UFC predictions

Former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira will rematch Michael Chandler in the co-main event of UFC 309 in New York City on November 17. The fight will be held in a five-round format, and the winner has every chance to become one of the leaders of the title race.

UFC veteran Neil Magny will headline Fight Night 247 at the Apex in Las Vegas against Carlos Prates on November 10. The newly minted prospect is looking to break into the Top 15 and is a big bet in the league. Is it worth it?

The first UFC event of November, Fight Night 246, will be headlined by the top representatives of the flyweight category. Former champion Brandon Moreno will fight Amir Albazi, who is considered a leading contender for the title of contender. Their meeting will take place on November 3, at Rogers Place, Edmonton, Canada.

Coming straight from kickboxing to the UFC, Jonatha Diniz has proven himself in his opening fights, but he will face a big test in the form of Derrick Lewis on November 3 at Fight Night 246. The "Black Beast" has finally gotten his three-rounder and is ready to score another finish in front of the Canadian crowd.

In November 2023, Jon Jones was supposed to fight Stipe Miocic to cement his title as the best heavyweight on the planet of all time. However, an injury prevented him from doing so, so a year later, on November 17, he will headline the UFC 309 tournament to settle the matter once and for all and, probably, end his career. Especially since the fight will take place in New York – in the champion’s backyard.

In the main event of UFC 307, which will take place on October 6 in Salt Lake City at the Delta Center, Alex Pereira will defend the light heavyweight title against Khalil Rountree Jr. The challenger is one of the biggest underdogs of the event, but will “Poatan” be able to contain his aggressive style?

Ovince Saint Preux has been fighting in the UFC for over a decade, but has rarely appeared in the octagon lately. And yet, the former title challenger will return there on September 8, at the UFC Fight Night 242 tournament, in a fight with Ryan Spann. Both are in an extremely sad situation in their careers, and it is not at all excluded that the loser may leave the promotion. And the fact that the guys are not in the ratings also says a lot, but the fight is guaranteed to be interesting.

Former UFC welterweight title challenger Gilbert Burns is going through hard times and is on a decline. Often, veterans in this position are left to be torn apart by matchmakers for younger prospects, and Shawn Brady, who he will fight in the main event of UFC Fight Night 242, is just such a guy. The matchup will take place at the Apex in Las Vegas on September 8, and the Brazilian holds the No. 6 spot in the rankings.

The story of Sean O'Malley's confrontation with the Serra-Longo Fight Team alumni continues. Having taken the title from Aljamain Sterling, "Sugar" successfully defended it and is now set to meet the defeated ex-champion's comrade, Merab Dvalishvili. Their fight will headline a historic event at the Sphere Arena in Las Vegas on September 15 and is likely to become one of the most intriguing clashes in the bantamweight division. Especially since the chances of victory here are extremely close.

The biggest event of the year among domestic MMA leagues – the ACA Heavyweight Grand Prix Final – will be held on August 16 in Moscow. The ACA 178 tournament will be headed by well-known heavyweights: the champion, Evgeny Goncharov and Adam Bogatyrev. Despite the odds and other things, Adam, as a heavyweight, has that one punch that can end everything, so it is worth assessing the chances of both winning more deeply to understand the situation. 

In 2020, young Sergey Spivak went to fight a seasoned veteran, Marcin Tybura. Then their fight ended with a judge's decision in favor of the Pole, and only now, in the main fight of UFC on ESPN 61, Sergey has a chance to get even for this defeat. Their fight will take place on the morning of August 11, and will be held in a 5-round format. So what will be more effective this time: youth or experience?

Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has undergone mental healing and is ready to return to the golden throne. However, standing in his way is the new title holder, Dricus Du Plessis, with whom he is in a heated debate over who is the real African king. At UFC 305 in Australia, at the Rac Arena, on August 18, they will have the opportunity to find out, and we will assess the chances of the elite fighters of the major league to triumph.

Tony Ferguson's career is similar to the attempts of a mad scientist to prove to the whole world that he is capable of great achievements, sitting closed in his room. "El Cucuy" does not change anything in the training approach, even moving to new teams, but he is trying to win - at UFC on ABC 7, he will have his eighth attempt "not to lose", in a fight with Michael Chiesa. Only this time, Tony will have to fight in the heat of Abu Dhabi, with an extremely experienced counterpart, and who knows what awaits the former hope of the lightweight division on the evening of August 3, when he enters the cage, is it the end of his career?

Literally in June, Sharabutdin Magomedov delighted the audience with his performance, but due to the change of opponent, he could not show the improvements that he has achieved recently. At UFC on ABC 7, he will have such an opportunity, because he will fight with Michal Oleksiejczuk, who, although he is going through a difficult time, will be a good test for "Shara", so, on August 3, he will have to try not to lose face. 

Former undisputed champion of two divisions, star American Terence "Koresh" Crawford, has risen to 154 pounds and will fight for the WBA title with its holder, a fighter from Uzbekistan, Israel Madrimov. In the fight, which will take place on August 3, at the BMO Stadium arena in Los Angeles, the interim WBO belt will also be at stake. 

Soon, the UFC will again go to Abu Dhabi, to the same Etihad Arena, to host one of the most charged events of the UFC onABC 7 series. It will take place on the night of August 3-4, and will end with the long-awaited fight of Umar Nurmagomedov against Cory Sandhagen. For the Dagestani athlete, victory in this fight is a direct road from the outskirts of the top ten, to the Top 3, so everyone expects the best, phenomenal performance from Umar. But will his technical arsenal be enough to surpass The Sandman? 

After a failure in the last season of the ACA Lightweight Grand Prix, Artem Reznikov closed 2023 with two defeats in a row and is now ready to return to the winning path by defeating his next opponent. It turned out to be the former interim champion - Mukhamed Kokov, with whom Spartak will measure their skills in wrestling technique. Their fight will take place on June 28 at the ACA 177 tournament in Sochi, and for both, victory in this fight is extremely important for the further development of their careers. 

At the ASA 177 tournament, which will be held on June 28 in Sochi, at the Ice Dom facilities, the long-awaited rematch between ex-champion Ali Bagov and Daud Shaikhaev will take place for many. In 2023, Daoud managed to take the victory in a very close and intense fight, so it is not surprising that as part of the new Grand Prix, they will meet again in the cage, but this time they will receive two more additional rounds in order to determine the strongest. 

A little over two months ago, Alex Pereira defended his title at the historic UFC 300, and wanted to compete at the 301st event in his native Brazil. But then he was not given such an opportunity due to broken toes. But they gave him a chance to show his champion character at UFC 303 and take Conor McGregor’s place there in a sudden rematch with Jiri Prochazka. This means that on June 30, two of the best light heavyweights in the league will meet at T-Mobile Arena on short notice, each eager to cement their status as the leader at 93 kilograms.

There's a lot of mystery going on around UFC 303, and almost certainly the latest co-main event has been confirmed, with Michael Page and Ian Garry each set to get a title shot. That is why, on June 30, they will clash in a fight that has every chance of getting a 5-round status, where, perhaps, the leader of the race for the 77 kilogram belt will be revealed. The Briton will enter the cage as an underdog, but is Ian's advantage so clear?

The first Tatar fighter in the UFC, Rinat Fakhretdinov, is gradually approaching the Top 15 of the welterweight division, and a victory at the UFCon ABC 6 tournament may well be his ticket to this elite club. On the way to him stands Nicholas Dalby, with whom they will measure their strength within the walls of the Kingdom Arena on June 22. Once again, the promotion's matchmakers have worked to ensure that we see a clash of styles, and this meeting promises to be very tense.

Undefeated Russian fighter, Sharabutdin “Shara Bullet” Magomedov, will have his second fight under the major league banner at UFC on ABC 6 in Riyadh, against experienced debutant Joylton Lutterbach. Their fight will take place on the evening of June 22, at the Kingdom Arena, and in Sharabutdin’s career, this will be the most experienced opponent, although the domestic audience knows practically nothing about him. There will be just a reason to get to know “Pilgrim” and evaluate his chances of winning this battle.

After coming off a slight upset against Magomed Ankalaev, Brazilian light heavyweight Johnny Walker will return to the cage at UFC on ABC 6 in Saudi Arabia against Volkan Oezdemir. Both fighters have seen a lot in the promotion's octagon and on the evening of June 22, they will share positions in the top ten, while Walker is a couple of points higher, so he will have something to defend. But can he cope with the Swiss's academic style?

Former UFC middleweight title challenger Jared Cannonier, after a year-long absence, will fight top-ranked prospect Nassurdin Imavov on June 9 at UFC on ESPN 57. Their bout will headline the fight night in Louisville, with Imavov looking to take away the veteran such an important position in the Top 5 category up to 84 kilograms. The fight will be difficult for both, and our task is to decide which of them has a greater chance of leaving the arena as a winner.

At UFC 302, which will take place on June 2, Roman Kopylov and Cesar Almeida will meet in the Octagon to answer the question: “What is more effective in MMA: hand-to-hand combat or kickboxing?” Both are experienced, have an impressive background in their disciplines and very rarely bring fights to decisions. At the very least, fireworks are definitely in store for the spectators, but we’ll figure out which of the guys has the best chance of triumph on the appointed evening.

Without exaggeration, the legendary fighting arena - T-Mobile in Las Vegas, on June 30 will host a fight that perfectly matches the atmosphere of this place. UFC 303 will feature a fight between “The Notorious” Conor McGregor and “Iron” Michael Chandler as the main event. The Irish mixed martial arts superstar will step onto the canvas for the first time in three years to prove to everyone and himself that he can still compete at the highest level. Will Mac be able to live up to all the hype that has once again appeared around him?

After losing the title, Sean Strickland quickly returned to action and on June 2, at UFC 302, in the co-main event, he will fight Paulo Costa. The Brazilian also suffered a defeat in the last fight, and both are charged to get out of the black streak. This match will take place in a 5-round format, so the guys will have plenty of time to answer the question of which of them is really stronger. So who will the Prudential Center crowd applaud as the winner?

Two top Russian UFC heavyweights, despite their reluctance to fight each other, will identify a potential contender for the title in Saudi Arabia, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, June 23. Sergei Pavlovich was already one step away from winning the interim title, so Alexander Volkov, at UFC on ABC 6, will try to take his place and overtake the title holder. Both have excellent finishing rates, so this fight has no chance of lasting all 3 rounds.

After a series of crises, long expectations and even decisions to end his career, UFC rated middleweight Khamzat Chimaev is entering a contender's fight. In the main event of UFC on ABC 6, June 23 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he will fight with former champion of the organization, Robert Whittaker. This evening at the Kingdom Arena will be a test for both, and it’s time to find out which of them has the best chance of triumph on the appointed date?

The undisputed champion of the UFC lightweight category, Islam Makhachev, after a duology with Alexander Volkanovski, will defend his title for the first time with an opponent from his division. At UFC 302, which will take place in Newark on June 2, he will face Dustin Poirier, a two-time contender for gold at 70 kg. This confrontation will be headed by a numbered event, and it is not at all excluded that this appearance in the octagon could be the final one in “Diamond”’s career.

Since April 1999, Andrei Orlovsky has been performing at a professional level, and to this day is part of the leading MMA league on the planet - the UFC. He has the honor of taking part in the promotion's first event of 2024, Fight Night 234, which will take place on January 14 in Las Vegas. “Pitbull’s” opponent will be Waldo Cortez-Acosta, who has only four performances under the UFC banner, but even in such circumstances, the ex-champion will enter the cage as a huge underdog. Will “Salsa Fight” be Andrey’s last opponent in his career?

After an unsuccessful first meeting, Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker were given another chance, this time, in the main event of UFCFight Night 234, which will take place on January 14 and will open the new fighting year of 2024. Despite the uncertain result of their last match, this time there is even less belief in the Brazilian’s triumph, which is why the gap in odds between the guys has become even greater. But is the Russian's victory so obvious in this light heavyweight clash?

Until September 2023, no one suspected that a certain Sean Strickland, who had lost two of his two fights the year before, would simply walk into the cage and destroy “The Last Stylebender.” Now, as a champion, the American will defend the honor of his country in a fight with the South African, Dricus Du Plessis, who no less sensationally broke into the elite of the middle division. Their couple will head the first numbered tournament of 2024 - UFC 297 and, on January 21, the fate of the belt, which has been changing hands every now and then, will be decided.

After an extremely tense meeting with Blachowicz last December, Magomed Ankalaev disappeared from the radar and was biding his time to return. Perhaps UFC 294 is the ideal moment for a comeback, especially in a fight with a completely rebooted Johnnie Walker. For Magomed, October 21 will be a difficult task, since such a creative drummer with such dimensions will be encountered on his way for the first time. Will Caucasian endurance be able to cope with Brazilian expression?

The first Korean superstar in the UFC, the “Korean Zombie” named Chen Sung Jung, missed his title shot but is still a coveted contender for the elite featherweight division. At UFC Fight Night 225 in Singapore on August 26 at the Indoor Stadium, he will face former dominating champion Max Holloway. Such a duet will definitely give the local public an unforgettable spectacle, but will Chen be able to compete with one of the most dangerous boxers in the league, or will he again have to demonstrate miracles of stamina?

Ecuadorian fighter Marlon Vera, who competes in the bantamweight division of the UFC, went through several media rivals, becoming one of the potential contenders for the title in just a year. Just one setback has pushed him to the fringes of the lineup, and now he has to rebuild his winning streak against Pedro Munoz at UFC 292 on August 20 in Boston. And if for the Brazilian this is a great opportunity to get close to the TOP-5, then Chito has much higher risks - because of the loss, he can completely forget about the title shot. So, the fight promises to be especially hot.

A fighter who never holds the title of champion, but who is quite deservedly the people's favorite - Derrick Lewis, systematically descended from the hall of the elite, into the room where the representatives of the TOP-15 of the division are sitting. Marcos Rogerio De Lima will try to take advantage of his position, with whom they will enter the octagon on July 30, in the UFC 291 numbered event card. The “Black Beast” has not felt the taste of victories since the end of 2021, and he was again picked up by a formidable striker carrying new “dream sessions” in his fists. Whose “cannon” will shoot first in this fight?

Long time fans will remember how the Ultimate Fighter's idiosyncratic guy broke into the UFC roster and became a nightmare for fighters in the lightweight division. 12 years have passed since then, and now El Cucuy is a millimeter away from being fired, going on an insane losing streak. The UFC 291 tournament, which will be held in Salt Lake City on July 30, has every chance of being Tony Ferguson's last in his career, as is his opponent, Bobby Green. So will The King manage to retire old Tony?

The premier expert in wiping out middleweights eager to prove their dominance over light heavyweights, Jan Blachowicz, who possesses intimidating Polish power, is preparing to examine another candidate. This time around, it's ex-84kg champ Alex Pereira who's heading to the cage at UFC 291 as a co-main event on July 30th. For the Brazilian, this is the best opportunity to jump into the title train by beating the veteran, however, he will have a tough nut to crack, and who knows if the Hands of Stone will be able to crack him.

The Russian fighter, Albert Duraev, got into the UFC rather late, and at the start he performed no more than once a year. But now, his second fight awaits him in 2023, against the rather successful Korean prospect Yun Yong Park. Their confrontation will take place in the second most important event of UFC on ESPN 49, which will be held on July 16. For Duraev, as part of performances under the banner of Western promotion, this is almost the most difficult challenge, since his opponent will be ready to fight on any floor. Will the Machete's skills be enough to cut the threads of the Park to win this fight?

Former UFC middleweight champion Robert "The Reaper" Whittaker will arrive in Las Vegas on July 9 to welcome South Africa's Dricus Du Plessis to the elite. Bold, arrogant and cocky "Stillknocks" is already looking behind his counterpart, in every possible way knocking out a meeting with Israel Adesanya. However, at UFC 290, Whittaker will be a nightmare, as he has not faced a fighter of this caliber once in 10 years of professional sports. Will it help Drickus that Stylebender is rooting for him and wishing him victory?

In 2016, during the filming of the 24th season of TUF, two guys came together in the tournament bracket: Brandon Moreno, who owns the WFF league title, and Alejandre Pantozha, who proudly wears the RFA belt. In that fight, "Kid Assassin" was defeated, and two years later - again in revenge with him. But at UFC 290 on July 9, Moreno will have one last chance to settle the score and, at the same time, defend the organization's flyweight title. Will he cope with the unshakable Brazilian?

Without exaggeration, the legendary mixed martial arts venue - T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, will host the UFC 290 anniversary tournament on July 9. It is a great honor to lead it to the second number of the P4P rating, featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. The fight with him is not for the usual contender, but for the owner of the temporary belt, Yair Rodriguez. Potentially, we are waiting for one of the best matches of the year in the category up to 66 kg. So where will the title go: Australia or Mexico? Let's figure it out.

The son of the Tatar people - Rinat Fakhretdinov, from a debutant, retrained as a hunter for veterans, since at the UFC on ESPN 48 tournament, he will meet with the ex-contender for the interim title, Kevin Lee. The American repeatedly restarted his career, up to the fact that he spoke in the organization of Khabib Nurmagomedov, but as a result he returned “home” to try once again to get to the belt. And on July 2, at the UFC Apex site in Las Vegas, the guys will identify the strongest, as part of a clash of two different generations of fighters.

One of the most active fighters in the UFC heavyweight division, Andrey Orlovsky, will fight his 58th professional fight in Las Vegas on June 4 at UFC on ESPN 46. His opponent will again be a little-known prospect, Don'Tale Mayes, whom some will only remember by losing to Cyril Gan. The match itself is just perfect: two strikers, with almost the same odds, youth versus experience - classic MMA, and nothing else.

Despite having a title match headlined by UFC 289, it's the co-main event that will have all the attention of the public. The fight between the ex-champion Charles Oliveira and the owner of one of the longest winning streaks in the division - Beneil Dariush, is of a contender's nature, and will determine the next opponent of Islam Makhachev. On the morning of June 11th, we will witness a clash of true lightweight tops, each with a trick up its sleeve to get past the opponent. So which one of them will get the baton in the current title race?

Russian welterweight, Abubakar Nurmagomedov, has appeared so rarely in the UFC octagon that many began to forget about his existence in the league roster. Having entered the winning path, he, apparently, is gradually gaining momentum, and already on June 4, at the UFC on ESPN 46 tournament, he will clash with the Brazilian puncher, Eliseu Zaleski dos Santos. The meeting promises to be very interesting, given the styles of the fighters, which gives them almost equal chances for victory. But is it really so?

In mid-May, the UFC will travel to North Carolina for UFCFight Night 224 (on ABC 4), which will be led by top heavyweights Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Zhailton Almeida. Such a clash of a new generation of strands, with the already held, if applicable to the career of the Surinamese.


For the Brazilian, this match is a great opportunity to jump several steps in the rankings and enter the top ten, so on May 14, the future of the guys in the division's elite will be at stake. Are Rozenstruik's kicker skills enough to stop the South American finish car?

Nigerian kickboxer, Israel Adesanya, has become a real discovery for the UFC middle division. His ability to put on a show before and during a fight won the hearts of mixed martial arts fans. However, when Stylebender began his career in the top league, few knew about his history with Brazilian bouncer Alex Pereira.


Their kickboxing dilogy ended with a score of 2-0 in favor of "Poatan", and now this guy has come to the octagon behind Easy's head. In their face-to-face meeting, Adesanya fell, but at UFC 287, in sunny Miami, on April 9, the “Last Master of Styles” will have another opportunity to recoup. Will the fourth attempt be successful?

At the end of March, the UFC will travel to San Antonio, Texas for UFC on ESPN 43 at the AT&T Center, where former bantamweight champion Holly Holm and Russia's Fox, Yana Kunitskaya. Their meeting will take place on March 26, and will mark the return of the athletes after a long downtime. Both represent striking styles in the cage and are highly ranked, so a position in the top three of the 61.2 kg division will be at stake.

After Petr Yan won the UFC title, he was promised many years of reign in the bantamweight division. However, the affairs of the Russian did not go as well as his fans would like, and now "Merciless" has to fight for a place in the TOP-3 weight class, and not count on the championship.


At the UFC Fight Night 221 tournament, he will meet with the Georgian wrestler Merab Dvalishvili, who is climbing the rating table with leaps and bounds. Their fight will take place on March 12 in Las Vegas, and will be a real clash of styles, where everyone has a chance to succeed.

The new fighting season of 2023 is only gaining momentum, but this does not in the least prevent the UFC team from raising the degree of heat to peak values ​​already now. The promotion's Australian weekend, scheduled for February 12, guarantees viewers one of the most heated confrontations in recent years: featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski will try to take the belt from the newly-minted lightweight king, Islam Makhachev.


The duel of these guys will become the headliner of the UFC 284 event, and aims for the title of that very historical event when one athlete tries to break into the cast of double league champions. History will be happening right before our eyes, and despite the fact that the lion's share of experts does not give Alex a chance to win, there is not the slightest doubt that he will become one of the toughest tests for a native of Nurmagomedov's team.

There are a number of fighters in the UFC that are interesting to watch, regardless of whether their performances end with victories or defeats. Paul Craig is one of them, because out of two dozen professional fights, he heard the referee's decision only once, finishing the rest of the fights ahead of schedule.


At UFC 283 in Rio de Janeiro, another challenge awaits him, and it would be strange to see a European on this continent if his counterpart was not a native of Brazil. Johnny Walker, the once budding light heavyweight, will be looking to pick up his winning streak on January 22nd, and a duo like this all but guarantees us a head-on head-to-head showdown. Who will emerge victorious from the cage?

Just a week before UFC 282, unexpected things began to happen in the light heavyweight division. First, the reigning champion, Jiri Prochazka, dropped out of the fight against Teixeira, giving up the title, then Ankalaev and Blachowicz fought for him, but could not find the best. And now, number 7, Jamal Hill got the opportunity to fight for the still vacant belt against the same Glover.


Their showdown will headline UFC 283 in Brazil on January 22, and for the MMA public, this choice of matchmakers was rather strange. Hill, of course, deserves to be in such a position, but to see him in a title fight so soon, certainly no one expected. Whatever it was, these guys are ready to throw a bright show, where the best light heavyweight of the planet at the moment will be determined.

How often do we talk about tetralogy in MMA? It is unlikely that someone will offhand name at least 2-3 cases when two fighters brought out the best so many times, however, history is happening right before our eyes. At the first numbered event of 2023 - UFC 283, reigning flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo will enter the cage to put a long-awaited end to interim champ Brandon Moreno.


A draw in their first meeting, and one victory on each side forced the promotion management to organize this confrontation for the fourth time, and on January 22 one of them will still take the title and be able to call himself the undisputed, dominant king in the category up to 56.7 kg . This is one of the most difficult fights for any predictions, but this is what attracts the attention of the public, who miss the unique duels in the UFC octagon.

The kickoff event of 2023 - UFC Fight Night 217, which is scheduled for January 15, includes a fight between top welterweights: Shavkat Rakhmonov and Jeff Neal. The Kazakh fighter has long been considered by the promotion management as a potential contender for the title, and now he is as close as possible to this status.


To achieve final success, Rakhmonov needs to overcome the Nile, which occupies the 7th line of the rating, after which he can count on opposition from among the division's elite. By the way, "Nomad" will not only have to overcome a difficult opponent, but also maintain an impeccable record before entering the top positions.

The Nurmagomedov clan is confidently conquering various UFC divisions, and Umar Nurmagomedov has the best chances to take the lead in this relay race. Right now, standing in his way is Raoni Barcelos, a titled wrestler and jitsurer outside the top 15 of the bantamweight division.


At UFC Fight Night 217, they will meet in a cage to determine the further course of events in the top ten in this weight category. Many consider Umar the unconditional favorite, but on January 15 it will become clear how good he is in the stalls with a world-class wrestler.

Former 84kg interim title challenger Kelvin Gastelum has been out of the cage for almost a year and a half. Fights with representatives of the top lines of the rating led his career to a deplorable state, however, the battles that he arranged in the octagon allow him to still lead the events, and this time to open the new UFC fighting year.


At UFC Fight Night 217, Kelvin will be tied for the main event of the evening with Nassurdin Imavov, an up-and-coming prospect on a solid winning streak. Once again, the American will face a larger opponent, and how he performs on January 15 will determine his fate in the best MMA promotion in the world.

The current Lightweight Grand Prix, held by the ACA league, has become extremely problematic for a number of reasons, and one of the favorites of the competition, Artem Reznikov, who was already in tense relations with the promotion management, was picking up a new opponent for a long time.


Despite all the obstacles, on December 23 he will share the cage with the top league, Andrey Koshkin, in the semi-finals. At the final event of the year, ACA 150, the fate of the finalist will be decided, and each fighter has a chance to go to the next stage to compete for the main prize.

In February 2020, the ACA league held one of the most anticipated heavyweight matches, where a new champion was determined: Muhumat Vakhaev opposed Evgeny Goncharov that evening. The conflict between the fighters, which flared up on the eve of the fight, continued in the cage, but Vakhaev's triumph did not put an end to their history.


At the ACA 150 anniversary tournament, two ex-champions will once again meet in battle and, despite the fact that the title will not be at stake, both of them have something to prove. Already on December 23, in the third most important duel of the card, Goncharov and Vakhaev will reveal the strongest in their pair and, quite possibly, we will have a reserve for a bright trilogy.

The Russian fighter of the bantamweight division, Magomed Magomedov, continues to conquer the second MMA league of the world - Bellator, and as part of the Grand Prix, where he reached the semi-finals, he will have to fight with Patrick Meeks, who is practically unknown to the domestic audience cluster.


In a contest on December 10th at Bellator 289, they will determine who will compete for the top cash prize as well as the Grand Prix title. Athletes deserve each other, and in terms of matchmaking, this is a really interesting event that has a chance to become an ornament of the event.

Former UFC 84kg title contender Jared Cannonier is looking forward to the taste of victory again after a bad run, and Fight Night 216 will give him the opportunity. Already on December 18, in Las Vegas, he will share the cage of the organization in the main fight of the evening with Sean Strickland, and at stake will be the third position in the middleweight ranking, so to speak - a place among the division's elite.


The odds for the fighters are extremely close, because the guys managed to prove their worth in confrontations with a number of tough opponents. Both prefer to duel in the standing position, which makes it doubly interesting, whose style will be more effective in practice. Will any of them be able to reassert their title claims?

There was a lot of hype around the signing of Rinat Fakhretdinov in the UFC, as he became the first Tatar in the history of sports to be awarded a contract with the best MMA organization on the planet. However, the protracted selection of the opponent postponed the debut of Gladiator for almost a year, so at the UFC Fight Night 216 tournament he will hold only the second fight under the auspices of the absolute championship.


Initially, Rinat was supposed to fight with Michael Morales, but just a couple of weeks before the fight, he withdrew, and now our athlete is waiting for a duel with the winner of the penultimate season of the TUF show, Brian Battle, who has already managed to get a couple of finishes in the octagon. Their meeting will take place on the undercard of the tournament on December 18, and we will figure out which of the guys has more chances to emerge victorious from this fight.

UFC on ESPN 42 was supposed to be a showdown between top middleweights Jack Hermansson and Derek Brunson. The wrestling fight promised to be an ornament of the event, especially since the 5th position in the ranking was at stake, however, Brunson's injury forced the promotion management to quickly look for a replacement for him.


The call was answered by Georgian prospect Roman Dolidze, who last year decided to move down to the middle division from light heavyweight. For him, the meeting with Hermansson is a unique opportunity to instantly break into the race of contenders, and on December 4, we will find out if Kavkazets will be able to use it correctly.

After signing Zhalgas Zhumagulov to the UFC, his loyal fans expected great success from their countryman in the promotion octagon. However, the Kazakh athlete could not settle into a new home, and now his career in the western league is in jeopardy. The last chance to save a place in the roster for Jaco will be a fight against Charles Johnson.

Last summer, the American debuted in the UFC, having suffered a defeat, and therefore for him the upcoming meeting at Fight Night 215, which will take place on November 20, is a great opportunity to express himself in front of the public in Las Vegas. The fighters represent different techniques, so the interest in their confrontation only increases from this. So who will win in the end?

Dominant UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya went from being a showman and flamboyant striker to a calculating, rather boring fighter in a few years, who decided to sideline the spectacular notches in the cage. However, now he has the opportunity to give a colorful duel in the stand, thanks to the "old acquaintance".


Building a career in kickboxing, “The Last Master of Styles” met twice with Alex Pereira, a native of the favelas, who defeated the Nigerian in those very fights. The UFC has been excited about the opportunity for a rematch between the two in an MMA bout, and at UFC 281 in New York on November 13, that bout will finally take place. How competitive will it be, and which of the guys has a better chance of winning? Let's figure it out.

The appearance of Sean O'Malley in the UFC caused a real boom in discussions about his prospects. The lean but hard-hitting American managed to present himself correctly, immediately started trash talking to many star guys from his division, which gathered around him a large fan base and, of course, haters who still watch his performances.


After a series of skirmishes with ex-champion Petr Yan, "Sugar" managed to get himself the opportunity to fight with the Russian, and now he has to prove that the share of hype that fell on his sports career is not an empty phrase. At the UFC 280 tournament, which will be held on the evening of October 22 in the third most important fight, we will find out the name of the next contender for the championship belt.

The difficult story of Charles Oliveira, not only in the UFC, but also outside the octagon, continued for him even when, it would seem, he climbed to the very top. Due to a slight advantage, the Brazilian was stripped of the champion title, and now he has to fight again for the gold of the top MMA league on the planet. Already on October 22 in Abu Dhabi, the UFC 280 tournament will be headed by his duel against Islam Makhachev.


The styles of these fighters will be a great help in order to identify not only the best lightweight on the planet, but also close the question of what is still more effective: jiu-jitsu or Dagestani wrestling? The match is going to be loud and definitely tense, however, by analyzing the capabilities of its participants, we will identify the fighter who has the greatest chance of winning.

Following the European voyage and numbered event, the UFC will return to their own Apex arena in Las Vegas with Fight Night 210 on September 18th. In the main battle of this event, two top representatives of the bantamweight category will clash in a cage to determine which of them will get a place in the top five, and who will go to the back of the rating.


Cory Sandhagen, after two setbacks, was challenged by Song Yadong, a Chinese striker who started his career in professional mixed martial arts even before he came of age. For the Sandman, this meeting will be a huge risk, and whether he will be able to remain among the elite in the weight category up to 61.2 kg is a question that we have yet to answer.

Starting in 2020, the Brazilian prospect Vicente Luque began his confident ascent to the title fight. However, on his way he met Belal Muhammad, who crossed out the ambitions of the Silent Assassin, taking advantage of the gaps in his struggle. Now, Luke is forced to agree to a duel with Jeff Neil, who is seven steps below him in the ranking.


At UFC on ESPN 40, scheduled for August 7, Neil will have the unique opportunity to jump into the top five. And we have to admit, their fight looks very attractive, especially for fans of stand-up confrontations. Whose technique will be more effective and will positions in the rating play any role?

After the departure of Jon Jones from the light heavyweight division of the UFC, for a certain time the roster froze in anticipation of the arrival of new stars. And with the advent of Jamal Hill, the situation changed a bit, as this skilled puncher began to make his way to the top of the rankings, knocking out almost every opponent.


At UFC on ESPN 40, he faces the most important test of his current career against league veteran Thiago Santos. And already on August 7, these most dangerous drummers will share the octagon in Las Vegas, where the next contender for getting into the TOP-5 weight division will be determined. And, despite the balance of power in favor of Hill, Thiago is not the kind of guy who should be discounted.

On August 20, at the Super Dome in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), a rematch between Oleksandr Usyk (Ukraine) and Anthony Joshua (Great Britain) will take place, in which the WBA/WBO/IBF/IBO heavyweight titles will be at stake belonging to an undefeated Ukrainian fighter.

In December 2021, a real sensation occurred in the world of women's mixed martial arts - the biggest underdog in the history of title matches, Julianna Peña, took the belt from the dominant champion Amanda Nunez. Moreover, she did it in the most brutal form, strangling her opponent in the second round. Many were waiting for a rematch between these athletes, and at the UFC 277 tournament, which will be held on July 31, this fight will finally take place.


For the first time in 6 years, Amanda will enter the fight as a contender, and this time there is no such crazy gap in the odds, but the Lioness, despite the defeat in the first clash, retains the status of the favorite. According to her, the revenge will be completely different, and there really is an explanation for this. Well, how high is the likelihood that the Brazilian athlete will again take the throne, let's look at our prediction.

Russian light heavyweight Magomed Ankalaev confidently made his way to the top five, removing one opponent after another. And now, it remains for him to take the last step before clashing with the champion, and Anthony Smith, a UFC veteran who previously fought for the gold of the organization, wants to prevent the Dagestani from doing this.


Their fight will be part of the main card of the UFC 277 tournament, which will be held on the night of July 30-31 in Dallas. Literally everything is at stake, including several years of fierce confrontations in one of the most competitive divisions of the promotion. Who will get the opportunity to prove themselves in a duel with the leader of this weight division? We will try to answer this question in our detailed prediction.

Texas has long been the second home for the UFC - local fans create a special atmosphere at every promotion tournament. That is why the UFC 277 numbered event was decided to be held here, within the walls of the American Airlines Center in Dallas. The main card of the event, in addition to title bouts, will be decorated with a fight between top heavyweights: Derrick Lewis, who is from there, and Sergey Pavlovich.


For the latter, this fight can become a ticket to the top five, but first he will have to clash with the Black Beast. And on July 31, we will get an answer on whether the Russian will be included in the title race of the heavyweight division. Lewis is definitely not a gift, but in this category there has always been a place for upsets and unexpected endings, so let's not rush to conclusions.

At the European tournament UFC Fight Night 208, they simply could not do without a fight between representatives of the two countries of this part of the world. Scot - Paul Craig will challenge the Swiss Volkan Oezdemir in the octagon of the best MMA promotion in the world. Both athletes are at the extreme positions in the TOP-10 of the division, however, they have completely different perspectives.


We are in for a classic confrontation with people from kickboxing and BJJ, but the most important thing is that these guys rarely bring their performances to the referee's decisions. And therefore, on July 23, we will witness a spectacular battle between two martial artists. Which of them will be better? Analyst and only dry facts about the fighters will help us answer this question.

British heavyweight, Tom Aspinall, in just 2 years has gone from being a newcomer to the UFC organization to a confident top who always finishes his fights ahead of schedule. Now he has a unique chance to break into the TOP-5 of his weight class, and do it in front of the home audience at the legendary O2 Arena in London. For this, he got the perfect opponent - Curtis Blaydes, an athlete of world renown.


Guys rarely bring their fights to the referee's decisions, so we are in for an uncompromising and tough fight, where everything will be decided by one blow or a skillfully turned submission. Their bout will headline UFC Fight Night 208, which will take place on the night of July 23-24. Will the elite five be replenished with a new name, or will the veteran manage to defend his position? We will answer this question in our detailed prediction.

In the entire history of the UFC, not so many karatekas fought there who managed to adapt to the octagon and reach a high level. However, Nikita Krylov managed to become the one who proved himself in heavyweight and light heavyweight, climbing into the TOP and to this day entering the cage with the most formidable opponents. After a series of setbacks, he had the opportunity to rehabilitate himself with an opponent that many stars of the modern MMA era dreamed of fighting.


Alexander Gustafsson is an eminent Swede who has made an excellent career in the West. At the UFC Fight Night 208 tournament, he will have a battle with Shakhtar, which may well be the last chance for the Torturer to stay in the promotion. In fact, both athletes will fight on July 23 for a contract with the organization, as they do not fare well in the league. We just have to find out which of the guys at this point in time has more chances for victory.

At the time of selection of fighters who will sign contracts with the UFC, the leadership of the league is very critical of age athletes. However, Muslim Salikhov was an exception and, judging by his success, Dana White did not doubt the correctness of his choice. A convincing series of victories allowed the "King of Kung Fu" to come close to the TOP 15 welterweight, but first he will need to overcome a formidable opponent in the face of Jinliang Li.


This Chinese prospect is in his eighth year with the promotion and will have to defend his right to the 14th spot at UFC on ACB 3 on July 16th. Two of the most dangerous strikers will enter the octagon of the best MMA organization in the world in the third most important duel of the evening. Who will be stronger and whose striking technique will be more effective? We will answer this question in our detailed prediction.

The UFC featherweight division has always been filled with real monsters, and guys like Yair Rodriguez and Brian Ortega are definitely in that caste. It is even surprising that they were not brought together much earlier, because from time to time each of them is at arm's length from the championship title. The matchmakers decided to organize this fight, and on July 16, in the main event of the UFC ACB 3 tournament, representatives of two different schools will share the octagon in order to determine the best.


The clash of BJJ and taekwondo - this rarely happens, because the interest in their confrontation will be doubled. The winner has every chance of becoming one of the first in line for the title, although the same Ortega has already unsuccessfully tried to pick it up twice. In any case, a magnificent fight awaits us, the probable victor of which we will determine in our detailed prediction.

Often, trilogies between fighters are organized if their score in terms of won fights is equal. However, in the case of Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway, everything is different - Alex won the first meeting confidently, and in the second he retained the title “on thin”. That is why the UFC management decided to bring them together again, because a large part of the fans are sure that it was Max who took the dilogy.


In the second most important fight at the UFC 276 tournament, which will take place on July 3, the current and former champion will meet in the octagon to finally reveal the strongest featherweight on the planet. This confrontation will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and the guys will be given the opportunity to put an end to this story, which has been going on for about two years.

In the history of the UFC middle division, there have been enough legendary fighters who have forever taken a place in the hearts of the fans. But after the era of the reign of Anderson Silva, only Israel Adesanya, who already has 4 successful belt defenses and an army of fans behind his back, was able to attract special attention. It was he who had the honor to lead the UFC 276 tournament, and the leader will be opposed by a puncher from Alaska - Jared Cannonier.


Style and technique will clash with brute physical strength and pressure on July 3rd, and only the fight itself will show who will be able to use their advantages to the fullest. Of course, "The Last Master of Styles" as a champion will enter the octagon as a favorite, but who, if not Jared, can cross out all quotes with one hit? We will weigh the pros and cons of this fight to determine the most likely winner of the title showdown.

The small diaspora of Kazakh fighters in the UFC is gradually expanding, and since 2020, the league's welterweight division has been replenished with another name that does not know defeat - Shavkat Rakhmonov. This guy has finished every fight and it looks like he doesn't know what the word "settle down" means.


Now, “Nomad” has the opportunity to get into the TOP-10 of the division, but first he will have to overcome the skilled veteran - Neil Magny, who has more than 30 professional performances behind him. Their bout will be the co-main event of UFC on ESPN 38 (Vegas 57) on June 26. At the moment, this is the most important fight in Rakhmonov's career and victory in it will be decisive for his further path to the UFC.

The lion's share of fighters after signing in the UFC go a long way before meeting with big-name opponents and getting the opportunity to show all their skills to the general public. However, Arman Tsarukyan became one of the few who were lucky enough to share the octagon with Islam Makhachev in the debut and give the best fight of the evening. Despite the defeat, the athlete was remembered by the public for his flamboyant style, and now fans are looking forward to his performance.


Already on June 26, "Akhalkalaki" will enter the 7th match under the auspices of the best promotion on the planet, where Mateusz Gamrot will become his opponent. Their fight will definitely grace UFC on ESPN 38, and there is not the slightest doubt that the guys will set off fireworks in the octagon. The bookmakers have already decided who is the favorite in this pair, but we will dig deeper to reveal the most likely winner in the upcoming clash.

Several generations of mixed martial arts fans are familiar with such a fighter as Gegard Mousasi. He began to beat people professionally in the octagon 20 years ago and still manages to remain at the highest level. As is often the case, veteran prospects are on the hunt for their heads, and at Bellator 282, the Dreamcatcher will face the undefeated guy, Johnny Ablin.


This is the seventh fight under the promotion's banner for the up-and-coming prospect, and he's already got the opportunity to fight such a legend for the belt. What will we see on June 25th? Another declasse performed by Musashi, or a new middleweight champion? Let's look at this confrontation under the microscope and find out the likely winner.

The UFC is back in Texas for another explosive event. The UFC on ESPN 37 card will feature an important fight for fans from the CIS, with the participation of Damir Ismagulov, who has fallen in love with the public, and the Swedish-Georgian puncher, Guram Kutateladze. For the latter, this will be only the second fight under the banner of the major league, but he is ready to declare himself a victory over a famous opponent.


Both fighters prefer to fight in a standing position, and this promises the audience an interesting kill of high-class strikers. Whose skills will turn out to be better: an experienced Damir, or a charged Guram, ready to do everything to get into the ratings? It's time to look into this issue, identifying the athlete who is likely to be the winner this evening.

For years, Josh Emmett has been in the shadow of the UFC featherweight division, taking on little-known opposition and winning fights by decision. However, after a crushing knockout in a duel with Ricardo Lamas, he began a rapid ascent to the TOP, where he showed the public his full potential. He will have the opportunity to do it again at UFC on ESPN 37, where an equally awesome fighter, Calvin Kattar, will stand opposite.


On account of the American, a good dozen confrontations with eminent opponents, and his uncompromising style leaves no chance for an easy walk in the cage. That is why, the clash of two titans of this level will be a real decoration of the upcoming event. And what will be more effective: technique and power, or inhuman stamina with an insane desire to arrange a felling? It's time to find the right answer.

After the protracted conflict between the ASA and their fighter, Artem Reznikov, no one believed that he could break into the Lightweight Grand Prix to meet the best representatives of his division there. However, all issues were settled, and at the ACA 140 tournament, which will be held in Sochi, our athlete will meet with ex-UFC fighter Davi Ramos.


The Brazilian is very dangerous on the ground, so it will be doubly interesting to see whose technique on the ground is better. The winner of this pair will reach the semi-finals of the tournament bracket, and it is quite possible that this is the only chance for Reznikov to prove once again that he is the best representative of his category in the entire post-Soviet space.

The lightest women's division of the UFC has been under the strict guidance of the champion from Kyrgyzstan, Valentina Shevchenko, for several years now. This pretty girl demonstrates an impressive level of skill in every fight, and at UFC 275, she will once again defend her title. This time the "Bullet" will face a powerful Brazilian - Tayla Santos, as well as Valentina herself, who has a past in Muay Thai. The ladies will meet in the co-main event of the numbered event, and despite the complete dominance of the title holder over her opponents, this particular confrontation will be of great importance for Shevchenko's future career.

Who would have thought that after losing to Jon Jones in 2014, Glover Teixeira would shine on the UFC posters as a champion, after a whole 8 years from that moment. This Brazilian has come a long way in mixed martial arts and deserves his place in the division. However, young and hungry lions, ready to give everything for the belt, abound in the light heavyweight division, and on June 11 in Singapore, Glover will have to overcome another fearsome fighter - Jiri Prochazka. Their meeting will headline the UFC 275 tournament and, despite the odds, as well as other subtleties, everyone has a very good chance of winning. It remains for us to find out who has more of them.

Undefeated world champions in the light heavyweight division, undefeated Russian Artur "White Puncher" Beterbiev (WBC / IBF titles) and US representative, Joe Smith Jr. (WBO title), will be held on June 18 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Fighters with “0” in the defeat column often fly into the UFC, since such craftsmen are much easier to promote, and fans always wonder if an athlete will keep such statistics at such a high level. In 2019, the first representative of Ingushetia in the octagon, Movsar Evloev, also came to measure his strength against the best athletes on the planet, and after so much time, he manages to emerge undefeated from the fights.


But on June 5, our fighter will have to meet the most formidable opponent in his career - Dan Ige, who managed to establish himself as a very strong middle peasant, ready to enter the cage with any opponent. At UFC Fight Night 207, they will have to fight for a place in the TOP-10 of the featherweight division, and who is most likely to get the victory - we will understand our detailed prediction.

The rivalry between pop MMA and professional mixed martial arts is gaining momentum, and this despite the fact that these areas are related. At one time, Marif Piraev conquered the heights of the mixfight, but later decided to move into the pop segment, where he gained unprecedented popularity. However, he was always drawn to big goals, so his return to the pros was not delayed.


Piranha chose a worthy opponent - AMC Fight Nights lightweight champion Nariman Abbasov. He is doing everything possible to get into the UFC, but for now he will have to resolve the conflict with one of the main characters of YouTube promotions. At Fight Nights 112, athletes will meet in the cage to find the best lightweight in the entire post-Soviet space. And which of them has more chances for victory - let's figure it out in our detailed forecast.

The first representative of the Tatar people in the UFC, Rinat Fakhretdinov, has long been waiting for the opportunity to make his debut in the best promotion on the planet. And now, on June 5, he will have his first fight under the banner of this league, in which he will meet with the Greek athlete, Andreas Mikhailidis, who has been playing in the UFC since 2020.


For Fakhretdinov, this is an ideal opportunity to start a rapid climb in the ratings, since Andreas has a number of confrontations with well-known opposition, both in the Russian MMA arena and in Western organizations. Which of the guys will perform better at UFC Vegas 56, and snatch such an important victory? The answers will be given in our detailed forecast.

Confrontations between heavyweights, especially when it comes to the headliner of the tournament, have always aroused genuine interest among the public. And on June 5, just such a fight awaits us, in which representatives of the UFC TOP-10 will participate: Alexander Volkov and Jairzinho Rozenstruik. These two will enter the cage after the defeats, because for both the victory in the upcoming fight is very important.


This rating fight is bound to become the decoration of UFC Fight Night 207 and, judging by the quotes, experts estimate the chances of the athletes as fairly equal. Which of the guys will be able to become a triumphant of this evening and will we see a meeting at the full distance: we will understand this issue using a detailed analysis of the current state of the athletes.

Women who perform in mixed martial arts rarely write their names into the history of this sport, and even more so they cannot be remembered for a long time by fans. However, Holly Holm managed not only to make an excellent career for herself, but will forever remain in the memory of people as the first girl who managed to demolish Ronda Rousey herself from the throne.


Many years have passed since then, but the "Preacher's Daughter" continues to hold high positions in the ratings, and on May 22, she, along with Kathleen Viyera, will head the UFC Fight Night 206 tournament. The ladies will represent different styles in the octagon, which doubles the interest to this confrontation. And more importantly, the winner may well count on a title chance in the future.

Incompatibility in a fight, especially when it is stopped due to accidents, like a poke in the eye, forces fighters to spend time on revenge, even when it would seem that the winner is obvious. In September 2019, Ryan Bader made his first heavyweight title defense, and almost immediately took control of the fight with Cheick Kongo. However, the slightest indiscretion shown in that fight forces him to re-enter the cage with the same opponent.


At the anniversary Bellator 280, which will take place in Cheick's hometown of Paris, Bader will try to save his only belt from the encroachments of a veteran for whom this is certainly the last opportunity in his career to climb Olympus. What will happen on May 7th: will we hear the name of a new champion or will "Darth" remain on the throne? Let's analyze the situation in detail before drawing any conclusions.

In 2014, two participants in the reality show The Ultimate Fighter, Rose Namajunas and Carla Esparza, reached the final, where they were given the opportunity to compete for the place of the first female strawweight champion in UFC history. That evening, the decisive factor in the duel was the struggle of Carla, who submitted the Bandit with a rear naked choke and entered her name in the history of the promotion.


After 7 years, these girls got the opportunity to have a rematch and, looking at the path they went through, there is no doubt that both have grown, both technically and mentally. The audience is waiting for a completely new confrontation, where each participant will have their own trump cards. How will the co-main event of UFC 274 go, and who will feel the weight of the champion belt on their waist on May 8 - we will try to answer this intriguing question in our forecast.

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz has long terrified his peers with his "Polish power". However, generations of fighters are changing, and now more and more young talents are entering the top, and Alexander Rakich is definitely one of them. Already on May 15, this guy will have to share the promotion octagon with the most experienced opponent in order to prove his belonging to the division's elite.


The UFC management gave them the honor of heading the ESPN 36 tournament, so there is a lot of responsibility on the athletes. The age-old question, which is better: experience or youth? It will have to be answered not only by the athletes themselves, but also by us, since the meeting promises to be tense, competitive and, without a doubt, one of the brightest at the planned event.

After losing fights with Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje, Michael Chandler was forced to temporarily put his thoughts on the title race and focus his attention on those who are below him in the rankings. The athlete, who went the same way, losing to the champion and current challenger, Tony Ferguson, turned out to be the best solution for him.


El Cucuy has long been short of stars from the sky, and at UFC 274 he will have his last chance to jump into the top five to stay afloat and not become an exile of the best MMA promotion on the planet. The guys are definitely preparing a spectacular battle for us, but who of them has great potential to achieve victory, we will look into our forecast.