Mailbag: What are the three greatest UFC fights nonetheless to come back this yr?

We’re coming off an off week on this planet of MMA, with the most important factor taking place being the Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal boxing match. Aside from that, we’re additionally on the midway mark of the yr, so let’s get to an actual mishmash of questions, together with the very best fights to come back this yr, Dustin Poirier’s “Final Dance,” and Jiri Prochazka’s existential disaster.

Upcoming Fights

What’s your high three most anticipated fights (UFC) for the second half of the yr which can be booked already or have an excellent likelihood of being booked someday this yr?

Love this query as a result of two of them had been absurdly simple, and the third was fairly troublesome.

My most anticipated struggle for the remainder of this yr is sort of simply Dricus du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya. I backed “DDP” from day one, and was among the many most vocal proponents of constructing this struggle after the Derek Brunson matchup. Seventeen months later, I’ll lastly get what I need.

DDP vs. Izzy might be the very best struggle since Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor, when it comes to the totality of issues. These males are polar opposites out and in of the cage and there’s actual animosity between them, with actual, significant stakes on the road. These matchups don’t come round all that usually. Plus, there’s a excessive chance of one thing humorous taking place if DDP runs headlong into Izzy’s offense and will get clobbered. A+++ struggle.

Second, and this might be most individuals’s No. 1 struggle, is Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway. It’s an distinctive matchup between the brand new champion and the outdated guard who’s coming off probably the very best efficiency of his profession. Terrific on all counts.

The explanation this isn’t No. 1 for me, aside from my longstanding love for DDP-Izzy, is I’m a bit extra skeptical of Holloway’s possibilities than most are. It looks as if nobody is factoring in that Holloway seemed so good in opposition to Justin Gaethje as a result of a) Gaethje himself is slightly outdated and b) it was at light-weight. Max’s final couple of fights at 145 kilos weren’t unhealthy performances, however they weren’t the very best of his profession. I type of want he’d simply keep at 155 kilos and see what sort of havoc he can wreak up there. However nonetheless, nice struggle.

The ultimate one was the powerful name. Jon Jones won’t ever struggle Tom Aspinall, in order that’s out. Nobody has ever been excited a few Leon Edwards struggle (or a Belal Muhammad struggle both for that matter) in order that’s out. Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan appears to be up within the air and apart from, I kinda suppose that’s a Georges St-Pierre–Jon Fitch scenario. So I’m going to go together with my coronary heart, regardless that 82 % of you’ll hate it: Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev.

Ankalaev is an effective fighter! Fairly probably the very best gentle heavyweight on this planet. And although he definitely has been boring earlier than, it’s not like he’s the aforementioned Jon Fitch. Ankalaev has loads of thrilling performances. Plus, I need to see simply how highly effective the magic of Alex Pereira is. In principle, Ankalaev is a troublesome type matchup, however is that true? I need to discover out. It’s much more fascinating than having him struggle a random heavyweight.

Additionally, simply as an apart, if this query prolonged past simply the UFC, the true No. 1-with-a-bullet struggle for me is Eddie Corridor vs. Mariusz Pudzianowski, accurately for all true MMA followers.

Dustin Poirier

Would a Dustin Poirier vs Nate Diaz be the proper remaining bout for “The Diamond?”

So regardless of Poirier form of retiring after UFC 302, it didn’t take lengthy for him to virtually instantly stroll that again. I by no means thought Poirier would retire (MMA is like comedian books and dying: everybody comes again besides Uncle Ben, Bruce Wayne’s mother and father, and Khabib), however I used to be even stunned by how shortly it occurred. And sure, the clear and apparent selection for any “Final Dance” for Poirier is Nate Diaz, however I believe that doesn’t occur.

Diaz simply pulled off a minor upset in beating Jorge Masvidal of their boxing match this previous weekend, and instantly after, Stockton’s most interesting laid the muse for a return to the UFC. Will it occur? I don’t know. However even when it does, Nate received’t be preventing Poirier. There’s a non-zero likelihood Nate can stroll proper right into a welterweight title shot on his return, and if he doesn’t do this, Conor McGregor is ready. Conor would (and possibly desires to) abandon the Michael Chandler struggle instantaneously. These are greater fights for Nate, and so for Poirier, it’s simply unhealthy timing.

If Poirier actually does need to do one final rodeo, there are solely two choices. The primary is Alexander Volkanovski, who already known as for it, and the opposite is a trilogy bout with Justin Gaethje. The Volk struggle is a enjoyable, new matchup, that everybody can be ok with. The Gaethje struggle is the conclusion of the rivalry (and the careers) of two of the best motion fighters in historical past. Personally, I hope it’s the latter, however Volk wouldn’t be a foul comfort prize.

Jiri Prochazka

What do you concentrate on Jiri transferring right down to middleweight? I believe gentle heavyweight is his right weight class, Alex is simply too good of a technical striker for him. Do you suppose Jiri can be greatest altering camps and dealing on his protection?

So apparently Jiri is contemplating a drop right down to 185 kilos for a recent begin after getting iced by Pereira for a second time, and I personally couldn’t hate one thing extra.

Jiri didn’t get knocked out as a result of he’s too small at gentle heavyweight (I’ve by no means as soon as thought him to be something aside from monumental at 205), and he didn’t get knocked out as a result of Pereira’s spirit powers. He received knocked out as a result of he’s received unhealthy protection, and he realized completely nothing from their first matchup.

Severely, Jiri received killed by Pereira, went again to the health club and stated “for the rematch, I’ll do the identical factor, solely change stances so his leg kicks harm me much less.” And he thought that was some skeleton key to victory? That’s insane.

The reality is, Jiri doesn’t want to vary something. This has at all times been his type, it’s simply that 95 % of sunshine heavyweights haven’t been capable of punish him for it. Pereira was. I’m unsure anybody else will have the ability to at gentle heavyweight. At middleweight? Completely different story. It’s a greater division, and it’s unlikely Jiri will have the ability to take the identical photographs he does now after a weight minimize like that. 185 kilos would solely harm him.

The way in which to resolve Jiri’s issues is to really work on his sport, like how Justin Gaethje did after shedding back-to-back fights. Gaethje realized he’d reached a ceiling, and you understand, realized learn how to not struggle like a lunatic always. He nonetheless has that in him, and deploys it at opportune moments, however he is also a VASTLY improved defensive fighter with a extra assorted sport. That’s what Jiri must do. Go work with Jason Parillo or Duke Roufus and really “evolve,” as an alternative of hoping being greater will remedy your issues.

My Favorites

Your high 5 favourite fighters of all time.

That is simple as a result of I take into consideration stuff like this on a regular basis.

To notice, that is in chronological order of after I turned a fan of them, NOT a rating. That’s too onerous for me to determine. However these are the blokes who once they fought I’d get legitimately nervous about. Others are additionally in that tier as properly, notably Carlos Condit simply misses the minimize right here, however these are the large ones. Give me yours down within the feedback.

Thanks for studying, and thanks for everybody who despatched in tweets (Xs?)! Do you will have any burning questions on issues at the very least considerably associated to fight sports activities? Then you definitely’re in luck, as a result of you may ship your tweets to me, @JedKMeshew, and I’ll reply my favourite ones! Doesn’t matter in the event that they’re topical or insane, simply as long as they’re good. Thanks once more, and see y’all subsequent week.