What will the featherweight division look like when UFC returns to normal?
Though the UFC is continuing operations amid the coronavirus pandemic, its schedule has still been disrupted.
With that in mind, let's look at some key storylines in the promotion's featherweight division and explore how they might play out once regular operations resume.
Should Volkanovski-Holloway 2 be booked?
As soon as Alexander Volkanovski beat Max Holloway and captured the UFC featherweight title at UFC 245 last December, there were talks of an immediate rematch.
UFC president Dana White thought Holloway's two-and-a-half-year reign warranted the chance to get his belt back, and so did the former champion himself. Volkanovski was open to it, too.
The promotion tried putting together the fight for the June 6 pay-per-view card in Perth, Australia - Volkanovski's home country - but the COVID-19 outbreak nixed those plans. Looking forward, the potential bout shouldn't come to fruition once discussions are back underway.
Immediate rematches should be saved for extraordinary circumstances: a bizarre finish, a controversial decision, or a dominant champion losing.
There was nothing bizarre or controversial about Volkanovski's unanimous decision victory - in fact, nothing in the fight makes me think Holloway could turn things around in a second encounter against the champ. And I don't think Holloway's reign was extensive enough to deserve a shot at redemption right away.
The 28-year-old had been the 145-pound champion since June 2017 and defended the title three times. His pair of finishes against Jose Aldo, his beatdown of Brian Ortega, and his decisive victory over Frankie Edgar were all impressive, but when you compare it to former flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson's record 11 defenses, the longevity isn't there.
Additionally, Holloway had a certain level of star potential when he held the belt, and a second straight defeat would kill his chances of breaking through into the mainstream entirely. It wouldn't be a smart business decision to book him against Volkanovski so soon.
Who's the No. 1 contender?
Unlike in some other divisions, there isn't a featherweight contender who's been denied a title shot for far too long. However, there's still a man who stands out and should be next in line: Chan Sung Jung.
"The Korean Zombie" is at the top of his game right now, most recently stopping former lightweight champ Edgar in the first round of the UFC Busan main event last December. Before that, he crumpled Renato Moicano in a matter of seconds.
Jung is one of the most exciting fighters in the division - just look back at his 2018 instant classic against Yair Rodriguez - and he poses an interesting challenge to Volkanovski. His pressure - on top of his striking prowess - is something the champ has yet to face.
It'd be nice if Jung could get a third straight win before fighting for the title, which would only further cement his status as the most deserving challenger. But there doesn't always have to be a clear-cut No. 1 contender. Jung is a popular fighter with a lot of momentum, and the UFC should jump on that as soon as it can.
Which fighter does the hiatus hurt the most?
The stoppage hurts Zabit Magomedsharipov and Rodriguez the most, as it'll be quite a while before the two rising contenders get a crack at the belt.
Volkanovski said recently he's in no rush to compete during the pandemic because he's still recovering from a hand injury, and with him located in Australia, it's unclear how long it'll be before he can defend his belt - even if he's ready.
Whenever "The Great" is able to return - it could be late this year - it'll either be against Holloway or Jung. That means Magomedsharipov and Rodriguez will have to continue to wait in line. Had this pandemic not shut down most of the sports world, one of them getting a title shot by the end of 2020 was likely. But now, they're just lucky to still be in the conversation.
What's one fight you'd like to see?
You can't go wrong with Ortega versus Magomedsharipov, a battle between two top fighters with something to prove.
Ortega is still considered one of the best featherweights on the planet, but he's lost a lot of momentum in the past year. "T-City" hasn't competed since his 2018 loss to Holloway, and he most recently pulled out of a fight against Jung last December due to an ACL tear.
If he beat Magomedsharipov, that'd be a major statement and it would put him right back into title contention.
On the flip side, if Magomedsharipov - who's undefeated in the UFC and has looked rather unstoppable - picked up a win over Ortega, that would undoubtedly earn him a shot at the title. Magomedsharipov raised some questions about his cardio in his latest win - a three-round decision over Calvin Kattar in which his opponent picked up steam in the final frame. He needs a big performance in his next outing if he still wants to be considered a future UFC champion.
Who's a rising fighter to watch?
Sodiq Yusuff.
The 26-year-old has quickly become one of the hottest prospects in the division, and many believe he'll be at the top one day. He's won four straight bouts in the UFC since his victory on Dana White's Contender Series in summer 2018.
Yusuff is coming off a win over Andre Fili - and for what it's worth, of the six people who have beaten Fili in the UFC, five have been or have gone on to be top-10 fighters. There's a good chance history will repeat itself.
The Nigerian needs more seasoning before taking a major step up in competition, but with time, he could be a real threat in the division and could even be an addition to the growing list of African-born UFC champions.