The Vanquished: What’s Next for the UFC on ESPN 53 Losers?

The Ultimate Fighting Championship hosted its second consecutive event at the Apex in Las Vegas with UFC on ESPN 53. The venue has gained recognition over time as a transitional staging for the organization and a nexus between the UFC’s dynamic travel plans. Despite the absence of marquee names to augment the lineup, it nevertheless delivered some notable performances. “UFC Vegas 89” featured a robust 13-fight card, a notable portion of which— seven bouts— came to a resolution with unanimous decisions. Meanwhile, the main card kicked off with a spectacular flurry of four finishes.

In the aftermath of the event, we engage in the task of matchmaking for fighters who unfortunately find themselves in the losing column. Let's explore potential matchups for the main card losers from UFC on ESPN 53.

Luis Pajuelo

Following a stumble in his last outing, Fernando Padilla promptly realigned his trajectory with a resounding triumph over Pajuelo. The rangy featherweight dispatched Pajuelo with a pinpoint left hand early on in the fight and pursued a finish as the fight hit the canvas. He couldn’t find the finish with strikes and the 27-year-old quickly transitioned to a D’arce choke, regained the vertical base, forcing Pajuelo to concede defeat.

The Peruvian newcomer’s debut didn’t go as well as he would’ve expected. Nevertheless, he would be given his fair share of opportunities to prove his mettle and overturn this forgetful performance. For that, he matches up well against 27-year-old Manolo Zecchini, who much like Pajuelo, fell short on his UFC debut against Morgan Charriere back in Sept. 2023. The clash of the young hopefuls should make for an exciting clash.

Billy Quarantillo

Quarantillo’s bid to break free from the win-loss loop proved futile, resulting in his record for the past eight fights now tallying at 4-4. Meanwhile, his opponent Youssef Zalal made a triumphant return to the UFC roster with renewed vigor. That approach was evident from the outset as he dictated the pace, inflicted significant damage with a knee, and nearly securing a choke in the first frame. Without letting up the momentum, Zalal swiftly wrapped the fight with a rear-naked choke submission victory at 1:50 of the second round.

This juncture calls for a matchup against someone in an analogous or elevated career phase. Pat Sabatini, who’s coming off a losing effort against Diego Lopes at UFC 295, emerges as the fitting choice. He was scheduled to take on 35-year-old Nate Landwehr on March 30 at UFC on ESPN 54 but had to pull out for undisclosed reasons. The fact that the UFC is inclining towards this sort of matchup for Sabatini only proves that a fight with Quarantillo would make sense for all parties involved.

Cameron Saaiman

Perhaps one of the most impressive performances on the card, bolstered by the Performance of the Night honors, Payton Talbott proved why he’s a prospect to watch out for in the UFC. The 25-year-old dynamo delivered a relentless onslaught from the start, managing to batter Saaiman with a well-timed knee. He pushed the pace and threw all caution to the wind, chasing a finish from the onset. Early in the second, a short left hook dropped Saaiman back on the canvas, and Talbott swarmed with vigor to pound out the finish.

As for “MSP,” the South African is on a two-fight losing skid, but at 23, there’s plenty of time for a career resurgence. Saaiman matches up well against Serhiy Sidey, a Canadian bantamweight who dropped a split decision loss to Ramon Taveras in his last Octagon outing at UFC 297. The contest provides a level playing field for both fighters to leave an indelible mark and ascend to prominence.

A.J. Dobson

Edmen Shahbazyan is here to stay. With four losses in his last five fights leading up to the bout against Dobson, the 26-year-old had a chip on his shoulder to return to explosive ways. He was caught off guard as the fight began and momentarily staggered in the early exchanges. He seized an opportunity in the closing minute of the first round, landing a devastating blow and a few follow-up strikes to secure the decisive finish.

Standing at a 1-3 record in the UFC, Dobson needs an opportunity against someone enduring a similar trajectory in the UFC. Enter Punahele Soriano, who is on a 1-4 run in his last five fights, coming off a submission loss to Dustin Stoltzfus at UFC on ESPN 52. The clash of the explosive strikers should also make for an exciting encounter.

Justin Tafa

The heavyweight co-main event unfolded as a narrative of dichotomy dictated by the preferred terrain of each fighter. Karl Williams endured perilous exchanges on the feet, but subsequently managed to leverage his wrestling prowess to secure a victory over Tafa. In stand-up exchanges, as many expected, Tafa showcased superior explosiveness, consistently delivering powerful strikes that kept Williams on the defensive. He managed to hurt Williams in each round, but the American Top Team Atlanta product persevered, dominated a significant chunk of the final frame with grappling control, and notched his third consecutive UFC triumph.

Tafa’s current position presents an interesting predicament for the UFC: whether to match him against ascending contenders or offer him matchups conducive to delivering highlight-reel knockouts. In any case, Shamil Gaziev can be an interesting challenge for “Bad Man” considering both fighters are coming off losses. Gaziev endured a loss via retirement in his last contest against Jairzinho Rozenstruik.

Amanda Ribas

In the main event of UFC on ESPN 53, Rose Namajunas emerged victorious over Amanda Ribas via unanimous decision. The five-round battle displayed the skills of each fighter and their expertise. The bout was evenly contested on the feet, with neither fighter landing a decisive blow but rather opting for volume. On several occasions, Namajunas was able to reverse Ribas’ judo throw attempts, scoring top control time and landing effective strikes from the top. When the tens and nines were evaluated, Namajunas got her hand raised, putting an end to her two-fight losing skid.

Ribas has been oscillating between the flyweight and strawweight division and remains the only fighter on the UFC roster ranked in two divisions. Her primary consideration revolves around determining her next course of action. In any case, it’s about time the UFC circles back to her scheduled bout with 10th-ranked flyweight Tracy Cortez. The pair were scheduled to clash at UFC on ESPN 42, but Cortez was forced to pull out of the fight shortly after the official weigh-ins. Cortez is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Jasmine Jasudavicius and would relish the prospect of fighting a contender ranked higher than her.