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Brett Okamoto
This week, the UFC introduced a number of key fights in October, and that acquired us excited about different fights we might like to see earlier than the top of the 12 months.
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 in opposition to former interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane at UFC 321. Bantamweight champ Merab Dvalishvili will make his third title protection of the 12 months in opposition to Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320.
However we are able to all the time hope for extra. Listed below are 5 matchups that would actually take the UFC’s schedule to the following stage.
1:10
Islam Makhachev turns into most adorned light-weight UFC fighter ever
Islam Makhachev turns into the primary individual within the UFC to defend the light-weight title 4 occasions in a victory over Renato Moicano.
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 among the most impactful — and stylistically intriguing — matchups in years. And it comes with a serious 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 title, which may result in a battle flying underneath 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 must 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 critical for Makhachev. I count on him to be undersized, and Della Maddalena is well-rounded, bodily and firmly in his prime.
0:44
Khamzat Chimaev stays excellent with first-round submission win
Khamzat Chimaev defeats Robert Whittaker, conserving his excellent document alive with a submission within the first spherical.
Khamzat Chimaev vs. Israel Adesanya
I will get flak for this one. It is a matchup we should always have seen in 2023, when Adesanya was the middleweight champion. Chimaev’s title shot in August is coming effectively overdue. The UFC might have booked him a championship bid lengthy earlier than this, however the timing by no means labored out because of varied circumstances (sickness, journey points) that saved Chimaev inactive.
He has acquired his shot now, and if he beats Du Plessis, the UFC cannot ebook this matchup. It would not be justifiable as a title battle. Adesanya is on a three-fight shedding streak. However that is my checklist, and I’m allowed to hope for one thing wild to occur. To illustrate 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 in opposition to the undefeated Chimaev on quick discover, to bail the UFC out of a matchmaking bind?
And if Chimaev had been to lose to Du Plessis, I would nonetheless be down for this battle. I keep in mind how badly I wished to see it two years in the past, and, sure, circumstances are very completely different, nevertheless it has been solely two years. Loads of historical past right here to lean into in a December matchup.
1:11
Kayla Harrison submits Julianna Pena to turn out to be new UFC bantamweight champ
Kayla Harrison faucets out Julianna Pena in Spherical 2 at UFC 316 to turn out to be the brand new ladies’s bantamweight champion.
Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes
The UFC hasn’t introduced this one both, nevertheless it appears seemingly for the top of the 12 months. And I hope it occurs this 12 months, reasonably than getting postponed till 2026. It is absolutely the following bantamweight title matchup; we’re all simply ready for it to reach. It could be an effective way to cap the calendar.
Nunes can be an underdog, which is suitable however arduous to fathom. This matchup felt apparent from the second Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo, transitioned to MMA in 2018. However it has been a gradual, slowwwww burn to get right here. Nunes lastly acknowledged earlier this 12 months that she left American Prime Workforce in 2022 as a result of she knew she’d ultimately face Harrison. Harrison has skilled there for her total MMA profession.
This can simply be one of many high 5 ladies’s MMA fights of all time, with potential to interrupt into the highest three. It might even be thought of No. 1.
1:12
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 might 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 ultimately 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 numerous hype. Now, two former champions.
O’Malley continues to be the No. 1-ranked contender at 135 kilos, whereas Garbrandt has misplaced his previous two fights, together with a call loss to the unranked Raoni Barcelos in June. O’Malley must be combating a ranked opponent, however this matchup would draw extra consideration to him than any battle inside the highest 10. And if it may occur, it is best to occur sooner reasonably than later.
O’Malley and Garbrandt acquired into a short altercation at a information convention in 2021, and the UFC might (and would) run that footage continuously within the buildup to this one. There may be loads of time for extra wise matchmaking for each of those guys. Let’s ebook the battle individuals would most need to see.
Aaron Pico vs. Yair Rodriguez
This weekend was speculated to be the UFC debut of Pico, whom ESPN as soon as touted as presumably the best prospect in MMA historical past. Pico is among the most entertaining watches within the sport, a boxer-wrestler powerhouse with knockout energy to the physique and head. He was speculated 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, nevertheless it offers the UFC time to reassess what to do with him and Evloev. I would favor the UFC ebook Evloev in a featherweight title battle in opposition to Alexander Volkanovski, who would not have his first title protection booked, nevertheless it has been rumored that it will be a rematch in opposition to Rodriguez. However I would favor the contemporary matchup.
In the meantime, Rodriguez is a greater match for Pico’s UFC debut. It is far more of an motion battle.
Evloev’s model will be tedious at occasions, which is one purpose 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 swap issues up and ebook Pico vs. Rodriguez.