With 2022 now within the rear-view mirror, the eye on the earth of combined martial arts has turned to what struggle followers can anticipate out the yr to return in 2023.
The hopes and goals of followers will be lofty at instances, however that doesn’t stop large fights from being made on a yearly foundation. In spite of everything, Conor McGregor fought Dustin Poirier twice in a calendar yr in 2021, and a superfight between UFC light-weight champion Islam Makhachev and UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski already on the docket for early 2023 got here along with relative ease.
UFC sportsbooks ought to be salivating on the prospect of all the large fights to be made this yr. The larger the struggle, the extra motion sportsbooks are prone to obtain, even in mild of latest betting scandals which have rocked the MMA world.
Listed below are 4 dream fights within the eyes of the matchmakers which have a chance of occurring in 2023.
Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou
One of the vital possible dream fights to return to fruition in 2023 is perhaps Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou for the UFC heavyweight championship. Ngannou continues to be on the mend from knee surgical procedure that sidelined him for all of 2022, and phrases like “Jon Jones” and “almost certainly” are usually not precisely synonymous lately. That being stated, the UFC has 12 months to make what has the possibility to be the most important heavyweight struggle within the historical past of the promotion.
Regardless of his inactivity, Jones continues to solid a big shadow over the UFC. For all his authorized issues, he nonetheless holds one of the crucial spectacular championship resumes of all time and stays basically undefeated, having by no means been stopped or overwhelmed on the judges’ scorecards. Ngannou definitely possesses the fight-changing energy to crush Jones’ heavyweight goals, making for a enjoyable struggle stylistically in addition to one among important magnitude. With Tyson Fury having seemingly moved on from the concept of a hybrid guidelines superfight with Ngannou, there may be incentive for each Jones and Ngannou to comply with phrases and return in opposition to each other this spring or summer season.
Conor McGregor vs. Jorge Masvidal
It will be robust to have an inventory of “matchmaker dream fights” that doesn’t function the return of Conor McGregor. Whereas many have speculated the viability of a McGregor return this yr, there may be possible an excessive amount of cash to be produced from all angles for it to not occur. Jorge Masvidal, in the meantime, has loads of incentive to have McGregor as his subsequent opponent. Given his latest authorized troubles stemming from his “alleged” assault on Colby Covington following their fundamental occasion struggle in 2022, it is smart for Masvidal to angle for a struggle with McGregor, which possesses immense potential from a buyrate standpoint.
McGregor has spoken brazenly of his need to proceed his profession at 170 kilos. Judging by his latest photographs, it’s straightforward to see why, as he has bulked up significantly since breaking his leg in opposition to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. Stylistically, the struggle ought to ship in spades, with each males prone to stand and commerce with each other till somebody hits the canvas or time expires on the fifth spherical. It additionally serves as a winnable struggle for each males, who’re a mixed 1-5 for the reason that begin of 2020.
Israel Adesanya vs. Khamzat Chimaev
There could possibly be a number of hurdles stopping this struggle from being made, however both method, there ought to be no scarcity of enjoyable fights for each Israel Adesanya and Khamzat Chimaev in 2023. Adesanya lately misplaced his UFC middleweight championship to longtime rival Alex Pereira at UFC 281, and it’s at the moment unsure what weight class Chimaev will make his return at after lacking weight for his doomed UFC 279 fundamental occasion conflict with Nate Diaz. Nevertheless, each males have proven a capability to attach with their followers and will do large pay-per-view numbers if the celebs occurred to align.
For the struggle to materialize, Adesanya would possible must regain the middleweight championship in a rematch with Pereira early in 2023 and maybe defeat Pereira another time in a trilogy struggle to be rid of him for good. Nevertheless, a Pereira damage might open the door for Chimaev to step in, although Chimaev will possible must win a struggle over a prime middleweight contender earlier than difficult for the belt. It’s not unprecedented for Adesanya to struggle 3 times in a yr, nevertheless, so a struggle between Chimaev and Adesanya, whereas unlikely, could possibly be on the desk if the dominoes fall correctly.
Kamaru Usman vs. Charles Oliveira
Charles Oliveira could have formally misplaced the UFC light-weight championship on the scales forward of his title protection in opposition to Justin Gaethje in 2022, however he remained the champion within the minds of many till falling to Islam Makhachev at UFC 280. Though Oliveira has had little bother making weight at 155 kilos in any other case and has seemed good on the weight class, a transfer as much as 170 kilos could possibly be in his future sooner or later, given the character of his body and what might show to be a faster path to the title. Essentially the most intriguing struggle Oliveira can take at welterweight could be a five-round title struggle in opposition to Kamaru Usman, however to ensure that that to occur, Usman might want to regain his title from Leon Edwards, although a date for the Edwards-Usman rematch is but to be formally introduced.
Stylistically, an Usman-Oliveira struggle may not be as lower and dry as one may suppose. Usman fell sufferer to the knockout for the primary time in his profession in opposition to Edwards at UFC 278, and Oliveira does carry energy in his palms. Moreover, whereas Usman has the potential to impose an analogous gameplan to Oliveira’s rival Makhachev, the 35-year-old sometimes prefers to strike. Regardless of the place the struggle may find yourself, pleasure would make sure to ensue. Moreover, as a former pay-per-view headliner himself, Oliveira has quietly made a reputation for himself amongst informal followers, and will function a compelling foil to “The Nigerian Nightmare.”
