5 inactive UFC fighters who could make a return in 2022

#4. Henry Cejudo - Former two-division UFC champion

Cejudo's last fight was on May 9 2020 at UFC 249

For a while, it looked as though Henry Cejudo would make a UFC return in 2021, when there was speculation about a potential featherweight title bout between himself and the champion, Alexander Volkanovski.

While that no longer looks likely, this was the first time since Cejudo's retirement that there seemed to be some demand for his return. With Max Holloway not desperate for his own title shot, fans and media seemed intrigued by a potential Cejudo-Volkanovski fight.

If Cejudo can capitalize on this interest, perhaps he will be able to negotiate a return to the UFC in 2022. The recent indication that 'Triple C' would be willing to make a full-time return to the sport might pique the interest of Dana White and co.

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#3. Gunnar Nelson - UFC welterweight contender

Nelson's last fight was 28 September 2019

Gunnar Nelson has been away from the octagon for some time now, with his most recent fight being a unanimous decision loss to Gilbert Burns in September 2019. However, his return to the UFC now appears to be near.

Recently, both Nelson and his coach, John Kavanagh, have suggested 'Gunni' will be looking to secure a fight when the UFC returns to London on March 2022. Nelson even went as far as to suggest Khamzat Chimaev as an opponent.

Some may forget that Gunnar Nelson was once one of the top submission specialists in the UFC. Nelson has seven submission victories in the UFC and even fought Leon Edwards to a split decision in his penultimate bout prior to his lengthy absence through injury.

While all this sounds very promising, in a sport where injuries are a daily occurrence, staying healthy until March may be a tougher task than you might initially think. Here's hoping his injury woes are now behind him and we do indeed see Gunnar Nelson return to the UFC in 2022.