Matches to make: Sorting out the welterweight division after Burns' big win

No one inside the top 10 at welterweight has a fight booked, and the division can't get any more intriguing.

With rising star Gilbert Burns dominating former champion Tyron Woodley last weekend in Las Vegas, should he jump the line and take on current titleholder Kamaru Usman? Or should the UFC return to its original plan to pit Usman against BMF champ Jorge Masvidal?

What about the division's dark horse, Leon Edwards, and former title challenger Colby Covington - where do they fit in?

Here are four matchups at 170 pounds that the UFC should make.

Kamaru Usman (c) vs. Jorge Masvidal

Usman should defend his belt against Masvidal next. The two have been in talks for months, and their run-in on Super Bowl Radio Row in February sealed the deal: This absolutely is - and has been for a while - the fight to make.

Earlier this year, UFC president Dana White said Usman-Masvidal was being targeted for the promotion's July pay-per-view card, but then the coronavirus pandemic disrupted its schedule. Now, it's unclear whether the fight will happen at all, and it's looking increasingly unlikely as time goes on.

Masvidal has lost some momentum since three straight finishes catapulted him to stardom in 2019, as he hasn't stepped into the Octagon since November. Still, "Gamebred" remains the perfect challenger for Usman for a number of reasons.

For starters, they have real beef that needs to be settled - the buildup to a bout would be fascinating. Masvidal is also a bigger name than any of the other options. Additionally, Usman-Masvidal is significantly more intriguing than Usman against the other top welterweights - how would Masvidal's dangerous striking fare against Usman's wrestling? It's truly an outstanding matchup on paper, and it needs to happen.

Gilbert Burns vs. Leon Edwards

After Masvidal gets his shot at the throne, this fight would determine the new No. 1 contender at 170 pounds.

Burns and Edwards both arguably deserve a title shot, given the former's win over Woodley and the latter's eight-fight winning streak. But unfortunately for them, the division is loaded with contenders, so they'll have to wait in line.

A fight could help grow their brands a bit more, and a strong showing would have fans legitimately invested in seeing either fight for the belt.

Contenders like Masvidal and Covington are more popular right now, so it's not in the UFC's best interest to have both Burns and Edwards competing for the title in the near future. A bout between the two would leave just one to be an immediate potential challenger, and in the process, we'd get to find out who the better man is.

Colby Covington vs. Stephen Thompson

Covington versus Thompson would be an incredible clash of styles, and it would put one of them back into title contention.

"Chaos" is coming off a fifth-round TKO loss to Usman in December. But the fight was competitive up until the finish, and Covington showed that he very well could be the second-best welterweight in the UFC.

Thompson, meanwhile, challenged Woodley for the belt in 2016 and 2017. Since then, "Wonderboy" is 2-2, and while he's long been considered a top welterweight, it's been a while since he's found himself in the title picture.

But if Covington and Thompson were to meet, the winner would be no more than one win away from another title shot.

Stylistically, a matchup between the two would be intriguing. Covington is a relentless wrestler whose striking has gotten better in recent years, and Thompson is a karate-based fighter who uses his range to set up strikes and crazy knockouts. Covington likes to fight up close, and Thompson from afar; one of them would ultimately dictate the fight more than the other.

Tyron Woodley vs. Rafael dos Anjos

Woodley and Dos Anjos would be fighting for relevance in the division.

The former welterweight champion has now lost consecutive one-sided bouts. Woodley's performance against Burns was uninspiring and gave no indication that he even has a chance of winning back the belt. At this point, Woodley just needs to get back into the win column, and Dos Anjos doesn't seem like too steep of a test for him.

The Brazilian has lost four of his past five outings, but he remains just inside the top 10. It's unlikely that Dos Anjos will turn his career around and return to title contention, but a win over Woodley would certainly be a good starting point.

At the end of the day, this fight would give either Woodley or Dos Anjos the opportunity to bounce back - what they'd manage to do from there is still up in the air.