5 blockbuster fights to book in the UFC middleweight division

The UFC's middleweight division was in an unusual state between 2015 and 2019. Luke Rockhold dethroned then-champion Chris Weidman in 2015 and lost the belt to Michael Bisping in his next bout. Georges St. Pierre and Robert Whittaker also held the undisputed title before the championship eventually found its way to Israel Adesanya in 2019.

Adesanya has emerged as one of the most dominant champions in the UFC since beating Whittaker in 2019. 'The Last Stylebender' is seemingly lapping the division and recently signed a new deal with the promotion. In his latest title defense, the Kiwi defeated Whittaker for the second time.

With the conclusion of UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Strickland and UFC 271: Adesanya vs. Whittaker 2, the pecking order atop the division is clear as day. That said, here are five blockbuster fights the UFC should consider booking in the middleweight division.

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#5. Derek Brunson vs. Andre Muniz

Andre Muniz is one of the most intriguing contenders in the UFC's middleweight division. Muniz secured a UFC contract following a submission victory on Dana White's Contender Series. He put together a four-fight win streak upon joining the promotion, of which three came by way of submission.

He locked horns with MMA veteran Ronaldo 'Jacare' Souza in one of his most recent bouts. The fight was a real eye-opener and Muniz delivered a statement-making performance. Not only did he secure an armbar finish against the multitime Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion, he managed to break Souza's hand as well.

The win over Souza at UFC 262 was followed by a dominant first-round submission victory over Eryk Anders. Muniz claimed the No.13 spot in the rankings soon after. He will be looking to break into the top 10, perhaps the top 5, by the end of 2022.

A fight against Derek Brunson makes a ton of sense for Andre Muniz. Brunson is coming off a disappointing loss to Jared Cannonier. The result likely ended the MMA veteran's chances of getting a title shot. In the lead-up to UFC 271, he revealed that, win or lose, he would retire after two more fights. His next fight will likely be the last of his career.

The stylistic matchup against Muniz will be a sight to behold. It'll be interesting to see how Brunson's wrestling fares against the Brazilian's impeccable jiu-jitsu.

#4. Jack Hermansson vs. Darren Till

Darren Till is currently ranked No.8 in the UFC middleweight division. Since moving up from welterweight, the Englishman has gone 1-2 in his new weight class. He has struggled to stay consistent at 185 lbs and is coming off back-to-back defeats to Robert Whittaker and Derek Brunson.

However, there are some important factors to consider while discussing Till's recent struggles. The fight against Whittaker was a razor-thin affair. Additionally, it was well-documented that the Brit was injured going into his bout against Brunson.

At just 29, Till is just now entering the prime of his career. On his day, he is one of the most lethal strikers on the UFC roster. He will be eager to return to winning ways in 2022. Considering the question marks surrounding his takedown defense, a suitable test for 'The Gorilla' is No.7-ranked Jack Hermansson.

Hermansson has also endured a turbulent run at 185 lbs of late. The Scandinavian is 2-3 in his last five fights. In his most recent bout, he succumbed to a unanimous decision loss to Sean Strickland. 'The Joker' has seemingly hit his ceiling and has emerged as a gatekeeper to the top 5 in the middleweight division. On his day, the grappling phenom is a tough outing for anyone.

A fight against Darren Till, who is predominantly a striker, would be ideal for Hermansson. Interestingly, they were scheduled to lock horns in 2020, but the fight fell through.

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#3. Paulo Costa vs. Sean Strickland

Sean Strickland is riding a six-fight winning streak in the UFC middleweight division. 'Tarzan' picked up wins over the likes of Brendan Allen, Krzysztof Jotko and Uriah Hall to break into the top 10. He was subsequently booked to fight Jack Hermansson at UFC Vegas 47, where he came out on top.

Following his unanimous decision victory over Hermansson, the polarizing American claimed the No.6 spot in the rankings. He will likely need a win over a top 5 fighter before competing for the title.

Paulo Costa is a potential candidate. The No.4-ranked Brazilian is coming off back-to-back losses to Israel Adesanya and Marvin Vettori. He is in desperate need of a win if he is to re-enter the title picture at 185 lbs.

A fight between Costa and Sean Strickland will unquestionably be a barnburner. Both fighters pride themselves on their striking prowess and they're rarely seen shooting for takedowns. Additionally, they're both insanely durable and love to push the pace.

#2. Marvin Vettori vs. Robert Whittaker

Marvin Vettori is in a tough spot in the UFC middleweight division. 'The Italian Dream' has already lost to the champion, Israel Adesanya, twice. Despite his impressive victory over Paulo Costa in his most recent outing, Vettori is likely in need of a few more wins before challenging for gold again.

While there are a number of options available for Vettori, perhaps the most ideal is Robert Whittaker. Whittaker is coming off his second defeat to Adesanya. 'The Reaper' will be desperate to bounce back and return to title contention.

At the post-fight press conference following UFC 271, Whittaker revealed he would "stomp anyone in the way" in pursuit of another shot at middleweight gold.

Watch Robert Whittaker at the UFC 271 post-fight press conference below:

Both Vettori and Whittaker will likely need a few more wins before they get another shot at the middleweight championship. A bout between the two will likely be a title-eliminator fight. Additionally, the stylistic matchup is phenomenal.

With Adesanya having recently signed a new deal with the UFC, he is likely to stay atop the division for a long time to come. Can 'The Italian Dream' and 'The Reaper' edge one step closer to a trilogy bout with 'The Last Stylebender'? Time will tell. For now, this seems like the ideal fight to book.

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#1. Israel Adesanya vs. Jared Cannonier – For the UFC middleweight title

Jared Cannonier undoubtedly sealed the title shot with his incredible come-from-behind victory over Derek Brunson at UFC 271. 'The Killa Gorilla' knocked out the MMA veteran in devastating fashion and demanded a shot at gold following his spectacular victory.

Dana White, at the post-fight press conference, confirmed that Cannonier is likely next in line to fight the champion, Israel Adesanya.

Adesanya, in his post-fight interview following his win over Robert Whittaker, acknowledged that Cannonier is now the No.1 contender at 185 lbs. The Kiwi called for a fight in June against the surging American. He said:

"I know June doesn't have a pay-per-view yet but, like I said, I'm the new dog in the yard. I'm the big dog in the yard now. And I know the other dog Jared Cannonier just did some work tonight so, I'm p*ssing in this cage next time in June, watch me!"

Israel Adesanya will be more than happy to fight someone he hasn't previously fought before. Jared Cannonier will present a unique threat to 'The Last Stylebender' when the duo eventually lock horns. Considering both fighters' preference to keep the fight on the feet, their bout will definitely produce fireworks.