The UFC will kick off 2016 with a major card right out of the gate, with welterweight champion Robbie Lawler defending his title against Carlos Condit Saturday night at UFC 195. And while that’s a fine way to begin the year, these three fights would make 2016 the best to date for the UFC.
Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz
Diaz is a lightweight, and just the No. 7-ranked lightweight at that, but after completely dominating Michael Johnson on Dec. 19, he unloaded a profanity-laced post-fight interview in which he called out McGregor, who won the UFC featherweight title just one week earlier.
Conor McGregor Wants To Hold Two Belts At The Same Time
McGregor knocked out Jose Aldo in a mere 13 seconds, and there has been chatter that he will soon move up and challenge for the lightweight title, and even attempt to hold and defend them simultaneously.
Before leaping up a weight class, however, a tune-up fight vs. Diaz makes a ton of sense. Diaz is a premier striker – just like McGregor – and the trash talk potential for that buildup is through the roof. Fans love Diaz, and they’d love to see McGregor humbled. It’s a fantastic concept.
Gina Carano: Dana White Expected Rousey To Crush Holly Holm
Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier II
Jones vs. Cormier already happened, and Jones left little doubt who was the better man in their January 2015 clash. Things have changed, however. Jones hasn’t fought since, he’s been stripped of his belt, and there’s no telling how he will look when he returns to the octagon.
In the meantime Cormier has defeated Alexander Gustafsson and Anthony “Rumble” Johnson. There’s only one man left for Cormier to beat, and many won’t consider him the “real” champion until he tops Jones. The animosity between these two men before they fought was real, and it’s only seemed to intensify since they fought. This fight likely will happen, and when it does it will be the biggest UFC event of the year.
Ronda Rousey/Holly Holm vs. Amanda Nunes
Ronda Rousey lost in 2015, but her impact on women’s MMA had already been felt. Rousey will fight Holm when she’s ready to return to the octagon, but the winner of that fight vs. the “Lioness,” Nunes, can be built up into the biggest women’s bout of the year.
Nunes made an emphatic statement in August by completely throttling Sara McMann, and she’s won her last two fights in dominating fashion. At 27 years old, she has the potential to be the UFC’s next big women’s icon. In fact, either she or Holm is capable of carrying the mantle if Rousey’s reign is over. No matter what though, women’s MMA will belong to one of these three women in 2016.
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