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MONDAY MATCHMAKER: Should UFC pull Cro Cop out of retirement to face Miocic?

Every Monday after an MMA fight weekend, The Post’s Marc Raimondi will take a look at the next potential matchup for the fighters who competed.

This week, he takes a look at some of the competitors from Saturday’s UFC on Fuel 5.

STEFAN STRUVE (def. Stipe Miocic via second-round KO)

Struve looked better than he ever has in the UFC on Saturday night, especially in his striking against Miocic. Though he has 12 UFC fights under his belt, at 24 the Dutch fighter must still be looked at as a prospect. And after winning four straight, it’s time to up the competition level. Struve talked about taking on Fabricio Werdum after the fight in Nottingham, England and the well-rounded Brazilian seems like a perfect next opponent. Make it happen, UFC president Dana White and matchmaker Joe Silva.

Monday Matchmaker’s pick: Fabricio Werdum

STIPE MIOCICE (lost to Stefan Struve via second-round KO)

Back to the drawing board for the former Division I wrestler and Golden Gloves boxer. Miocic has all the athletic potential in the world, but at 30 he’s behind the eight-ball. Miocic started late in MMA and might end up regretting it. Is there any way the UFC can convince Mirko Cro Cop to come out of retirement? That would be a fun matchup between the Croatian legend and Croatian American Miocic, whose fighting shorts are a tribute to Cro Cop. More realistic is fight against a mid-level heavyweight. Mike Russow is coming off a loss to Fabricio Werdum. Might not be a bad choice.

Monday Matchmaker’s pick: Mike Russow

DAN HARDY (def. Amir Sadollah via unanimous decision)

The UFC has a choice to make with Hardy. Do they want to throw him in there again with a top-15 welterweight or give him another journeyman type like Sadollah in an effort to build him up? The UFC doesn’t usually play those games – the step up in competition comes quick. Which is why it makes sense that Hardy faces Mike Pyle next. Pyle is well-rounded and has won two in a row. Hardy showed off his wrestling against Sadollah, but Pyle’s skill set is much more versatile. The Brit could vault himself back into the top 10 with a win over wily veteran Pyle.

Monday Matchmaker’s pick: Mike Pyle

BRAD PICKETT (def. Yves Jaboun via first-round KO)

Get Pickett right back in the Octagon. The Brit can’t fight enough for my tastes. He’s just never in a boring fight. He’s fought seven times in either the UFC of WEC. In five of those fights, Pickett has won a bonus – either Fight of the Night, Submission of the Night or Knockout of the Night. His win over Jabouin on Saturday was the latter. Arguably the most exciting fighter in the bantamweight division needs a step up in competition now after winning two in a row. Give him Eddie Wineland and watch the bonus money roll in.

Monday Matchmaker’s pick: Eddie Wineland

MATT WIMAN (def. Paul Sass via first-round submission)

Coming in, Sass had won all of his pro fights but one by submission. So Wiman goes out and gets Sass to tap out to an armbar. Incredibly impressive performance. The 29-year-old has now won five of his last six scraps and is about one victory away from putting himself in the top 10 among lightweights. So is TJ Grant, who is coming off a win over Evan Dunham. Why not put the two together and so what happens. Winner sheds his journeyman label.

Monday Matchmaker’s pick: TJ Grant

JOHN HATHAWAY (def. John Maguire via unanimous decision)

Let me let you in on a little secret about Hathaway. He’s versatile, strong and fundamentally sound. But he’s not very athletic, which sometimes can make for boring fights like Saturday’s against Maguire. Hathaway dominated Maguire on the ground. He needs to take on someone who has better jiu-jitsu. Give him James Head, who’s coming off a nice split decision win over Brian Ebersole.

Monday Matchmaker’s pick: James Head

CHE MILLS (def. Duane Ludwing via first-round TKO)

Mills looked good until Ludwig injured his leg and verbally submitted. He’s 2-1 in the UFC with the only loss coming to future welterweight superstar Rory MacDonald. Why not give him Sean Pierson next? Pierson beat Lance Benoist last week at UFC 152. The two should put on an entertaining standup war.

Monday Matchmaker’s pick: Sean Pierson

mraimondi@nypost.com