Mailbag: What are the three finest UFC fights nonetheless to return this 12 months?

We’re coming off an off week on the earth 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 12 months, so let’s get to an actual mishmash of questions, together with the most effective fights to return this 12 months, 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 12 months which might be booked already or have an excellent probability of being booked someday this 12 months?

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

My most anticipated battle for the remainder of this 12 months 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 battle after the Derek Brunson matchup. Seventeen months later, I’ll lastly get what I need.

DDP vs. Izzy might be the most effective 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 can 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 It’s an distinctive matchup between the brand new champion and the outdated guard who’s coming off probably the most effective efficiency of his profession.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 probabilities than most are. It looks as if nobody is factoring in that Holloway appeared so good in opposition to Justin Gaethje as a result of a) Gaethje himself is a little bit outdated and b) it was at light-weight.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 most effective 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 battle.

The ultimate one was the powerful name. Jon Jones won’t ever battle Tom Aspinall, in order that’s out. Nobody has ever been excited a couple of 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 moreover, I kinda assume that’s a Georges St-Pierre–Jon Fitch state of affairs. So I’m going to go together with my coronary heart, although 82 p.c of you’ll hate it: Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev.

Ankalaev is an effective fighter! Fairly probably the most effective gentle heavyweight on the earth. 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 wish to see simply how highly effective the magic of Alex Pereira is. In idea, Ankalaev is a troublesome model matchup, however is that true? I wish to discover out. It’s much more attention-grabbing 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 right ultimate bout for “The Diamond?”

So regardless of Poirier form 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 dad and mom, and Khabib), however I used to be even shocked by how shortly it occurred. And sure, the clear and apparent alternative for any “Final Dance” for Poirier is Nate Diaz, however I think 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 gained’t be preventing 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 try this, Conor McGregor is ready. Conor would (and doubtless desires to) abandon the Michael Chandler battle instantaneously. These are larger 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 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 consider Jiri shifting all the way 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 can be finest altering camps and dealing on his protection?

So apparently Jiri is contemplating a drop all the way 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 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 discovered completely nothing from their first matchup.

Significantly, Jiri received killed by Pereira, went again to the gymnasium 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 alter something. This has at all times been his model, it’s simply that 95 p.c of sunshine heavyweights haven’t been capable of punish him for it. Pereira was. I’m undecided anybody else will be capable of at gentle heavyweight. At middleweight? Totally different story. It’s a greater division, and it’s unlikely Jiri will be capable of take the identical pictures 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 recreation, like how Justin Gaethje did after dropping back-to-back fights. Gaethje realized he’d reached a ceiling, and you recognize, discovered 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 assorted recreation. That’s what Jiri must do. Go work with Jason Parillo or Duke Roufus and truly “evolve,” as an alternative of hoping being larger will remedy your issues.

My Favorites

Your prime 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 once I turned a fan of them, NOT a rating. That’s too onerous for me to determine. However these are the blokes who after they fought I’d 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 large ones. Give me yours down within the feedback.

Thanks for studying, and thanks for everybody who despatched in tweets (Xs?)! Do you’ve got any burning questions on issues no less than 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.