Callout Collection: Who UFC 245 winners want next – and how likely they'll get them
Petr Yan and Marlon Moraes were among those with specific names in mind for their next fight after UFC 245.
Earning wins in the UFC is certainly no easy task, but what comes next is often even more important: the post-fight callout.
So after Saturday’s UFC 245 event in Las Vegas, who took advantage of their time on the mic? See below for this week’s Callout Collection – and just how realistic each one is.
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Petr Yan
Wants to fight: Henry Cejudo
Henry Cejudo
The callout: “I want next fight (Henry) Cejudo – title shot. Where (are you), ‘Triple Clown’? Where?”
The reality: Petr Yan (14-1 MMA, 6-0 UFC) may not be the most well-known name in the bantamweight division, but he might just be the most dangerous. Yan looked fantastic in a methodical destruction of UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber, patiently picking him apart with his crisp punches and slick movement until a perfectly placed high kick sent “The California Kid” crashing to the canvas 43 seconds into the third round. Afterward, Yan even used his mic time to call out UFC double champ Henry Cejudo.
“Triple C” has made it clear he wants to defend his bantamweight on his return from injury, shooting for March or April, turning his attention to flyweight at a later date. Aljamain Sterling owns a four-fight winning streak of his own and is 6-1 in his last seven fights, but with “The Funkmaster” on the sidelines since June, Yan may have grabbed the momentum needed to score a title shot.
Marlon Moraes
Wants to fight: Aljamain Sterling
Aljamain Sterling
The callout: “I would like to fight Dominick Cruz or Sterling. I don’t like Sterling at all, and I would love to take his chance to ever fight for the title, you know? That’s it. That’s the two names I have on my mind right now.”
The reality: OK, listen – so Marlon Moraes (23-6-1 MMA, 5-2 UFC) technically said he would be happy to fight Aljamain Sterling or Dominick Cruz, but let’s be clear: When you say you want to make sure you beat someone so that they never have a chance to fight for the title, that’s going to turn some heads. That’s a professional and personal challenge.
Moraes can’t fight for the title right now. He just lost to current champ Henry Cejudo this past summer. Sterling has been battling through injuries while waiting for this shot at the belt, but after Saturday’s event, it seems he may be behind both Petr Yan and Jose Aldo. So what does that mean for Sterling? Well, it means he probably should go ahead and take on Moraes in a battle that has long been brewing beneath the surface.