Five insane UFC fights already confirmed for the rest of 2021

The beauty of mixed martial arts is that every single weekend there’s guaranteed chaos on the menu – and that’s especially true in the UFC.

2021 has been a difficult year for many but the Ultimate Fighting Championship has still managed to thrive amidst the uncertainty. From surprise knockouts to five-round wars, fight fans have been treated to more violence than any of us could’ve feasibly wished for.

Alas, while it may be enough to last some for a lifetime, the blood-thirsty diehards among us are ready for more anarchy between now and December 31.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at five fights that are pretty much guaranteed to blow your mind.

Edson Barboza vs Giga Chikadze – UFC on ESPN 30

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It’s pretty common in MMA to overuse the word “war” but if this doesn’t turn out to be one, we’ll be utterly stunned. Barboza is really starting to reinvent himself in his new weight class and with the sort of finishes he’s produced in the past, it’s impossible to overlook the guy. Chikadze, on the other hand, is an absolute nightmare with power, precision and kicks that would strike fear into the heart of any man.

Johnny Walker vs Thiago Santos – UFC Fight Night 193

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What do you get when you throw two light heavyweight beasts into the cage together? Carnage. Johnny Walker is trying to figure out what it means to be both dangerous and careful with a hint of personality which, honestly, sounds terrifying. Thiago Santos, meanwhile, has been on a real skid since narrowly losing to Jon Jones and will be desperate to get back in the win column.

Alexander Volkanovski vs Brian Ortega – UFC 266

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This could be the ultimate chess match or it could spell the end of one of the great featherweight ascents. Volkanovski and Ortega clearly don’t like each other based on their misgivings in The Ultimate Fighter, and yet the more interesting story is still their technical acumen. They have the potential to paint the perfect masterpiece and that’s enough to get anyone invested.

Aljamain Sterling vs Petr Yan 2 – UFC 267

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The first fight started off in favour of Sterling, swung heavily towards the champion Yan, and then came to a premature end thanks to an unfortunate disqualification. The right thing to do here was always going to be running it back and given how much time both men have had to learn from their mistakes, we’re expecting a classic in what can easily be described as the UFC’s best division.

Kamaru Usman vs Colby Covington – UFC 268

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These two absolutely despise each other and if that wasn’t clear enough when they tussled at UFC 245, it certainly will be in the lead-up to their Madison Square Garden rematch. Colby Covington is crass and loud in his self-marketing techniques but within that facade lurks a talented fighter and one that’ll have to be on his A-game to beat the pound-for-pound best in the game Kamaru Usman.

Featured image credit: Getty