Let the Titans clash: 3 fights that can sort out heavyweight division

The UFC's heavyweight division is in a state of transition.

While Stipe Miocic remains the top dog awaiting his champion vs. champion fight against Daniel Cormier in July, several new contenders have been moving past the heavyweight veterans. Winning streaks by younger combatants like Francis Ngannou, Curtis Blaydes, Alexander Volkov, and Derrick Lewis have created anarchy in the rankings, adding further confusion to the heavyweight scene that is being held up until at least July.

Volkov's knockout win over former champion Fabricio Werdum on Saturday didn't add much clarity, however, with some careful matchmaking, the UFC's heaviest division could be more certain before the end of the year.

Here are three fights to book that can sort things out:

Alexander Volkov vs. Overeem-Blaydes winner

An argument can be made that Volkov (30-6) deserves the winner of Miocic-Cormier after starting his UFC career with four straight wins, but he may have to wait a while to get that shot. Neither Miocic nor Cormier have been in a hurry to book their next bouts recently and Volkov, who wasn't heavily mentioned as a title contender prior to Saturday, will already be waiting three and half months for that fight's result.

Volkov's biggest win was his latest one, but Werdum (23-8-1) has not defeated a title-contending fighter since winning the belt in 2015, so a win over him does not guarantee the Russian could hold his own in a championship bout.

Luckily for Volkov, the June fight between Alistair Overeem (43-16) and 27-year-old Blaydes (9-1) at UFC 225 should produce an ideal opponent regardless of result. Overeem is the most experienced heavyweight on the UFC roster with enough name recognition to give 29-year-old Volkov increased credibility and a chance at a belt with a win. Blaydes is similar to Volkov in terms of being relatively young within the division and one or two quality wins away from being a title contender. If Blaydes were to follow his win over Mark Hunt with a victory against Overeem, a bout between he and Volkov could easily be sold as up-and-comer vs. up-and-comer with the victor getting a title shot.

Estimated fight date: August 18 (No UFC cards booked for August yet)

Fabricio Werdum vs. Mark Hunt 2

The last time Werdum and Mark Hunt met in the Octagon, the interim heavyweight title was on the line. Less than four years later, both have a very steep uphill climb if they want to taste UFC gold again.

While Werdum recovers from a knockout loss to Volkov where he looked gassed before the end of the second round, Hunt (13-12-1) is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Blaydes. Hunt, 43, may have just one fight left in the UFC after taking a lot of punishment through his career. He's admitted to long-term head injuries, but still wants a piece of anyone who will step in the cage with him.

Another win for Werdum over Hunt would put the 40-year-old Brazilian back in the chase for one more title shot, though he would likely need to take out a younger challenger. For Hunt, a win over Werdum could extend his career and a loss in a competitive contest might give the New Zealand native some clarity on his ability to compete with a younger generation.

Estimated fight date: June 23 (UFC Fight Night 132 in Singapore)

Francis Ngannou vs. Derrick Lewis

Ngannou and Lewis are perhaps the two most interesting, entertaining, and well-liked characters of the UFC's heavyweight landscape, and they want to go to war. Give the people what they want.

Things heated up between the two when Lewis (19-5) told the Slip n' Dip Podcast he hoped something could work out before the end of the year and joked that the Cameroon native was actually closer to 50 than his listed age of 31. Ngannou (11-2) was away, recovering from his loss to Miocic, when Lewis made his comments, but responded poignantly once he got the chance Sunday.

Ngannou is coming off his first UFC loss, though it was in a championship bout, while Lewis' most recent fight was a knockout win over Marcin Tybura (16-4) in February. Lewis, 33, had lost his previous bout to Hunt after going on a six-fight winning streak where he built up plenty of popularity with his humorous post-fight interviews and on-point social media.

The knockout-prone styles of both fighters coupled with their genuine out-of-Octagon personalities is a slam-dunk booking fit for the likes of International Fight Week in July, possible serving as a perfect co-main event under Miocic-Cormier. Depending on buzz generated by the build up and the fight itself, the UFC may have no choice but to grant the winner a shot at the belt.

Estimated fight date: July 7 (UFC 226 in Las Vegas)

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)