight division when Jon Jones was stripped of the belt. Cormier won the vacant 205-pound title while facing a dangerous opponent in Anthony Johnson (19-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC) in the pay-per-view headliner.

The co-main event at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena saw Chris Weidman (13-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) swarm Vitor Belfort (24-11 MMA, 13-7 UFC) for a first-round TKO to defend his UFC middleweight title for the third time.

Rounding out the main card were solid winning performances by Donald Cerrone (28-6 MMA, 15-3 UFC), Andrei Arlovski (24-10 MMA, 13-4 UFC) and Joseph Benavidez (22-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC).

After every event, fans wonder whom the winners will be matched up with next. And with another night of UFC action in the rearview mirror, it’s time to look forward, put on a pair of Joe Silva and Sean Shelby’s shoes, and play UFC matchmaker for the main-card winners.

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Joseph Benavidez

Should fight: Kyoji Horiguchi

Why they should fight: Benavidez again proved he’s on a different level than every flyweight not named Demetrious Johnson when he outworked durable contender John Moraga for a unanimous-decision victory.

Benavidez is clearly a top contender in the flyweight division, but his two losses to Johnson keep him in a complicated position, which he expressed at the post-event press conference.

Benavidez’s best path forward is to continue winning against the division’s best and either leave the UFC brass with no choice but to give him another title shot or hope Johnson is defeated by someone else in the interim.

One top 125-pound fighter Benavidez has yet to cross paths with is Horiguchi (15-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC). The Japanese fighter recently came off a title loss of his own to “Mighty Mouse” and wants to chase another title shot. A win over Benavidez would put him in position to do so.

Andrei Arlovski

Should fight: Winner of Cain Velasquez vs. Fabricio Werdum at UFC 188

Why they should fight: A few years ago the idea of Arlovski again fighting for the UFC heavyweight title would have arguably been a laughable proposition. Now it’s a reality.

Arlovski’s resurgence since he returned to the UFC a year ago has been incredible. The organization received some criticism for bringing back “The Pitbull” due to a stretch of fights outside the UFC in which he was knocked out several times.

But he’s looked like a different man since he came back to the octagon, and his thrilling first-round knockout of Travis Browne proved he’s once again a contender in the division.

Arlovski entered the fight with a significant leg injury and was on the verge of withdrawing on fight day. He pushed through the pain, though, and it paid off with one of the biggest victories of his career.

The 36-year-old has the name and resume to challenge the winner of next month’s UFC 188 title-unification bout between champ Velasquez (13-1 MMA, 11-1 UFC) and interim titleholder Werdum (19-5-1 MMA, 7-2 UFC).

Donald Cerrone

Should fight: Rafael dos Anjos

Why they should fight: No fighter in UFC history has won eight consecutive fights and not received a title shot. Cerrone’s win over John Makdessi marked his eighth in a row, and there’s no reason why past trends should stop now.

With Khabib Nurmagomedov sidelined due to injury, no fighter in the lightweight division is more deserving of a crack at UFC gold than “Cowboy.”

Cerrone has fought and defeated every fighter placed before him since August 2013, and it’s time for the fan favorite to get his opportunity.

The man who currently holds the title is the one who handed Cerrone that 2013 defeat. Dos Anjos (24-7 MMA, 13-5 UFC) won a clear unanimous decision over Cerrone at UFC Fight Night 27, but both fighters have since evolved.

UFC President Dana White confirmed after the event that Cerrone is next in line for dos Anjos.

Chris Weidman

Should fight: Luke Rockhold

Why they should fight: For some reason UFC officials are unwilling to confirm Rockhold (14-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) as the No. 1 contender to Weidman’s belt. If there’s any justice in the world, though, the former Strikeforce champ will get the opportunity to add some UFC hardware to his belt collection.

Since he dropped his UFC debut, Rockhold has been a force in the middleweight division. He’s stopped elite competition in one-sided fashion and looks more impressive with each performance. His well-rounded skillset is somewhat comparable to Weidman’s, and the two fighters match up in the best of ways.

Rockhold’s worthiness as a title contender is undeniable. The real questions are when and where his title fight will take place. Weidman wants to wait until December to fight again in hopes MMA will legalized in his home state of New York. Rockhold said he’d like to fight much sooner.

Both men have tremendous momentum after their most recent wins, and it’d be a shame to see it killed because of the lengthy break between fights. Regardless, Weidman vs. Rockhold is one of the best fights the UFC can make at this time between two high-level athletes.

Daniel Cormier

Should fight: Ryan Bader

Why they should fight: The future of Cormier’s UFC title reign hinges on when former champ Jon Jones’ suspension is lifted and if he’s prepared to make his return to the octagon. If that happens soon, he’s clearly the man Cormier should fight next. If not, Bader (19-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) should challenge Cormier in his first light-heavyweight title defense after “DC” won the vacant belt with a third-round submission of Johnson.

Cormier and Bader already have a history, and it’s not a pleasant one. They’ve been scheduled to fight twice in the past, but circumstances have prevented the matchup from coming to fruition.

The two fighters had a confrontation at UFC 187’s post-fight press conference that provided all the ammunition the UFC needs to promote the fight. Bader might not be perceived as the biggest threat to Cormier’s title, but with four consecutive wins against respectable competition, he’s earned a crack at the belt.

For more on UFC 187, check out the UFC Events section of the site.