Here are 20 fights MMA Junkie hopes to see happen in 2020.
With a new year comes new things, including good ol’-fashioned fist fights. What kinds of matchups are we hoping to see in 2020? What kinds of bookings do we want the MMA gods to bless us with?
Here’s a list of some ideas and why they may (or may not) make sense:
Dillon Danis
20. [autotag]A.J. Agazarm[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Dillon Danis[/autotag]
This list is being kicked off by “El Jefe” himself. I know this will automatically trigger the Twitter trolls, but hear me out. Danis and Agazarm easily are two of the best grapplers Bellator has in its lighter weight classes. The two have competed against each other plenty of times in the grappling world and they don’t have a lot of love for each other. Their name value doesn’t match their experience level in MMA, so they both often have fights against unknown opponents, which makes their fights hard to promote.
So why not pit them against each other? It makes sense for both fighters skill-level wise, it could be a fun buildup, and we could certainly see some fun, world-class jiu-jitsu.
Bryce Mitchell
19.[autotag]Kron Gracie[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Bryce Mitchell[/autotag]
Let’s keep the jiu-jitsu train rolling. Gracie is jiu-jitsu royalty and Mitchell scored a cool-looking submission in his most recent fight – a twister. The UFC certainly is not shy about throwing Gracie against someone with far more experience (cough, cough – Cub Swanson). I know Mitchell is a bit more experienced than Gracie, but not by a crazy margin. Both guys need fights and have interesting and opposing personalities. Why not?
Some of the most significant in-fight moments and records in UFC history have occurred and been etched in stone over the past decade.
The past decade of UFC action has seen a lot unfold, and it is arguably the most important in the organization’s history from in terms of evolution.
Only within this era have statistics truly come to the forefront. After so many years of fights, the groundwork for what’s viewed as meaningful and the history attached has finally been laid out. The athletes and techniques have evolved, too, meaning new methods of causing damage and finishing fights are attempted and pulled off with a higher rate of frequency.
That evolution is apparent in the history books, because some of the most significant moments and records in UFC history have occurred over this past decade.
Let’s dig into the archives.
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EVENT FEATS
Sajik Arena in South Korea
The UFC held 363 events in 159 difference venues across 26 countries over the past decade.
“UFC 243: Whittaker vs. Adesanya” in October 2019 had the highest announced attendance in company history at 57,127.
“UFC 205: Alvarez vs. McGregor” in November 2016 sold a largest live gate in company history at $17.7 million.
“UFC Fight Night 121: Werdum vs. Tybura” in November 2017 had the most total fight time of any event in company history at 3 hours, 4 minutes and 18 seconds.
“UFC Fight Night 55:: Rockhold vs. Bisping” in November 2014 had the least total fight time of those events at 1 hour, 3 minutes and 51 seconds.
The UFC canceled four events over the decade: UFC 151 in September 2012; UFC 176 in August 2014; UFC Fight Night 97 in October 2016 and UFC 233 in January 2019.
Michael Bisping def. Luke Rockhold at UFC 199
“UFC Fight Night 55: Rockhold vs. Bisping” and “UFC 224: Nunes vs. Pennington” in May 2018 each featured 11 stoppage results, the most for any card in company history.
“UFC on FOX 7: Henderson vs. Melendez” in April 2013, “UFC Fight Night 45: Cerrone vs. Miller” in July 2014, “UFC 199: Rockhold vs. Bisping 2,” in June 2016 and “UFC 218: Holloway vs. Aldo 2” in December 2017 each featured eight knockout results, the most of the decade.
“UFC on FUEL TV 10: Werdum vs. Nogueira” in June 2013 featured eight submission results, the most for any card in company history.
Seven events each featured 10 decision results, the most for any card in company history.
“UFC Fight Night 134: Shogun vs. Smith” in July 2018 and “UFC on ESPN 4: Dos Anjos vs. Edwards” each featured nine consecutive decision results, the longest streak on a card in company history.
“UFC Fight Night 79: Henderson vs. Masvidal” in November 2015 and “UFC 222: Cyborg vs. Kunitskaya” in March 2018 each featured five split-decision results, the most for any card in company history.
Henry Cejudo def. Marlon Moraes at UFC 238
“UFC 238: Cejudo vs. Moraes” in June 2019 featured a total of 1,818 significant strikes landed, a single-event record for the company.
“UFC 223: Khabib vs. Iaquinta” in April 2018 featured seven fighters who landed 100 or more significant strikes, a single-event record for the company.
“UFC 199: Rockhold vs. Bisping 2” in June 2016 featured 15 knockdowns, a single-event record for the company.
“UFC 189: Mendes vs. McGregor” in July 2015 was the only event in company history to feature two knockouts stemming from flying knee strikes.
“UFC 228: Woodley vs. Till” in September 2018 was the only event in company history to feature two kneebar submission results.
“UFC 217: Bisping vs. St-Pierre” in November 2017 marked the only event in history to feature three title changes.
Donald Cerrone says money talks, which is why Justin Gaethje could get skipped for a UFC lightweight title shot.
In an era of stars and money fights, it’s not always the No. 1 contender who gets the next crack at the championship.
[autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] just might be about to learn this the hard way.
Conor McGregor will make his return on Jan. 18 at UFC 246, where he’ll take on [autotag]Donald Cerrone[/autotag] in the main event.
And if he beats “Cowboy,” UFC president Dana White said McGregor (21-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) will be next in line for a lightweight title shot after the upcoming Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson fight, even thought McGregor’s bout with Cerrone is at welterweight.
So that would put Gaethje (21-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC), who’s knocked out his last three opponents in the first round, including Cerrone, in a tough spot.
But Cerrone (36-13 MMA, 23-10 UFC) says it’s not always about your body of work in the division. The UFC is a money-driven machine, and historically speaking, no man has generated more pay-per-view sales than McGregor, the former lightweight and featherweight champion.
“If you’re talking rankings and deserving, sure,” Cerrone told MMA Junkie on Gaethje. “If you’re talking popularity and the business side of it and making money, yeah. It’s two different games. The UFC gets to pick and choose and do that they want for what makes financially more sense for them. That’s just what this game has turned into.”
UFC lightweight contender Justin Gaethje makes generous donation to students in the Denver Public School District.
[autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] just spent a whole lot of money on lunch, and it wasn’t for himself.
The UFC lightweight contender recently paid off $1,538 in lunch debt for students at two schools in the Denver Public School District, according to 9News. With the donation, Gaethje (21-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) paid off the student lunch debts accrued during the first semester school.
West Early College High School and Middle School posted the news on their Facebook page, thanking Gaethje for his contribution. Below is what the posted on social media:
West Early College families received a wonderful holiday gift today. Shout out to Justin “The Highlight” Gaethje who is a champion UFC fighter and friend to our Cowboys. We love and appreciate your generous gift! Thank you.
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Gaethje trains out of Grudge Training Center in Arvada, Colo. under the tutelage of Trevor Wittman. He’s also an NCAA D-1 All-American for the University of Northern Colorado.
The 31-year-old fighter last competed in September where he stopped Donald Cerrone in the first round. The win extended his current streak to three in a row. Gaethje is regarded as one of the top contenders in the UFC’s 155-pound division, and of late he’s been pushing for the winner of the Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson title fight at UFC 249 in April.
Dana White explains why Conor McGregor is likely to see a title shot before Justin Gaethje is he wins at UFC 246.
[autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] lashed out at Dana White after the UFC president said [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] would fight for the lightweight title next if successful in his return to the octagon against Donald Cerrone at UFC 246.
Gaethje (21-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) has been pushing for a title shot at 155 pounds after putting together three consecutive first-round knockouts, the most recent of which came against Cerrone at UFC on ESPN+ 16 in September.
Much to Gaethje’s confusion, though, he could be upstaged by McGregor’s (21-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) one performance on Jan. 18, despite the bout being contested at welterweight. White pointed to McGregor’s resume and accomplishments in the sport, as well as Gaethje allegedly turning down fights, as the reason for “The Notorious” being a win over “Cowboy” away from challenging for the gold.
“C’mon guys, look what Conor’s done over the last however many years,” White told ESPN on Thursday. “Then he loses to Khabib (Nurmagomedov) in a fight that was – when you talk about bad blood – it’s like the next level of bad blood. Gaethje was on his way up, too. We’ve offered Gaethje a lot of fights that Gaethje hasn’t taken, either. So Conor’s in line next for (a title) fight if he beats ‘Cowboy.'”
Gaethje recently told MMA Junkie his intention was to wait for the winner of the Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson lightweight title bout, which is scheduled for April 18 in Brooklyn. He was also open to the possibility of being a replacement fighter, but would want the cost of his training camp covered.
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It appears as though McGregor has jumped ahead of him for both those scenarios. White revealed the Irishman has the intention of beating Cerrone and preparing himself to step in should the ill-fated Nurmagomedov vs. Ferguson matchup be called off for a fifth time.
“Conor wants to fight three times this year and he’s hoping that if he beats ‘Cowboy’ he can turn right around and fight Khabib,” White said. “But that timing and math isn’t going to work out. But you know Conor. Conor thinks the way Conor thinks. His thing is, ‘I’ll fight ‘Cowboy,’ I’ll beat ‘Cowboy’ and I’ll be ready to fight Khabib at 155 if anything happens.’ Because we’re going into Khabib-Tony again. So in Conor’s mind, Conor would be ready for that fight.”
Although White is saying this now, there’s still more than a month until McGregor fights Cerrone, and more than four months until Nurmagomedov fights Ferguson. The landscape has the potential to change dramatically over that time frame, and White said his focus is on the first step, which involves getting McGregor back in the octagon at UFC 246.
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“We’re getting through this one first,” White said. “We’re getting through the ‘Cowboy’ fight, and the level of disrespect shown to ‘Cowboy’ through this whole thing, apparently everybody forgot. ‘Cowboy’ lost two in a row? ‘Cowboy’ has lost two in a row before and come back and gone on unbelievable runs. So let’s not count ‘Cowboy’ out.”
Justin Gaethje, how do you really feel about a possible Khabib vs. McGregor rematch?
[autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] is letting the public know how he really feels.
On Wednesday, Gaethje responded to recent comments made by UFC president Dana White.
When speaking on the state of the UFC lightweight division, White indicated that a rematch between champion [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] and [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] could be on tap, should both men win their upcoming fights against Tony Ferguson and Donald Cerrone, respectively.
“If Conor can get through ‘Cowboy’ and if Khabib can get through Tony, then we’d be looking at a rematch between Conor and Khabib down the line here pretty soon,” White said in an interview with BT Sport released Tuesday.
Not long after the video of White’s comments hit Twitter, Gaethje responded and voiced his disapproval.
Lol at @danawhite “if Conor gets through Cowboy”… what a crock of sh*t.
If White’s alleged plans hold true, the proverbial monkey wrench will be thrown in Gaethje’s pathway to a title shot.
In an interview with MMA Junkie last week, Gaethje said he planned to sit out and wait to fight the winner of Nurmagomedov vs. Ferguson. He believed he was the No. 1 contender.
“I don’t see it like that,” Gaethje said, when asked if he felt like the odd man out. “I think I’m the next guy in line. The title fight is set, and somebody needs to fight the winner of that fight. So that’s me. I got in this sport for one reason, and that was to fight for a world title.”
McGregor vs. Cerrone is scheduled to headline UFC 246 on Jan. 18 in Las Vegas. Three months later, Nurmagomedov vs. Ferguson serves as the main event for UFC 249 in Brooklyn, N.Y. on April 18.
Hosts “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” react to the latest MMA news and notes, and unpack UFC on ESPN 7.
Monday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with hosts “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here!
On Episode No. 3,008 of the podcast, the guys take a look back at UFC on ESPN 7 and react to the latest news and notes in MMA.
THE RUNDOWN:
[autotag]Jairzinho Rozenstruik[/autotag] was on his way to a guaranteed loss to [autotag]Alistair Overeem[/autotag] in the UFC DC main event until he landed a miraculous knockout with four seconds left to steal a victory. But should the fight have been stopped when it was?
Even though [autotag]Marina Rodriguez[/autotag] and [autotag]Cody Stamann[/autotag] only walked away with draws in their respective fights, did they really win in the eyes of the matchmakers?
Between Dan Miragliotta’s aforementioned stoppage in the headline and him advising [autotag]Stefan Struve[/autotag] to keep fighting [autotag]Ben Rothwell[/autotag] despite some low blows, what gives? Is the veteran referee going through a slump or something?
[autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] has decided he won’t be the odd man out and is content with being patient until he gets a title shot. What do we think of this?
[autotag]Tito Ortiz[/autotag] is back? Well, the UFC Hall of Famer did submit [autotag]Alberto El Patron[/autotag] over the weekend in Combate Americas. Does that qualify as him being back, though? Are we really saying that?
Stream or download this and all episodes of MMA Junkie Radio over at AudioBoom, or check it out above. You can also catch it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more. A new episode of the podcast is released every Monday and Thursday.
Despite the circumstances near the top of the lightweight division, Justin Gaethje doesn’t feel like the odd man out.
WASHINGTON – Despite the current circumstances at the top of the lightweight division, [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] doesn’t feel like the odd man out.
With Conor McGregor booked to fight Donald Cerrone and UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov slated to defend his title against Tony Ferguson, there aren’t many realistic options left for Gaethje (21-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC).
Some outside observers may think Gaethje is in a tough position, but he doesn’t agree. He simply sees himself as the No. 1 contender.
“I don’t see it like that,” Gaethje told MMA Junkie on Friday. “I think I’m the next guy in line. The title fight is set and somebody needs to fight the winner of that fight. So that’s me. I got in this sport for one reason and that was to fight for a world title.”
In the lead up to McGregor’s return booking, Gaethje said he was not made aware of any discussions he might fight the Irishman. The former World Series of Fighting champ says he isn’t disappointed the UFC went with “Cowboy.”
“It’s pretty much the exact same scenario as when Conor said he was going to fight me the first time,” Gaethje said. “I never heard a word. I don’t know nothing about it. So, nope. Never heard… I’m glad it’s at 170. When I saw it was at 170, I wasn’t disappointed at all.”
In Gaethje’s eyes, what some view as a missed opportunity may actually be a blessing in disguise. Gaethje plans on winning the title before he fights McGregor in order to expand his worth.
“The truth is it’s good for the sport in general to have superstars,” Gaethje said. “I make money. If I fought him now, I’d make the same amount as if I fought anybody. I have a fight on my contract. Next fight, I’d get paid the same.
“I get paid a lot of money when I beat Khabib and then fight Conor with the belt. I’ll be ready when the opportunities come. That’s my job now.”
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For now, Gaethje isn’t too concerned about what the future holds. Much of the decision-making process, Gaethje said, is out of his control. He’s just focusing on training until an offer comes his way.
“I don’t play ‘what if’s.’ I approach things and address things whenever they happen,” Gaethje said. “We’ll see what happens. I know Conor didn’t fight me for the title contender fight that would have had to happen if he was going to pass me for the belt. He hasn’t fought in so long. That didn’t happen, so right now I’m next.”
Check out MMA Junkie’s full interview with Justin Gaethje in the video above.
Justin Gaethje talks of missed opportunity with Conor McGregor, feels he is next in line for winner of upcoming lightweight title bout between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson
Justin Gaethje talks of missed opportunity with Conor McGregor, feels he is next in line for winner of upcoming lightweight title bout between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson
