This week, the UFC introduced a number of key fights in October, and that received us serious about different fights we might like to see earlier than the tip of the yr.
There are already loads of good ones. The crown jewel is subsequent month’s middleweight title battle between Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319. There’s additionally Tom Aspinall (lastly) in an undisputed title battle towards former interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane at UFC 321. Bantamweight champ Merab Dvalishvili will make his third title protection of the yr towards Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320.
However we will at all times hope for extra. Listed below are 5 matchups that might actually take the UFC’s schedule to the subsequent degree.
Islam Makhachev vs. Jack Della Maddalena
The UFC hasn’t introduced this welterweight title battle, however I am anticipating it to occur at UFC 322 in November in New York. This is without doubt one of the most impactful — and stylistically intriguing — matchups in years. And it comes with a significant story angle: Makhachev vacating the light-weight title and transferring up in weight, one thing his predecessor and mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, by no means did.
I am hopeful the sports activities world will take discover of this matchup. Della Maddalena is just not a family identify, which might result in a battle flying below the radar for informal followers. But when the UFC books the battle at Madison Sq. Backyard, I consider that is an enormous win. It is the corporate recognizing a have to correctly promote this one, reasonably than host it in Abu Dhabi, the place Makhachev fought each October from 2021 to 2023.
As ridiculous as newly topped light-weight champion Ilia Topuria has been, I agree with Nurmagomedov’s latest remark that Della Maddalena is a more durable problem for Makhachev. This transfer up in weight is important for Makhachev. I anticipate him to be undersized, and Della Maddalena is well-rounded, bodily and firmly in his prime.
Khamzat Chimaev vs. Israel Adesanya
I will get flak for this one. It is a matchup we must always have seen in 2023, when Adesanya was the middleweight champion. Chimaev’s title shot in August is coming effectively overdue. The UFC may have booked him a championship bid lengthy earlier than this, however the timing by no means labored out as a result of varied circumstances (sickness, journey points) that stored Chimaev inactive.
He has received his shot now, and if he beats Du Plessis, the UFC cannot e book this matchup. It would not be justifiable as a title battle. Adesanya is on a three-fight dropping streak. However that is my listing, and I’m allowed to hope for one thing wild to occur. For instance Chimaev wins the belt, books his first title protection for December in Las Vegas and his opponent drops out on the final minute. Are you able to think about Adesanya getting a shot towards the undefeated Chimaev on quick discover, to bail the UFC out of a matchmaking bind?
And if Chimaev have been to lose to Du Plessis, I would nonetheless be down for this battle. I bear in mind how badly I needed to see it two years in the past, and, sure, circumstances are very completely different, but it surely has been solely two years. Loads of historical past right here to lean into in a December matchup.
Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes
The UFC hasn’t introduced this one both, but it surely appears doubtless for the tip of the yr. And I hope it occurs this yr, reasonably than getting postponed till 2026. It is absolutely the subsequent bantamweight title matchup; we’re all simply ready for it to reach. It could be an effective way to cap the calendar.
Nunes will probably be an underdog, which is suitable however onerous to fathom. This matchup felt apparent from the second Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo, transitioned to MMA in 2018. Nevertheless it has been a sluggish, slowwwww burn to get right here. Nunes lastly acknowledged earlier this yr that she left American Prime Crew in 2022 as a result of she knew she’d finally face Harrison. Harrison has skilled there for her total MMA profession.
It will simply be one of many high 5 girls’s MMA fights of all time, with potential to interrupt into the highest three. It may even be thought of No. 1.
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Why Sean O’Malley is assured he’d knock out Cody Garbrandt
Sean O’Malley tells Ariel Helwani that he’d like to battle Cody Garbrandt subsequent and is assured he may knock him out.
Sean O’Malley vs. Cody Garbrandt
It could not make sense from a rankings perspective, however who cares? It is a good, old school grudge match. Years in the past, everybody anticipated these two bantamweights would finally battle. The fighters felt it, the followers felt it and I would wager the UFC brass felt it. Two knockout artists, every of whom surged up the rankings with plenty of hype. Now, two former champions.
O’Malley remains to be the No. 1-ranked contender at 135 kilos, whereas Garbrandt has misplaced his previous two fights, together with a choice loss to the unranked Raoni Barcelos in June. O’Malley ought to be preventing a ranked opponent, however this matchup would draw extra consideration to him than any battle inside the highest 10. And if it’ll occur, it is best to occur sooner reasonably than later.
O’Malley and Garbrandt received into a quick altercation at a information convention in 2021, and the UFC may (and would) run that footage continually within the buildup to this one. There may be loads of time for extra wise matchmaking for each of those guys. Let’s e book the battle folks would most wish to see.
Aaron Pico vs. Yair Rodriguez
This weekend was presupposed to be the UFC debut of Pico, whom ESPN as soon as touted as probably the best prospect in MMA historical past. Pico is without doubt one of the most entertaining watches within the sport, a boxer-wrestler powerhouse with knockout energy to the physique and head. He was presupposed to face Movsar Evloev, an undefeated grappler and potential No. 1 contender, however Evloev withdrew.
It is a disgrace we’re not seeing Pico in motion this weekend, but it surely provides the UFC time to reassess what to do with him and Evloev. I would want the UFC e book Evloev in a featherweight title battle towards Alexander Volkanovski, who does not have his first title protection booked, but it surely has been rumored that it will be a rematch towards Rodriguez. However I would want the recent matchup.
In the meantime, Rodriguez is a greater match for Pico’s UFC debut. It is way more of an motion battle.
Evloev’s type might be tedious at instances, which is one cause he hasn’t fought for the belt. If he grappled Pico for 3 rounds, it might be a really disappointing debut for Pico. Let’s change issues up and e book Pico vs. Rodriguez.