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

We’re coming off an off week on the planet of MMA, with the largest factor occurring 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 might be booked already or have an amazing likelihood of being booked someday this yr?

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

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

DDP vs. Izzy might be the very best combat since Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor, by way of 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 always. Plus, there’s a excessive probability of one thing humorous occurring if DDP runs headlong into Izzy’s offense and will get clobbered. A+++ combat.

Second, and this can be most individuals’s No. 1 combat, 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 It’s an distinctive matchup between the brand new champion and the outdated guard who’s coming off probably the very best efficiency of his profession.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 rationale this isn’t No. 1 for me, apart 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is factoring in that Holloway seemed so good towards Justin Gaethje as a result of a) Gaethje himself is just a little outdated and b) it was at light-weight.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 form of want he’d simply keep at 155 kilos and see what sort of havoc he can wreak up there. However nonetheless, nice combat.

The ultimate one was the robust name. Jon Jones won’t ever combat Tom Aspinall, in order that’s out. Nobody has ever been excited a couple of Leon Edwards combat (or a Belal Muhammad combat 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 state of affairs. So I’m going to go together with my coronary heart, though 82 % of you’ll hate it: Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev.

Ankalaev is an efficient fighter! Fairly probably the very best mild heavyweight on the planet. And although he actually has been boring earlier than, it’s not like he’s the aforementioned Jon Fitch. Ankalaev has loads of thrilling performances. Plus, I wish to see simply how highly effective the magic of Alex Pereira is. In idea, Ankalaev is a tough fashion matchup, however is that true? I wish to discover out. It’s much more attention-grabbing than having him combat a random heavyweight.

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

Dustin Poirier

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

So regardless of Poirier type of retiring after UFC 302, it didn’t take lengthy for him to nearly 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 alternative 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 best 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 combating 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 doubtless needs to) abandon the Michael Chandler combat instantaneously. These are greater fights for Nate, and so for Poirier, it’s simply unhealthy timing.

If Poirier actually does wish to do one final rodeo, there are solely two choices. The primary is Alexander Volkanovski, who already referred to as for it, and the opposite is a trilogy bout with Justin Gaethje. The Volk combat is a enjoyable, new matchup, that everybody can be ok with. The Gaethje combat 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 nasty comfort prize.

Jiri Prochazka

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

So apparently Jiri is contemplating a drop right down to 185 kilos for a contemporary 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 mild heavyweight (I’ve by no means as soon as thought him to be something apart from monumental at 205), and he didn’t get knocked out as a result of Pereira’s spirit powers. He obtained knocked out as a result of he’s obtained unhealthy protection, and he realized completely nothing from their first matchup.

Significantly, Jiri obtained killed by Pereira, went again to the health club and mentioned “for the rematch, I’ll do the identical factor, solely change stances so his leg kicks damage 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 all the time been his fashion, 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 be capable to at mild heavyweight. At middleweight? Completely different story. It’s a greater division, and it’s unlikely Jiri will be capable to take the identical photographs he does now after a weight minimize like that. 185 kilos would solely damage him.

The way in which to resolve Jiri’s issues is to truly work on his sport, like how Justin Gaethje did after shedding back-to-back fights. Gaethje realized he’d reached a ceiling, and you realize, realized the way to not combat 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 diverse sport. That’s what Jiri must do. Go work with Jason Parillo or Duke Roufus and truly “evolve,” as a substitute of hoping being greater will clear up your issues.

My Favorites

Your high 5 favourite fighters of all time.

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

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

Thanks for studying, and thanks for everybody who despatched in tweets (Xs?)! Do you’ve any burning questions on issues no less than considerably associated to fight sports activities? You then’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.