The Vanquished: What’s Next for the UFC Fight Night 240 Losers?

Amidst the towering splendor of Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, WWE staged the crown jewel of its annual calendar year spectacle: WrestleMania 40, unfolding over two consecutive nights on April 6 and 7. Meanwhile, under the sun-soaked vastness Las Vegas, their affiliated counterpart, Ultimate Fighting Championship, put together a modest card, laying the groundwork for their impending reign over the grandiose stage with UFC 300 on April 13.

Let’s figure out what’s next for those who tasted defeat at UFC Fight Night 240.

Chris Curtis

The main event was built around a rematch featuring Brendan Allen and Curtis engaging in a gruelling showdown that went the distance. Initially, Allen dominated across all aspects while Curtis steadily clawed his way back into reclaiming ground. Both fighters displayed moments of brilliance on the feet, but “All In,” with his grappling superiority, repeatedly dragged Curtis to the canvas, albeit his opponent showed resilience in reversing positions. As the fight reached its climax, Curtis appeared injured, which paved the way for Allen to lead the charge. Once the 10s and 9s were put together, Allen secured his seventh-straight victory via split decision with scores of 47–48, 48–47, 49–46.

Despite the loss, Curtis remains a staple figure in the organization. His consistent willingness to step inside the Octagon to challenge any opponent, regardless of the circumstances, is evidently being acknowledged by the organization. Within the scope of this context, considering many top-ranked fighters are booked for bouts, matchups against Nursulton Ruziboev or Dustin Stoltzfus present exciting options for the American.

Alexander Hernandez

Damon Jackson and Hernandez locked horns in a symphony of fierce competition as they traded blows with a relentless volley of intensity. Throughout the encounter, the pair waged war built on aggression, and exhibited moments of brilliance, alternating very well between striking and grappling dominance. Jackson’s technical showcase ultimately earned him the split-decision victory.

It goes without saying that Hernandez is moving gingerly through turbulent times in the organization and may even be subject to a precarious position regarding roster security. In any case, Hernandez would relish the opportunity of being matched up against someone like Julian Erosa, a war-forged veteran holding three wins in last five fights. “Juicy J” returned to winning ways in March 2024, collecting a guillotine choke submission victory over Ricardo Ramos.

Trevor Peek

The opening fight of the main card witnessed Charlie Campbell utilizing his striking prowess to outclass Peek in a solid tactical battle. “The Cannibal,” banking on the success of a two-fight win streak, opted for calculated strikes over brawling. Peek had his moments of aggression, however, Campbell managed to stay focused, utilizing grappling to control the fight and secure the win. With this victory, he extends his winning streak to three, handing Peek his second loss in last three fights.

Regardless of the loss, Peek remains an exciting fixture in the lightweight mix and pairs up well against a bunch of different fighters. Take Brendon Marotte for example: “The Kid” lost his debut fight in the organization to Terrance McKinney and was forced to pull out of the clash against Mohammad Yahya due to injury. This matchup serves as the perfect setup for both fighters to get back on track with a win and stage a resurrection course on their career trajectories.

Christos Giagos

In the only non-decision conclusive affair on the main card showcase, Ignacio Bahamondes utilized his striking expertise punctuated by a stunning head kick to conclude the battle with Giagos. From the onset, "La Jaula" utilized his reach and diverse skillset to keep his opponent guessing. A little over three minutes into the first round, Bahamondes delivered a devastating head kick that sent his opponent crashing to the canvas.

Giagos finds himself in peril with two straight losses in the UFC, and at 34, his hopes of becoming a champion in the talent-laden 155-pound division tread the rope of thin probability. Having said that, “The Spartan” has remained a regular fixture in the UFC since 2018 and is not running on an empty tank just yet. With that in mind, a fight against fellow 34-year-old Trey Ogden seems like a logical next step considering that they both competed around the same time frame. A case can also be made at their potential synchronized availability for the next assignments. As for Ogden, he returned to the win column following a loss against Bahamondes in his last outing against Kurt Holobaugh.

Morgan Charriere

Jose Mariscal secured his third straight UFC win with a hard-fought split decision victory over Charriere despite stepping in on short notice. The American showcased his trademark toughness and dogged spirit, utilizing his condition to his advantage. In the final frame of the fight, he surged forward, potentially sealing the win with a strong finish. Mariscal extended his overall win streak to six, while "The Last Pirate" suffered his first loss in a while, having entered fight night banking on a four-fight win streak. Despite the loss, at just 28, Charriere has plenty of time to realign on his career goals. A fight against Australia’s Jack Jenkins may be the perfect setup that he needs for motivation. Jenkins was last seen inside the Octagon against Mariscal at UFC 293, a fight he lost via verbal tapout due to an arm injury.