5 blockbuster fights to book in the UFC light heavyweight division

#4. Thiago Santos vs. Dominick Reyes

Thiago Santos' fall from grace in the UFC has been difficult to watch. He joined the promotion in 2013 and initially plied his trade in the middleweight division before opting to move up to light heavyweight. The powerful Brazilian blitzed his way to a championship opportunity at 205 pounds but ultimately fell short against then-champion Jon Jones in an extremely close bout.

Since his loss to Jones, Santos has struggled to find any rhythm. Moreover, his style of fighting has changed significantly as he's gotten older. He used to largely rely on his devastating power and otherworldly explosiveness. Now approaching 40, the athleticism that made him so dangerous early on in his career is seemingly fading away.

Santos has lost four out of his last five fights. His last win was a lackluster five-round bout against Johnny Walker, wherein he came away with a unanimous decision win after outpointing his compatriot for 25 minutes. In his most recent octagon appearance, he slipped to a unanimous decision loss to rising star Magomed Ankalaev.

It feels as though the loss to Jon Jones somewhat broke Thiago Santos' killer instinct. The same can be said for another former light heavyweight title challenger, Dominick Reyes. Reyes remains the most recent fighter who tried his hand at dethroning Jones. He came incredibly close but ultimately fell short.

Since his loss to Jones in 2020, Reyes has been viciously knocked out twice at the hands of Jan Blachowicz and Jiri Prochazka. He is in desparate need of a win if he is to hold on to his place in the top 10 of the light heavyweight rankings. A bout against Thiago Santos will be a must-win for both fighters.

While Santos is likely in the final stages of his pro MMA career, Reyes is in his prime. At 32, the American will be hoping for a resurrgence in the coming years as he looks to earn another championship opportunity.

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#3. Paul Craig vs. Ryan Spann

Paul Craig's resurgence in the light heavyweight division has been a sight to behold. Back in 2018, Craig was on the cusp of being released by the UFC after back-to-back losses to Khalil Rountree Jr. and Tyson Pedro. He was booked to face undefeated Dagestani prodigy Magomed Ankalaev in his next bout and came in as a massive underdog.

After getting pieced up for 14 minutes and 55 seconds, Craig pulled off a jaw-dropping triangle choke in the dying seconds of the fight, forcing his Russian opponent to tap. This remains the only loss on Ankalaev's professional record.

Craig is unbeaten in his last six fights. In his most recent octagon outing, the Scottish grappling phenom took on seasoned veteran Nikita Krylov at the O2 Arena in London, England. He added yet another submission win to his record as he forced Krylov to tap to a triangle choke in the very first round.

Following the conclusion of UFC London, UFC president Dana White confirmed that the promotion is looking to return to the UK and Europe later this year. He also acknowledged that Paul Craig has emerged as a real fan-favorite in recent times. The Scotsman is always looking for a finish and his win over Magomed Ankalaev, one of the top contenders in the division, continues to age like fine wine.

Craig called out Anthony Smith following his win over Krylov and requested a main event showdown with the former title challenger in Glasgow, Scotland. While the duo are far off one another in the rankings, a main event slot in front of his compatriots is well deserved.

Given the huge success the UFC had with their blockbuster event in England, you can expect a similar atmosphere in an arena packed with Scots. A potential opponent for Craig is Ryan Spann. Spann has struggled for consistency in recent times and will be looking to return to the win column. A showcase headliner in Scotland alongside 'Bearjew' makes sense for all parties involved.