Nick Baldwin

UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria promised to do something no one has: knock out former champ Max Holloway in the Octagon.

UFC 300 has come and gone, so it's time to wear our matchmaker hat.

UFC 300 featured some iconic performances from the likes of Alex Pereira and Max Holloway. Though none of what transpired in Las Vegas last weekend should be forgotten so soon, we're putting it in the rearview mirror for now and looking ahead to the next milestone event: UFC 400.Based on the current pay-per-view schedule, UFC 400 could take place in 2031. Almost all of today's stars - Conor McGregor, Jon Jones, and Israel Adesanya, among others - will be retired. But much of the newer generation will still be around.In fact, nine of the 26 fighters who competed at UFC 300 were already on the roster when UFC 200 happened in 2016. And 29 fighters who were ranked back then are still ranked now.Below, we take a crack at identifying a handful of fighters who could step into the Octagon at UFC 400.Ilia TopuriaStatus: Featherweight championCurrent age: 27Age during UFC 400: About 34Topuria's knockout victory over longtime champion Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February stamped him as the best featherweight in the world. At just 27 years old, Topuria is the present and future of the division. He's on track to becoming one of the biggest stars in MMA as a multicultural fighter with roots in Spain, Georgia, and Germany. Seven years is a long, long time to hold on to a UFC belt. The best-case scenario for Topuria's UFC 400 hopes is that he's at the tail end of his prime, a mainstream superstar, and a shoo-in for the headlining spot. Failing that, Topuria will very likely still be relevant when the next landmark event happens.Tom AspinallStatus: Interim heavyweight championCurrent age: 31Age during UFC 400: About 38 Chris Unger / UFC / GettyHistorically, heavyweights are competitive well into their late 30s. Two of the best heavyweights in the world - Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones - are 37 and 36, respectively. Daniel Cormier was 41 when he retired, and Cain Velasquez was 37. So it's only reasonable to think that Aspinall could very well still be at the top of his game by the time UFC 400 happens. Aspinall, like Topuria, is widely viewed as the present and future of his division. The Englishman will be around when many of today's heavyweight contenders are retired, which means there's a solid chance he'll be in the running to be part of the blockbuster event.Khamzat ChimaevStatus: No. 11-ranked middleweightCurrent age: 29Age during UFC 400: About 37Fans have had high expectations for Chimaev since he began his UFC run in historically dominant fashion. The Russian's momentum has hit somewhat of a snag thanks to inactivity over the past two years, but when he does step into the Octagon, it's almost always impressive. His performances are a strong indication that Chimaev will be a mainstay in the middleweight division for the next several years - and he may be a long-reigning champion. As the second-oldest fighter on this list, Chimaev's MMA days could be over by 2031. But if not, and if the next seven years of his career come anything close to meeting expectations, Chimaev will be a great candidate for UFC 400.Arman TsarukyanStatus: No. 1-ranked lightweightCurrent age: 27Age during UFC 400: About 34 Chris Unger / UFC / GettyTsarukyan proved in his UFC 300 win over former champion Charles Oliveira that he's one of the very best lightweights in the world. Tsarukyan will likely fight for the title before the end of the year, against either Islam Makhachev or Dustin Poirier. At 27, the Armenian-Russian fighter is just getting started. Expect him to be a force at 155 pounds for years to come, potentially taking him all the way to UFC 400.Shavkat RakhmonovStatus: No. 3-ranked welterweightCurrent age: 29Age during UFC 400: About 36Rakhmonov has run rampant against his fellow UFC welterweights since his arrival in 2020. The Kazakh fighter became the first to submit Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson last year and is on track to receive a title shot in 2024, perhaps against the winner of Leon Edwards versus Belal Muhammad 2. All signs point to Rakhmonov being a threat at 170 pounds for years to come.Ian Machado GarryStatus: No. 7-ranked welterweightCurrent age: 26Age during UFC 400: About 33Garry has emerged as one of the most promising rising stars at welterweight over the last two years, beating the likes of Geoff Neal and Neil Magny to climb up to No. 7 in the rankings. Garry, aptly nicknamed "The Future," is Ireland's best hope for a UFC champion since Conor McGregor, and it'd be a surprise if he doesn't become a pay-per-view draw in the not-too-distant future.Erin BlanchfieldStatus: No. 3-ranked women's flyweightCurrent age: 24Age during UFC 400: About 32 Jeff Bottari / UFC / GettyThings didn't go Blanchfield's way in her last fight, as she suffered a unanimous decision loss to Manon Fiorot in a women's flyweight title eliminator to fall to 6-1 in the UFC. But that result doesn't take much away from Blanchfield's overall potential. She's still incredibly young, has yet to reach her prime, and will inevitably learn and grow from the one-sided defeat at UFC Atlantic City. Blanchfield is one of the best prospects in women's MMA, and she should do a lot more winning than losing over the next seven years.Umar NurmagomedovStatus: No. 9-ranked bantamweightCurrent age: 28Age during UFC 400: About 35Nurmagomedov has the talent, undefeated record, and last name to become a star. The Dagestani bantamweight is 5-0 in the UFC and desperately in need of a step up in competition to prove himself as one of the best in the division. It took his older cousin, Khabib, quite a while to reach the top, so that's OK. A future rivalry with current bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley - this generation's Khabib Nurmagomedov versus Conor McGregor - could steal headlines left and right, setting Umar up for big things as UFC 400 gets closer.Bo NickalStatus: Unranked middleweightCurrent age: 28Age during UFC 400: About 35Many believe Nickal has a chance to become one of the faces of the sport. The former collegiate wrestler has gotten off to a quick start in his UFC career, winning three fights inside the distance since debuting 13 months ago. Nickal isn't a championship-caliber fighter yet, but the sky is the limit for someone as raw as him. If he does realize the level of success expected of him between now and UFC 400, the American Top Team product will be a lock for the card.Raul Rosas Jr.Status: Unranked bantamweightCurrent age: 19Age during UFC 400: About 26As the youngest fighter on the UFC roster (and ever to be signed by the promotion), Rosas has time on his side to improve his craft, figure out what kind of fighter he is, and rise up the ranks. By UFC 400, Rosas won't even be in his physical prime yet. The New Mexico native is already a slick submission specialist, and if he can round out his skill set a bit more, there's a good chance he'll be in contention at 135 pounds before his mid-20s.

Former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway wouldn't say no to a rematch with Conor McGregor.

Gervonta "Tank" Davis' WBA lightweight title defense against Frank Martin will take place June 15 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, both boxers announced Saturday on social media.Davis-Martin will headline a PBC on Prime Video pay-per-view event. A WBC interim light heavyweight title bout between David Benavidez and Oleksandr Gvozdyk will serve as the co-main event.It was reported in February that Davis and Martin had agreed on a deal for a matchup in the spring or summer, though no date was previously revealed.Davis was elevated as the full WBA lightweight champion after Devin Haney vacated the title last December. "Tank" hasn't stepped into the ring since his knockout win over Ryan Garcia in April 2023. Davis is one of the most popular fighters in the sport and undefeated at 29-0.Martin will get his first crack at a world title against Davis. The promising up-and-comer is a lifetime 18-0 and coming off a unanimous decision win over Artem Harutyunyan last July.Benavidez, the WBC interim super middleweight champion, is moving up to 175 pounds after failing to secure a megafight against Canelo Álvarez. Benavidez, who has quickly become one of the top pound-for-pound boxers in the world, scored an impressive stoppage victory against Demetrius Andrade last November.Gvozdyk, of Ukraine, enters the biggest match of his career on a three-fight winning streak.

Ryan Garcia pulled off a stunner against Devin Haney, defeating him via majority decision (112-112, 114-110, 115-109) on Saturday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.Haney entered as the WBC junior welterweight champion, and the title is now vacant after Garcia missed weight Friday.More to come.

Ryan Garcia pulled off an early front-runner for Upset of the Year against Devin Haney on Saturday night, defeating him via majority decision (112-112, 114-110, 115-109) in an instant classic at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Islam Makhachev isn't interested in a fight with Max Holloway - at least not now.The UFC lightweight champion is scheduled to return to action against Dustin Poirier in the UFC 302 main event June 1 in Newark, New Jersey. Holloway knocked out top 155-pound contender Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 to put himself in title contention at lightweight in addition to featherweight, but Makhachev believes they both have more work to do before a fight makes sense."If (Holloway) beats a couple more guys in my division, we can fight," Makhachev told the New York Post's Scott Fontana in an interview published Tuesday. "But I don't want to give him a chance now. I have some contenders who I have to beat. Now, I have Dustin. After, we have (No. 1-ranked lightweight) Arman (Tsarukyan). I think I have (a) job in my division, he has a job in his division. Maybe if he wins his next fight, maybe he beats (UFC featherweight champion Ilia) Topuria, and I finish (my next) two fights, maybe."Holloway mentioned Makhachev in his postfight interview after capturing the BMF title, but the Hawaiian seems more keen on returning to his original division to challenge Topuria for the featherweight title that he once held. Topuria and Holloway have traded shots on X since the landmark event happened earlier in April. However, the UFC has yet to confirm whether that'll be the next 145-pound title bout.Makhachev said he was surprised by Holloway's win over Gaethje, a masterful performance in the stand-up department before Holloway shut out his opponent's lights at the 4:59 mark of the fifth round."I thought Justin could finish him," Makhachev said. "But how the fight (went), how Max Holloway did, he deserves all this hype and this fight, because he knocked out the guy who has good power in his hands, and he beat him all around."Though Makhachev is booked to face Poirier and sees a rematch with Tsarukyan as the logical next step, the UFC's pound-for-pound king has an even bigger goal on his mind. Makhachev has defended the lightweight belt twice since capturing it in 2022, both times against then-featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski. Because he gave Volkanovski a chance to make history, the Dagestani fighter thinks it's only right that he gets his own opportunity to become a two-division champion."My dream fight, I have to fight for the next division, 170 (pounds). I have to fight with Leon Edwards," Makhachev said."I already give some chance to fighters from the 145 (division). That's why. I need my chance for the second belt."

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