UFC on Fox 15 post-fight analysis - Fights to make for main card fighters

UFC on FOX 15 was an excellent card virtually from start to finish, producing several incredible finishes and huge statement making performances from prospects and top contenders. Standing out over the course of the night were Luke Rockhold and Max Holloway, who submitted their opponents in dominating fashion on the main card. Lest we forget on the prelims that Aljamain Sterling choked out Takeya Mizugaki in the final round of their bantamweight bout, placing Sterling firmly among the best BWs in the UFC.

With that in mind, it's time to look at what is next for the main card fighters from Saturday night's show. Before we get to that, I think Aljamain Sterling should face the winner of Alex Caceres/Francisco Rivera, while Beneil Dariush should be paired with Bobby Green. Moving on to the big guns....

Luke Rockhold. Pummeling Lyoto Machida like that warrants a title shot against the winner of Chris Weidman/Vitor Belfort, and I don't think that can really be debated. Ever since losing to Belfort in his debut he's been just about flawless, and I really hope we get Rockhold vs. Weidman at the end of the year.

Lyoto Machida. Unfortunately, there's no way "The Dragon" gets another title shot in either 185 or 205. Rockhold looked a full weight class bigger than him and after the opening minute it was all Rockhold. No one has ever outclassed Machida that badly and with relative ease since perhaps round 2 of the Jon Jones bout. If Tim Kennedy returns to fighting any time soon, I want to see that made next.

Ronaldo Souza. He took apart Camozzi on short notice yet again, and no one was surprised when it happened. As great as Jacare has been in the UFC, Rockhold's win basically means he likely needs another win to get him the next title shot. I still think Jacare vs. Yoel Romero still needs to be made, and hopefully they're both healthy enough to go through with it on a 3rd try.

Chris Camozzi. Much respect to Camozzi for basically being the sacrificial lamb to the same guy twice in two years. Skillwise, he's nowhere near that level of competition and we shouldn't expect him to be. How about Camozzi vs. Roger Narvaez?

Max Holloway. What a huge statement Holloway just made to the featherweight division. He took apart Cub Swanson on the feet and used his underrated submission game to salt away the biggest win of his career. While Twitter was really amped for him vs. Chad Mendes, I prefer to give him Ricardo Lamas (even coming off a loss). Have Mendes fight Frankie Edgar if he beats Urijah Faber, and Holloway meanwhile can get another step up in competition. There's really not much benefit in putting Holloway in with someone like Mendes who has consistently proven to be several levels above everyone not named Aldo.

Cub Swanson. No doubt another devastating loss for Cub, who is on the first losing streak of his career. This takes him out of the title picture for good, but he still has plenty of value as an action fighter. I like Swanson vs. Maximo Blanco.

Paige VanZant. The UFC is in an interesting situation right now. With the women's 115 lbs division in its early stages, basically anyone coming off a win is probably a good shout for a title shot. VanZant stated that she has some things to work on, and frankly she does. Let's see how he does against the winner of Aisling Daly/Randa Markos and take it from there.

Felice Herrig. After about 3 minutes into round 1 it was very evident that Herrig had very little to offer VanZant, who outworked her the remainder of the way and was just flat out the better, more-conditioned fighter. Maybe she'll be booked against Tina Lahdemaki, who has been nowhere to be seen since losing to Claudia Gadelha last year.