Frankie Edgar vs. Featherweight Champion
Five straight wins with three finishes including the only defeat of Urijah Faber outside of a title fight and it would seem that Edgar is ready for another crack at the title regardless of who holds it. He may not be the flashiest, but he made a statement knocking out Mendes faster than Aldo or Mcgregor did in their fights with him.
Chad Mendes vs. Cub Swanson
Mendes may have been one of the best in the world but that is questionable with only one win in four fights which is the only win in two years. Swanson has seen a similar fate befell him in the last few years. There is only a spot for one of them int he top five and they can battle each other to keep that spot.
Ryan Hall vs. Saul Rogers
Hall manhandled Lobov in the final but the issue is that it muddles the picture considering he lost to Saul Rogers on the show. Hall may get the title of TUF champion, but he should rematch Rogers with a full camp to see who is the best fighter from the show. It is only fair to Rogers so he can get a bigger exposure fight in his debut.
Tony Ferguson vs. Lightweight Champion
Ferguson has won seven straight fights,had five finishes in those fights and is 10-1 in the UFC overall. His only loss in the UFC is to Michael Johnson who just lost a fight. The rest of the top five is filled out by Eddie Alvarez, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Donald Cerrone, and Anthony Pettis. Pettis and Alvarez are facing off in January, but he is often hurt and has not won a fight since losing his title. Alvarez has only won one fight since his debut loss and Khabib is always hurt, so process of elimination leaves Ferguson as the last logical challenger to the title.
Edson Barboza vs. Loser of Michael Johnson vs. Nate Diaz
Barboza is immensely talented but he now sits at 3-3 in his last six fights. At 29, he still has time to be a challenger for the title, but he only has a chance for maybe one last run. Barboza is of course going to have to start from square one after this latest loss. A fight with either of Johnson or Diaz will allow Barboza to fight someone who is looking to rebuild just like him.
Evan Dunham vs. Winner of Joseph Duffy vs. Dustin Poirier
At one time Dunham was a clear cut contender in the division when he nearly took out Sean Sherk, but then went 3-5 over his next few fights and his days as a contender seemed over. Now, he has essentially reinvented his career with three straight wins that has had a new breath of air into his fight IQ as well. Poitier and Duffy are looking to work their way up the divisional ladder and whoever wins that fight will need a tough test and Dunham inhibits that precisely.
Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Stefan Struve
These two fighters will most likely never touch the idea of being a contender again but there does not need to be two gatekeepers. Gonzaga has been in the UFC for a long time and both have logged many trips to the Octagon. Plus, it would be a good battle of two great Heavyweight grapplers.