'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Rematches in MMA don't happen as often. It's not like professional wrestling where it's easy to book a rematch. The circumstances need to be right to prompt one and the stars must align to justify running back a fight.
In 2019, we saw one of the best years in UFC history and some of the most historic fights as well. We saw the rise of stars, the changing of guard, big changes in the Women's weight classes, and so much more.
The big rematch that was known to happen in 2020 is the trilogy between Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier. There's no denying that it's the right fight to make and one that warrants a rematch.
However, there are a few potential rematches that could happen this year that ideally shouldn't. Due to various circumstances, we explain why these five rematches shouldn't take place in UFC in 2020.
#5 Max Holloway vs Alexander Volkanovski
The Featherweight division is now ruled by Alexander "The Great" Volkanovski. The Australian got his well-deserved title shot against the Hawaiian Champion Max Holloway. Many felt that Holloway would put Volkanovksi away and continue his incredible reign as the Featherweight King.
However, the opposite turned out to be the case. In what turned out to be a brilliant strategy, Volkanovski utilized his leg kicks to neutralize Holloway's usual explosiveness volume, doing enough to earn a unanimous decision victory and the Featherweight Championship.
Dana White expressed his interest in running a rematch in Australia, but we believe that it shouldn't happen just yet. Volkanovski won a clear-cut decision against Holloway and should be taking on the next best contender in line: "The Korean Zombie Chan Sung Jung. The South Korean is riding a two-fight win streak and following back-to-back emphatic finishes, he should be the man challenging for the title next.
He has, however, expressed an interest in either facing Max Holloway, Brian Ortega, or Zabit Magomedsharipov should he not get a title shot.
#4 Israel Adesanya vs Robert Whittaker
Israel Adesanya dethroned Robert Whittaker at UFC 243 in front of a huge crowd of 51,127 in Melbourne, Australia. He knocked out The Reaper in the second round to earn the UFC Championship and it was clear that Paulo Costa would be his next challenger.
However, Costa's injury means that he'll be out for another 6-7 months, putting him on the shelf. Adesanya has since requested Yoel Romero as his opponent, and Dana White, while skeptical at first, seems interested in making the fight happen.
Whittaker, on the other hand, is set to face Jared Cannonier at UFC 248 in what we consider to be great matchmaking. Cannonier is on a 3-fight KO streak in the Middleweight division and could be next in line should he put away the Australian.
However, a win for Whittaker would put him right back in the mix for the title. We believe it shouldn't happen as Paulo Costa and Yoel Romero are more interesting fights for the Champion in 2020.
#3 Chris Weidman vs Luke Rockhold
The second fight between Chris Weidman and Luke Rockhold has now been canceled on two occasions. They were first supposed to face in the mid-point of 2016, but Weidman pulled out, allowing Michael Bisping to replace him and beat Luke Rockhold.
The second time was at Madison Square Garden in 2017, but this time, it was Rockhold who pulled out. Both men have had unsuccessful Light Heavyweight debuts and seem to be on the tail end of their careers. Weidman has also stated that he wants a tune-up fight next and he certainly deserves it.
As for Rockhold, he's just happy to not be fighting, upon his admission. While it might seem ideal to match the two up, it's not the right decision. The two men need unranked or low-ranked opponents next to get right back in the mix.
#2 Nate Diaz vs Jorge Masvidal
2019 was quite the year for Jorge Masvidal. In the eyes of many, he was the fighter of the year, with Israel Adesanya being the only other possible contender for that title. Following emphatic knockout wins against Darren Till and Ben Askren (the latter of which happened in a mere 5 seconds of the first round), he was called out by Nate Diaz following the Stockton star's win over Anthony Pettis after a 3-year hiatus.
The two men would headline Madison Square Garden for the "BMF title" - a brainchild of Nate Diaz. While Diaz was the "A-side" of that PPV, Masvidal used the spotlight and took it to a whole new level, decimating his opponent in a one-sided fight that went three rounds. The fight was controversially stopped after the ringside Doctor declared that Diaz's cut above his eye was too big for him to continue.
Masvidal immediately told Diaz that they would run it back, but now that things have settled, it's clear that a rematch isn't the best direction. Masvidal potentially has Conor McGregor, Nick Diaz, and Kamaru Usman as his next opponent and all three present far more interesting and exciting opportunities.
#1 Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Conor McGregor
The biggest fight in MMA history, Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Conor McGregor smashed PPV and live gate records and ended with the Russian dominating his bitter rival to a 4th round submission victory.
After the controversy that happened post-fight, Nurmagomedov would wait up to 11 months to get back in the Octagon, defeating a tough challenger in Dustin Poirier in the third round via submission.
As with the last four times, Nurmagomedov is now set to face Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 in what has come to be the most anticipated fight in all of MMA today.
As of this writing, Conor McGregor is set to return at UFC 246 against Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone and Dana White has been the first to say that should he beat Cerrone and Nurmgomedov beat Ferguson, he intends to book a rematch between the Russian and the Irishman.
It's not the right fight to make and McGregor shouldn't be given an immediate title shot for beating Cerrone at Welterweight. Jorge Masvidal would be a better opponent and Justin Gaethje should be next in line for a title fight.
