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

Defeats are rarely easy for fighters to accept. For UFC 187’s losing competitors, however, they can take solace in the fact they helped provide an entertaining pay-per-view event on Saturday at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Anthony Johnson (19-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC) nearly knocked out Daniel Cormier (16-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) in the first round to win the vacant UFC light-heavyweight championship, but he was unable to finish the fight and allowed “DC” to rally for a third-round submission victory.

Vitor Belfort (24-11 MMA, 13-7 UFC), John Makdessi (13-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC), Travis Browne (17-3-1 MMA, 8-3-1 UFC) and John Moraga (16-4 MMA, 5-3 UFC) also had moments of success before their respective opponents left the octagon with a victory.

After every event, fans wonder whom the losing fighters 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.

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John Moraga

Should fight: Zach Makovsky

Why they should fight: Moraga and Makovsky (19-6 MMA, 3-2 UFC) were both on the losing end of fights against top flyweight contenders, Joseph Benavidez and John Dodson respectively, at UFC 187. However, both performed at a higher level and more competitively than many expected.

Moraga engaged in a wild slugfest with Benavidez and lost a unanimous decision while Makovsky narrowly lost on the scorecards against Dodson.

Both men have fought a number of elite fighters at 125 pounds. However, they have yet to cross paths with each other. Now’s the time.

Travis Browne

Should fight: Mark Hunt

Why they should fight: Browne’s wild knockout loss to Andrei Arlovski marked a setback in his quest to become UFC heavyweight champion. Fortunately for him, his weight class is arguably the thinnest in the UFC, and it won’t take much to reassert himself as someone who could challenge for the title.

Hunt is eager to do the same after his beatdown at the hands of Stipe Miocic earlier this month. A fight with Browne is a compelling matchup.

Browne and Hunt both absorbed an unhealthy amount of damage in their recent losses. It’d be best for both to take a lengthy hiatus from competition before coming back.

The UFC’s planned pay-per-view event in Australia in November would be a reasonable time for Browne and Hunt to recover.

John Makdessi

Should fight: Paul Felder

Why they should fight: A matchup between Makdessi and Felder (10-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) was suggested following Makdessi’s knockout of Shane Campbell at UFC 186 this past month. Despite “The Bull” taking a short-notice loss to Donald Cerrone, it’s still a matchup that works.

It’s simply the best use of Makdessi’s talents to match him against fellow strikers, and the deep UFC lightweight division has plenty.

Felder is an up-and-comer at 155 pounds and would almost surely stand and trade with Makdessi. Moreover, Felder and Makdessi are two of three fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout victory from a spinning backfist. Let them sling more spinning leather at each other.

Vitor Belfort

Should fight: Tim Kennedy

Why they should fight: Belfort’s answer about his future was loaded with uncertainty. It wouldn’t come as a shock if the 38-year-old decided his title loss to champ Chris Weidman marked the end of his nearly 20-year MMA journey.

If Belfort does want to continue, though, it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly who his next opponent should be. Anyone in the top-five might be a little much for the vet at this stage of his career.

Kennedy sits outside the top five but is still recognizable enough as a name to validate a fight with someone like Belfort. Moreover, Kennedy has been very outspoken about performance-enhancing drugs and testosterone-replacement therapy in MMA, and Belfort’s name is notoriously attached to those issues.

If the fight were to come to fruition, the buildup and trash-talk might be more entertaining than anything that could happen inside the octagon. Kennedy has dabbled with the idea of retirement of late, but his competitive instincts would likely kick into high gear if offered a fight with “The Phenom.”

Anthony Johnson

Should fight: Jimi Manuwa

Why they should fight: Following his failed bid to capture the vacant 205-pound belt against Cormier, “Rumble” Johnson vowed his quest to become UFC champion isn’t over.

Similar to what was previously mentioned with Browne and the heavyweight division, the thin nature of the light-heavyweight class means Johnson is in striking distance of another title shot if given the correct opponents.

Manuwa (15-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) is a fighter trying to break through into title contention in his own career, and it never hurts to make that leap against a fighter who’s coming off a title loss. He’s current sidelined with a knee injury, but Johnson would make a good opponent for his return.

“Poster Boy,” like Johnson, is a dangerous striker with massive knockout capability. He likes to stand and trade, which is a key ingredient in bringing the best out of Johnson.

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