5 UFC rematches that were closer the second time around

Adesanya leads the series with Whittaker 2-0
Adesanya leads the series with Whittaker 2-0

#2. Rose Namajunas vs. Zhang Weili - UFC 268

Namajunas leads the series with Zhang 2-0
Namajunas leads the series with Zhang 2-0

Current UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas followed up her two consecutive fights with Jessica Andrade with two against Zhang Weili. The first bout saw 'Thug Rose' deliver a stunning head kick KO that earned her the strawweight title for the second time in her career.

While the first bout was over inside a round, the second went the full 25 minutes. In a much closer affair, Namajunas did enough to win on two of the judges' scorecards and retained her belt via split decision. The result was somewhat controversial, with many feeling Zhang won the first three rounds.

Namajunas now appears to be set for her next title defense against Carla Esparza. As for Zhang, she could also be headed for another rematch against Joanna Jedrzejczyk after their first bout was arguably the greatest female MMA fight ever.


#1. Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz II - UFC 202

The series between McGregor and Diaz is tied at 1-1
The series between McGregor and Diaz is tied at 1-1

The rivalry between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz took the popularity of the UFC to a new level. It began when Diaz stepped in at short notice to fight 'The Notorious' at UFC 196. Diaz stunned the world when he handed McGregor his first UFC defeat via rear-naked choke in the second round of the bout.

The Irishman was quickly granted a rematch, and later that year, the pair went to war again. This time, the bout was much closer and went the full five rounds. While one judge scored it a draw, the other two awarded the fight in McGregor's favor, and so he was declared the winner via majority decision.

Both men have had their struggles since their rivalry, and a trilogy bout between the pair seems an appropriate match-up on paper. Should a bout between Diaz and Dustin Poirier fail to materialize, a third Diaz-McGregor fight may very well take place later this year.

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