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

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

Upcoming Fights

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

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

My most anticipated battle 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 battle after the Derek Brunson matchup. Seventeen months later, I’ll lastly get what I would like.

DDP vs. Izzy might be one of the best battle 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 always. Plus, there’s a excessive probability of one thing humorous taking place if DDP runs headlong into Izzy’s offense and will get clobbered. A+++ battle.

Second, and this will likely be most individuals’s No. 1 battle, is Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway. It’s an distinctive matchup between the brand new champion and the previous guard who’s coming off presumably one of the 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 probabilities 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 slightly previous and b) it was at light-weight. Max’s final couple of fights at 145 kilos weren’t unhealthy performances, however they weren’t one of the 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 battle.

The ultimate one was the robust name. Jon Jones won’t ever battle Tom Aspinall, in order that’s out. Nobody has ever been excited a few Leon Edwards battle (or a Belal Muhammad battle 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 assume that’s a Georges St-Pierre–Jon Fitch state of affairs. So I’m going to go along with my coronary heart, though 82 p.c of you’ll hate it: Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev.

Ankalaev is an effective fighter! Fairly presumably one of the best gentle heavyweight on the earth. 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 need to see simply how highly effective the magic of Alex Pereira is. In principle, Ankalaev is a tough model matchup, however is that true? I need to discover out. It’s much more fascinating than having him battle a random heavyweight.

Additionally, simply as an apart, if this query prolonged past simply the UFC, the true No. 1-with-a-bullet battle 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 last 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 loss of life: everybody comes again besides Uncle Ben, Bruce Wayne’s mother and father, and Khabib), however I used to be even shocked by how rapidly 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 gained’t be combating Poirier. There’s a non-zero probability 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 desires to) abandon the Michael Chandler battle 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 referred to as for it, and the opposite is a trilogy bout with Justin Gaethje. The Volk battle is a enjoyable, new matchup, that everybody can be ok with. The Gaethje battle 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 gentle heavyweight is his right weight class, Alex is simply too good of a technical striker for him. Do you assume Jiri could 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 gentle 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 acquired knocked out as a result of he’s acquired unhealthy protection, and he discovered completely nothing from their first matchup.

Critically, Jiri acquired killed by Pereira, went again to the fitness center 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 alter something. This has all the time been his model, it’s simply that 95 p.c of sunshine heavyweights haven’t been in a position to punish him for it. Pereira was. I’m unsure anybody else will be capable of at gentle heavyweight. At middleweight? Completely different story. It’s a greater division, and it’s unlikely Jiri will be capable of 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 truly work on his sport, like how Justin Gaethje did after dropping back-to-back fights. Gaethje realized he’d reached a ceiling, and you already know, discovered the right way to not battle 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 various 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 resolve your issues.

My Favorites

Your prime 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 turned 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 effectively, 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 will have any burning questions on issues no less than considerably associated to fight sports activities? Then you definately’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.