Jack Della Maddalena’s recent victory over Belal Muhammad to claim the UFC welterweight title cleared up log jams across several divisions.
The result set up one of the most exciting periods in mixed martial arts (MMA) history. Read on as we look at three of the most exciting bouts this summer.
Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira
Ilia Topuria did not fulfil his dream of fighting Islam Makhachev, who has vacated his lightweight title to fight Della Maddalena.
The Spaniard will now face Charles Oliveira in what promises to be a blockbuster showdown at UFC 317 on June 28.
Topuria, fresh off knocking out two featherweight legends, is brimming with confidence as he bids to take out another UFC favourite in his meteoric rise to the top.
The 28-year-old looks noticeably chunkier following his move up and will bring his supreme boxing and knockout power to the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Topuria is the bookmakers’ favourite despite being a significantly shorter man and having a reach disadvantage. His one-punch knockout power is deadly, and his defence is underrated.
However, opposite him is a former champion who has constantly defied the odds. The Brazilian shed his reputation as a quitter and rose to the top, earning the admiration of fans worldwide.
Fresh off a masterful beatdown of Michael Chandler, Oliveira is determined to regain the lightweight crown he lost to Makhachev. He must keep his distance against Topuria and strike from the outside. He should make his chin difficult to reach, or he will attract trouble.
It will be interesting to see if he tries to take the game to the ground, but Topuria is a decent grappler and will prepare for that possibility, setting up a fascinating fight that could go either way.
Robert Whittaker vs Reinier de Ridder
Robert Whittaker puts his place in the middleweight top five on the line on July 26 when he takes Reinier de Ridder in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in what should be an electrifying banger.
Whittaker is a fantastic stand-up fighter who always puts on a show, and the future UFC Hall-of-Famer will back himself to get the better of De Ridder at the Etihad Arena.
He has more experience and can use it to his advantage as he bids to put himself back in frame for the title. The Auckland-born fighter is determined to sail into the sunset with the belt.
Whittaker is the bookies’ favourite to win on Yas Island. The best sports betting sites will be inundated with wagers from punters backing him to clinch victory in the Middle East.
However, it may be hard to bet against De Ridder after his convincing performance against Bo Nickal in his most recent UFC outing.
De Ridder beat the renowned wrestler on the ground before finishing him with a brutal left knee to the liver. The Dutchman must follow up with another strong display in the UAE.
He is a former two-division ONE World Champion and is eyeing gold in the UFC. Beating Whittaker would put him in the title conversation.
Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev
Dricus du Plessis defends his middleweight belt at UFC 319 on August 18 against one of the most dominant fighters on the UFC roster in Khamzat Chimaev.
Du Plessis is an awkward fighter who confuses his opponents. The South African is an excellent striker and wrestler who can mix things up.
He has shocked the MMA world with his ascension, running through Sean Strickland (twice), Whittaker and Israel Adesanya.
However, Chimaev is one of the grittiest fighters in the UFC. He hunts for takedowns from the first tick of the clock, and overwhelms opponents with his world-class wrestling.
With his high-pressure style, Chimaev has made Kevin Holland and Whittaker look amateurish. He will have his hand raised in Chicago if he can exert the same physicality on Du Plessis.
However, as impenetrable as Chimaev looks, he showed mortality against Gilbert Burns. He struggled to do damage from the top guard, and Burns matched him on the ground.
Du Plessis is bigger and arguably stronger than Burns. He thrives on chaos. Du Plessis does not mind getting hit if it means landing one of his own, and that gritty resolve has carried him through wars where others would have folded.
Table of Contents