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With just five weeks and three UFC events remaining in 2021, it’s natural that fans will now start looking towards 2022.
2022 will hopefully be a massively successful year for the UFC, and one thing that could be fascinating to watch could be the return of a number of high-level fighters.
Some of these UFC fighters have been out for a lengthy period of time, usually due to injuries, but they could all make 2022 a tremendous year for themselves.
With that considered, here are five UFC stars who could make their long-awaited returns in 2022.
#5: Luke Rockhold – former UFC middleweight champion
While his best days may now be behind him, it’s safe to say that the return of former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold is still likely to pique the interests of fans.
Rockhold has not fought since his July 2019 loss to Jan Blachowicz, his lone appearance in the UFC at 205lbs. In fact, he’s only fought four times in the past five years.
However, if he can tighten up his defense and protect his chin, the former UFC middleweight champion may well still have plenty to offer for the 185lbs division.
Rockhold is still one of the better strikers in the division from a technical standpoint. Particularly with his kicks, and on the ground, he’s always been an underrated fighter with a monstrous top game and submission arsenal.
Will he return to the octagon in 2022? It seems highly likely. Rockhold was booked to fight Sean Strickland at UFC 268 in a fight that, had he won, would’ve elevated him right back into the top ten at middleweight.
However, a herniated disc forced him out of the fight, the fifth such instance during his career with the UFC. Assuming his injury heals soon, though, he should return to action next year.
Whether Strickland will wait for him is another thing entirely. However, with the right opponent, there’s an outside chance that at 37-years-old, Rockhold could still make another run at the top of the middleweight division.
#4: Doo Ho Choi – UFC featherweight contender
While Doo Ho Choi has never quite developed into the featherweight title contender that some fans once hoped, it’s probably still safe to say that he’s one of the most exciting fighters in the division.
‘The Korean Superboy’ has had some of the greatest fights in the history of the featherweight division, with his clashes with the likes of Cub Swanson, Charles Jourdain and Jeremy Stephens going down as instant classics.
However, Choi has not fought since his clash with Jourdain, which happened way back in December 2019.
The reasons for his absence have been two-fold. ‘The Korean Superboy’ was initially kept out of action due to his mandatory military service with the South Korean army, but he was due to return in July, only to withdraw from his fight with Danny Chavez due to injury.
So will 2022 be the year that UFC fans will see Choi in action again? Based on the fact that he was due to fight in July, it’s definitely possible.
If he does return, while it seems unlikely that he’ll rise into title contention, he could well provide some fun fights for the fans. Making his return to the UFC highly welcome.
#3: Tatiana Suarez – UFC flyweight contender
Right now, there’s a clear argument that UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko is the most dominant fighter in the UFC. Seemingly, there isn’t a fighter alive at 125lbs who can really test her.
However, that may not be the case. In fact, the fighter with the best possible chance of dethroning ‘The Bullet’ should hopefully be set to return in 2022, and has been a part of the UFC’s roster since 2016.
That fighter is Tatiana Suarez.
Sure, the TUF 23 winner has not yet fought at 125lbs, and her planned flyweight debut against Roxanne Modafferi was nixed earlier this year due to Suarez suffering an injury. However, it hardly feels like a stretch to suggest she’ll succeed there.
Suarez has fought the entirety of her UFC tenure at 115lbs, and to say she’s been dominant would be an understatement. Her bullying style, built around a powerful wrestling game and dangerous submission arsenal, has allowed her to destroy tough opponents such as Carla Esparza and Alexa Grasso.
The only thing that may now hold her back is her history with injuries. Suarez has been out of action for over two years now with a severe neck injury, and how well she’ll return from that is anyone’s guess.
However, if she returns on form, preferably in 2022, she could quickly rise into title contention and could even challenge Shevchenko before the end of the year. Hopefully next year will be an injury-free one for her.
#2: Gunnar Nelson – UFC welterweight contender
Around seven years ago, Gunnar Nelson was arguably the best welterweight prospect in the UFC. ‘Gunni’ had debuted in the octagon in 2012, and quickly reeled off four victories, impressing hugely in all of them.
Losses to the likes of Rick Story and Demian Maia took the bloom off his rose somewhat, but as recently as 2019, he appeared likely to ascend into contention for the UFC welterweight title.
However, that year went badly for the native of Iceland, as he was defeated by Leon Edwards and Gilbert Burns. Since then, he has not fought in the UFC, and appears to have fallen off the map entirely.
Nelson has never been released by the UFC, though, meaning that after spending over two years on the shelf, 2022 could be the year that sees him return to action.
What does he have to offer at this point? The answer, surprisingly, is plenty. Nelson is still only 33 years old, meaning he’s probably in his athletic prime right now, and he hasn’t really taken that much damage over the years.
While his style may not prove to be effective against top fighters like Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington, his submission skills and sniper-like striking still make him a danger to most of the 170lbers on the roster.
If nothing else, Nelson provides a tricky stylistic challenge for any fighter that he steps into the octagon with. Meaning that a UFC comeback for him in 2022 would be hugely welcome.
#1: Zabit Magomedsharipov – UFC featherweight contender
With all of the furore around Russian, more specifically, Dagestani fighters rising up the ranks in the UFC right now, it’s hard to believe that perhaps the most talented of them all seems to have fallen off the radar.
Unfortunately, it’s now been over two years since we last saw Zabit Magomedsharipov in action. The Dagestani native was last seen outpointing Calvin Kattar in the headline bout of UFC Fight Night 163, and it was fully expected that he’d move into contention for the UFC featherweight title in 2020.
Since then, though, Magomedsharipov has not stepped back into the octagon. A planned fight with Yair Rodriguez fell through in August 2020, and in April 2021, he was officially removed from the UFC’s rankings altogether – despite sitting at #3 at the time.
Thankfully, he has not been released from his contract or anything similar. In fact, Zabit has reportedly been on the shelf due to health issues caused by a compromised immune system.
Despite rumors of his retirement swirling around at one point, according to his coach Mark Henry, 2022 could be the year that he returns to action.
If he does return, UFC fans have reason to be excited. Not only is Magomedsharipov one of the most dangerous fighters in the featherweight division, he’s also one of the most exciting. Fights with the likes of Rodriguez and Giga Chikadze could become instant classics.
While he may need a tune-up fight upon his return, it’s safe to say that if Magomedsharipov can indeed return in 2022, fireworks may well ensue.
