MMA fights we wish made by the tip of 2019

This yr thus far has been a banner six months for blended martial arts, as followers noticed high champions cement their standing among the many sport’s elite, new stars rise and among the craziest finishes in historical past. And there is rather more to return: Max Holloway vs. Frankie Edgar; Daniel Cormier vs. Stipe Miocic; Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Dustin Poirier.

Which fights not at present scheduled for 2019 should be made? ESPN’s MMA group — Ariel Helwani, Brett Okamoto, Jeff Wagenheim and Marc Raimondi — gave their picks.

Okamoto: Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson

Khabib Nurmagomedov, left, and Tony Ferguson, proper, have had quite a few scheduled fights canceled lately, but it surely’s nonetheless a matchup that would supply intrigue. AP Picture/John Locher

All of you must have seen this reply coming from me. In January, I wrote the “Prime 5 fights I wish to see in 2019,” and guess what I had at No. 1? Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson. Ain’t nothing modified.

Effectively, I will take that again. The one factor that has modified is Dustin Poirier’s unbelievable interim title win over Max Holloway in April. Poirier is among the hottest fighters within the sport proper now and I can let you know, he’s going to Abu Dhabi in September with 100 p.c confidence he’s dethroning Nurmagomedov. And I believe he has an actual shot to do it. If, nonetheless, Nurmagomedov remains to be undefeated after UFC 242, Ferguson must be subsequent. Has to.

Helwani: Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier III (at heavyweight)

A Daniel Cormier-Jon Jones trilogy at heavyweight would supply their rivalry a contemporary storyline. John Locher/AP

I will go along with the trilogy however with one caveat: I do not wish to see this struggle once more at gentle heavyweight. It must be at heavyweight. I perceive each Jones and DC do not wish to do it at heavyweight, however that is my fantasy reserving, OK? Doing it at heavyweight offers the rivalry a brand new wrinkle and is simply that rather more intriguing. Can DC lastly beat Jones at Cormier’s extra pure weight? Or can Jones take one other belt away from his enemy? Theater at its most interesting.

Be aware: I reserve the proper to alter my reply if Stipe Miocic wins on Aug. 17.

Amanda Nunes, left, wowed the MMA world along with her knockout of Cris Cyborg final December. Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Getty Pictures

Saturday’s UFC Combat Night time card in San Antonio will characteristic two welterweights aiming to get into the title image and the following take a look at for ex-NFL star Greg Hardy. Rafael Dos Anjos, who snapped a two-fight skid in Could, and Leon Edwards, a winner of seven straight bouts, will meet in the primary occasion. Hardy additionally can be on the primary card as he takes on Juan Adams.

UFC Combat Night time: Dos Anjos vs. Edwards
• Saturday, San Antonio
• Prelims: ESPN 6 p.m. ET
• Fundamental card: ESPN 9 p.m. ET

Subscribe to ESPN+ to get unique stay UFC occasions, weigh-ins and extra; Ariel and the Unhealthy Man; Dana White’s Contender Sequence; and extra unique MMA content material.

Cris Cyborg was the GOAT endlessly, it appears, till Amanda Nunes snatched that distinction from her in 51 brutal seconds final December. I need extra of that. It is not that I view quick finishes as a fluke, it is simply that it by no means looks like the tip of the story. The need to see Conor McGregor and Jose Aldo tangle did not die in me after 13 seconds. I might even be up for Jorge Masvidal-Ben Askren II, perhaps 5 rounds subsequent time as an alternative of 5 seconds. So yeah, I wish to see historical past’s two biggest feminine fighters — and two of MMA’s greatest ever, feminine or male — share the cage once more with the featherweight belt on the road.

After all, to make 2019 chance, Cyborg first has to deal with enterprise towards Felicia Spencer on July 27. If she does not, no drawback: Simply put the GOAT named Amanda within the cage with the No. 1 bantamweight contender, Germaine de Randamie.

Amanda Nunes defeated Valentina Shevchenko in two earlier contest, however each have been extraordinarily shut selections. Jeff Bottari/Getty Pictures

During the last seven months, we have seen Nunes knock out each Cris Cyborg and Holly Holm within the first spherical. We have additionally seen her previously starch Ronda Rousey and choke out Miesha Tate. Each of these finishes got here within the first spherical as nicely. Nunes has appeared unbeatable, like an absolute destroyer these days. Besides towards one opponent: Shevchenko.

Sure, Nunes has crushed Shevchenko twice. However these choice victories have been razor shut. Some even felt Shevchenko received their second assembly, a tactical five-round contest that possible got here right down to the closing seconds at UFC 215 in September 2017. Examine Nunes towards Cyborg and Holm to her two fights towards Shevchenko — there is no doubt Shevchenko has been her hardest opponent, preventing her nearly evenly. Within the final 5 years, Nunes has not had a tougher time towards anybody else regardless of an enormous measurement benefit.

Nunes has some contenders rising at bantamweight, the place she is the UFC champion. There is a chance of a featherweight title rematch towards Cris Cyborg, which completely ought to occur if Cyborg beats Felicia Spencer and re-signs with the UFC. Shevchenko is the flyweight champion and would want to get by Liz Carmouche at UFC Uruguay. There are some obstacles in the way in which of this struggle occurring, however it could be one of many greatest trilogy bouts in girls’s MMA historical past,