Callout Collection: Who UFC on ESPN 16 winners want next – and how likely they’ll get them

Wants to fight: Thomas Almeida

The callout: “I just heard Alejandro Perez is out next weekend, and I like Almeida. I like his style. I met him as a person, nothing against him at all. But if he needs somebody to dance with next weekend, I’m your guy.”

The reality: If this callout had happened during pre-COVID times, I think the general thought would be to tell Kenney to head off and rest up, rather than contemplate an instant turnaround. But the COVID-era UFC is a very different beast.

It means that, in the small “Fight Island” bubble, a fit, healthy, on-weight fighter has a decent shot of a quick turnaround if a suitable opportunity arises. This certainly seems to be one of those cases. Almeida needs a matchup, and Kenney is in the building and ready to roll. If he passes all of his post-fight medicals and is cleared to compete again, it seems like a handy solution for the UFC. It’s a stylistically fun fight, too, with Kenney’s high-pressure approach likely to mesh well with Almeida’s own come-forward game. If Almeida is down for it, and if Kenney is fit to go again, why not?

Wants to fight: Amanda Nunes

The callout: “I can only say hold that belt, champ. Congratulations with your beautiful family, but I’m not done. ‘The Iron Lady’ is here!”

The reality: Germaine de Randamie remains among the most dangerous contenders to Nunes’ title, but she’s been in there twice with “The Lioness,” and twice she’s lost out. It means the onus is on de Randamie to make her case for a third matchup simply undeniable, and I’m not sure she’s quite at that stage just yet.

Nunes has dominated the women’s bantamweight and featherweight divisions, and de Randamie’s only UFC losses have come at the hands of the Brazilian dual-champion. But “The Iron Lady” probably needs one more big win – ideally with another impressive finish – to make her case an undeniable one.

A rematch with former bantamweight champ Holly Holm – who produced an impressive win of her own on Saturday night – would make a lot of sense right now. If marketed appropriately as a title eliminator, it would ensure that there’s a clear next contender for Nunes at 135 pounds. If de Randamie can register a second win over Holm, who she defeated to win the inaugural featherweight title at UFC 208 in February 2017, she should cement herself as the next in line.

Wants to fight: Raphael Pessoa

The callout: “There was a guy in Brazil. He’s run away from me since last year. Raphael Pessoa! Come on, man! Raphael Pessoa! Don’t run away from me! Let’s fight (in) the next few weeks!”

The reality: Carlos Felipe made plenty of noise in his co-main event appearance on Saturday night as he outpointed the heavy-handed Yorgan de Castro, then directly called out fellow countryman Pessoa.

Pessoa has had mixed results since arriving in the UFC and is coming off a loss, while Felipe bounced back into the win column against de Castro after losing his UFC debut. It may mean the UFC’s matchmakers might prefer to book Felipe against another heavyweight coming off a win. But fights with storylines always fascinate, and clearly Felipe seems to have past beef with his compatriot.

It’s early in his UFC career, and Pessoa’s form means he’s not in a position to turn it down, so I say, “why not?”