UFC fans have been treated to several entertaining championship fights in 2017, stretching back to UFC 208 when Germaine de Randamie controversially became the inaugural women’s featherweight champion by defeating Holly Holm.
Since then, we’ve had Daniel Cormier defend the light heavyweight title before relinquishing it to the returning Jon Jones last month, Cris Cyborg finally got her hands on UFC gold while Max Holloway and Stipe Miocic cemented their positions as the best featherweight and heavyweight fighters on the roster.
CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHTS
It seems like we’re only getting started, though.
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Unfortunately for fans, while we’ve had our fair share of champions fights already, there have also been some that have been scrapped amidst all of the excitement.
Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson’s interim lightweight title fight was called off the day before the event, Amanda Nunes decided not to defend her bantamweight championship against Valentina Shevchenko despite being cleared while the bad blood continues between Cody Garbrandt and T.J. Dillashaw.
However, according to MMA Fighting, No Love is targeting a return this year and revealed that he wants to defend his bantamweight title against Dillashaw inside of Madison Square Garden at UFC 217.
FIVE PLANNED TITLE FIGHTS
If that goes ahead, then MMA Fighting believes the UFC is planning five blockbuster championship fights between September and December, not including Demetrious Johnson’s flyweight title defence against Ray Borg next month.
While no fighters have been named yet, the UFC is hoping to crown its inaugural women’s flyweight champion by the end of the year.
Garbrandt and Dillashaw is a guarantee; UFC president Dana White did attempt to get Mighty Mouse to accept a title fight against T.J. while Garbrandt was injured, but he wanted no part of it and now must wait for his rival to return.
The Eagle and El Cucuy are finally expected to meet at last after several fights featuring both men have been scrapped in the past.
Ferguson blasted the dangerous Dagestani for turning the fight down at UFC 216, but it’s thought that Nurmagomedov wants them to fight at UFC 217 instead and we’ll crown an interim lightweight champion.
Holloway is expected to defend his featherweight crown against Frankie Edgar before the end of the year, with rumours suggesting Jose Aldo could end up fighting Cub Swanson to determine the number one contender.
Finally, Madison Square Garden could also witness the return of Georges St-Pierre who will meet middleweight champion, Michael Bisping.
It was thought that GSP would face the winner of Tyron Woodley and Demian Maia at UFC 214, but Dana changed his mind after being less than entertained with The Chosen One’s performance.
It looks like UFC fans have several huge fights to look forward to before the end of the year.
Will all of these championship fights take place in the UFC before the end of 2017? Have YOUR say in the comments section below.
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