10 UFC fights that absolutely must happen in 2018

#3 Max Holloway vs. Brian Ortega

Brian Ortega could be the most intriguing fight for Max Holloway in 2018

Featherweight champion Max Holloway already has his first fight in 2018 booked – he’ll defend his title against Frankie Edgar at UFC 222 in March. But given Holloway’s current win streak and the form he’s shown in it – beating down everyone from Jose Aldo to Anthony Pettis – it’s hard to see the aging, smaller Edgar being able to wrestle away the Hawaiian’s crown. The real challenge on the horizon could come from Brian Ortega.

‘T-City’ is currently 5-0 in the UFC, with five finishes to his name to boot. That’s impressive in itself, but even more impressive is the fact that in literally all of his fights, he’s come from behind to pull off those finishes. Incredibly, four of them have come in the final round of the fight. He’s a phenomenal grappler – witness his hanging guillotine choke of Cub Swanson in December – and he has an iron chin, too.

Could he really beat Holloway, who’s proven to be deadly in all areas of the fight? You’d probably have to say no, but then how can you count out a man who’s come from behind to win so many times in the past? And more to the point, Ortega would also represent the best grappler Holloway’s fought in his six-year UFC career. It’s by far the most intriguing fight possible at 145lbs right now and it simply needs to happen in 2018.