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

We’re coming off an off week on this planet of MMA, with the most important factor occurring being the Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal boxing match. Apart 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 one of the best fights to come back 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 likelihood of being booked someday this 12 months?

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

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 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 usually. Plus, there’s a excessive probability of one thing humorous occurring 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 It’s an distinctive matchup between the brand new champion and the outdated guard who’s coming off presumably one of the best efficiency of his profession.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is factoring in that Holloway seemed so good towards Justin Gaethje as a result of a) Gaethje himself is a little bit outdated and b) it was at light-weight.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 one of the best of his profession. I sort 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 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 scenario. So I’m going to go together with my coronary heart, despite the fact that 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 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 tough fashion 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 fight 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 closing bout for “The Diamond?”

So regardless of Poirier sort of retiring after UFC 302, it didn’t take lengthy for him to almost immediately walk that back. 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 dad and mom, and Khabib), however I used to be even stunned 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 most interesting laid the foundation 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 try this, Conor McGregor is ready. Conor would (and possibly needs 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 need to do one final rodeo, there are solely two choices. The primary is Alexander Volkanovski, who already called 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 feel 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 considering a drop down to 185 pounds 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 huge at 205), and he didn’t get knocked out as a result of Pereira’s spirit powers. He bought knocked out as a result of he’s bought unhealthy protection, and he discovered completely nothing from their first matchup.

Critically, Jiri bought killed by Pereira, went again to the health club and mentioned “for the rematch, I will do the same thing, 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 fashion, 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 undecided 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 pictures he does now after a weight reduce like that. 185 kilos would solely harm him.

The best way 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 understand, discovered how one can 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 actually “evolve,” as an alternative of hoping being larger will remedy 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.

• B.J. Penn
• Fedor Emelianenko
• Jose Aldo
• Khabib Nurmagomedov
• Justin Gaethje

To notice, that is in chronological order of after I turned a fan of them, NOT a rating. That’s too laborious for me to determine. However these are the blokes who once they fought I might get legitimately nervous about. Others are additionally in that tier as effectively, notably Carlos Condit simply misses the reduce 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 gotten any burning questions on issues at the very least considerably associated to fight sports activities? Then you definately’re in luck, as a result of you possibly can 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.