UFC will have to live up to some high expectations in 2021 after the promotion’s impeccable showing, even during a global pandemic. The year kicks off with some high-profile bouts with Conor McGregor set to headline the first pay-per-view of 2021. There are more fights that fans want to see this year. Here we take a look at five such dream bouts.
1. Stipe Miocic vs Francis Ngannou 2
- Conor McGregor will be one of the most popular UFC 257 picks and probably the highest-owned fighter in both cash and GPP DraftKings tournaments on January 23rd. If we look at the betting odds, McGregor is a -270 favorite and Poirier is a +220 underdog in this matchup. It’s hard to avoid playing “The Notorious” in our DraftKings lineups.
- UFC 220: Miocic vs. Ngannou was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that was held on January 20, 2018, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
- One more defence followed at UFC 220 against Volkan Oezdemir before he moved back to heavyweight to challenge Stipe Miocic. Cormier's four-minute, 33-second KO of the defending champ saw him join McGregor in the two-belt club, though in August 2019 Miocic would avenge the loss before winning the trilogy last year.
Betting guide to UFC 257's Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier main event. Get the latest prop betting odds and our favorite picks for the year's biggest fight.
Francis Ngannou has proved himself deserving of another title shot with his run in the heavyweight division. Champion Stipe Miocic dominated ‘The Predator‘ in their first contest at UFC 220.
But with a much improved Ngannou, who has developed a lethal finishing style, the rematch has to happen in 2021. It will be interesting to see how the fight goes this time around.
2. Colby Covington vs Jorge Masvidal
The fight between the two former best friends has long been in the making now. With the two welterweights eyeing another shot at the title, this fight is a must-do for 2021.
UFC President Dana White also hinted recently that the promotion is working on getting the fight booked. Given Covington and Masvidal‘s willingness to fight each other, it only seems a matter of time before they finally face-off.
3. Khamzat Chimaev vs Leon Edwards
The welterweight clash between top contenders, Khamzat Chimaev and Leon Edwards, has now fallen apart twice. But it seems like the UFC has no plans to scrap the bout yet and wants to reschedule it at a convenient date. Fans will look forward to seeing how Chimaev copes against a seasoned top contender like Edwards in his first true test inside the Octagon.
4. Jon Jones’ debut at heavyweight
Jon Jones is set to make his much anticipated heavyweight debut in 2021. ‘Bones’ will get a title shot straight away once he is ready for his new venture.
It seems likely that the eventual winner of Stipe Miocic vs Francis Ngannou will be Jones’ first fight in the new weight class. Both fights promise to be exciting in different ways. Nevertheless, fans can’t wait to see the former light-heavyweight king at heavyweight.
5. Israel Adesanya vs Jan Blachowicz
Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is moving up to light-heavyweight as he is set to fight Jan Blachowicz for the belt at UFC 259 in March. ‘Stylebender’ has established his dominance at the 185 lbs division and it will be fascinating to see how he copes against a much bigger fighter like Blachowicz.
This fight is also high up in every fan’s wishlist for sure.
Which other fight makes your list for the top five fights to look forward to in 2021? Let us know.
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© Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Is Conor McGregor really retired this time around?Fight fans believing it's only a matter of time before former two-division champion Conor McGregor comes out of his latest 'retirement' whenever UFC boss Dana White presents the outspoken Irishman with a financially-pleasing deal may not want to speak with McGregor's coach about the situation.
As noted by Damon Martin of MMA Fighting, longtime McGregor coach John Kavanagh discussed his fighter's latest sabbatical from the Octagon during an Instagram Live session and said that, as far as he knows, the soon-to-be 32-year-old has hung his gloves up for good.
“Is Conor retired? Yes, he is as far as I can tell,” Kavanagh answered when asked about McGregor's status. 'That’s what he said, isn’t it?”
When asked by a fan to persuade McGregor to resume fighting as soon as possible, Kavanagh made it clear that any such decision must come from the UFC's first champ-champ.
'I can’t convince Conor to do sh--,' Kavanagh said while chuckling. “Conor will tell Conor what he’s gonna do.
“And who knows, who knows what’s going to happen in the future? But as for now, he’s retired.”
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McGregor's third retirement began earlier this month after White declared that undefeated lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov will next defend that title versus interim champ Justin Gaethje, and that welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is facing Gilbert Burns at the UFC 251 show held on Fight Island on July 11.
Somewhat conveniently for all involved, McGregor's current break comes during the coronavirus pandemic when fans can't attend shows, and the UFC can't cash-in on gate revenues.
With cases rising and spiking throughout the United States, though, McGregor and White may both need to be realistic about the state of the sport if 'The Notorious' one is to return to the cage this year.
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