Between next month’s UFC 294 and the closing pay-per-view events of 2023 in UFC 295 and UFC 296, once again, we just have to say: it’s a great f***ing time to be a mixed martial arts fan. Especially in light of the update Dana White has just provided in regards to the latter two.
Our excitement for UFC 294, which is scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena, almost requires zero explanation. Headlined by a much-anticipated rematch between undisputed lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and former division champ/people’s champ, Charles Oliveira, much like their first encounter at UFC 280, no one expects this to go the distance. Mark my words: someone’s tapping, snapping, or napping.
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The same can be said about the next PPV card’s co-main bout: Paulo Costa vs Khamzat Chimaev. This grudge match pits two heavy-handed brawlers who also embody the age-old conflict between Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners against wrestlers. Although there’s every chance this goes the distance a la Costa’s war against Yoel Romero and Luke Rockhold; Chimaev’s slugfest against Gilbert Burns.
But would you believe this isn’t the most hyped-numbered event to come? No siree… that honour safely belongs to UFC 295.
In addition to what’s supposedly a retirement fight for reigning GOAT Jon Jones, who’s set to go head-to-head with heavyweight legend Stipe Miocic — a prospect alone which already commanded $120,000 ticket prices — Dana White has today confirmed the co-main bout.
Former middleweight champion/devastating knockout artist Alex Pereira is finally coming to blows with the returning light-heavyweight king/fellow knockout artist Jiri Prochazka for the vacant light-heavyweight throne. And given this very title was forcibly seized from Glover Teixeira (Pereira’s teammate and close friend) by Prochazka at UFC 275, stone-cold revenge served within the Octagon is also on the line.
This one also promises to be fireworks given the fascinating stylistic match-up. While both are elite kickboxers, Prochazka tends to trade with reckless abandon until his opponent crumbles, while Pereira is quite the surgical striker. What’s gonna happen? Who the bloody hell knows? But that’s the fun of it all, isn’t it?
And then we arrive at the matter of UFC 296. The vast majority of fight fans had hoped Conor McGregor would get his s**t together, re-enrol in the USADA testing pool, and honour his pledge to face Bellator transplant Michael Chandler before the year’s end. At the time of this writing, that doesn’t appear to be happening (we’re happy to be proven wrong between now and then), although we are getting a pretty sweet consolation prize.
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The world’s leading MMA promotion is closing out the calendar year with a pair of five-rounders for the belt: welterweight champion Leon Edwards vs MAGA-infused firebrand Colby Covington and Uber driver turned flyweight titleholder Alexandre Pantoja vs Brandon Royval II.
How. Bloody. GOOD.
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