5 UFC title fights we need to see in 2020

A fight between UFC Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and top contender Paulo Costa would be amazing
A fight between UFC Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and top contender Paulo Costa would be amazing

2020 is upon us and now, the countdown has begun to the UFC’s first show of the year next weekend, as Conor McGregor takes on Donald Cerrone in the main event of UFC 246. That fight is a non-title one, but the UFC has already announced a total of 5 title fights for the first quarter of 2020.

But what about the remainder of the year? We’re still awaiting announcements for the next title fights in 7 of the UFC’s weight classes, and while the promotion may well have different ideas for the clashes it wants to book, here are 5 UFC title fights that we need to see in 2020.

#1 Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa – UFC Middleweight title

Paulo Costa's last fight saw him defeat Yoel Romero in a true war
Paulo Costa's last fight saw him defeat Yoel Romero in a true war

Israel Adesanya became an overnight sensation in 2019, winning three fights and ending the year by beating Robert Whittaker to become the undisputed UFC Middleweight champion. Current reports suggest his first title defense is all but locked in – he’ll be facing former Cuban Olympic wrestler Yoel Romero at some point in 2020.

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However, the fight that most UFC fans really want for ‘The Last Stylebender’ is a clash with Brazilian beast Paulo ‘The Eraser’ Costa. Costa is currently on the shelf rehabbing an injury to his biceps, but the last time we saw him in the Octagon, he was beating Romero in a razor-close fight that was arguably the second-best of 2019 behind Adesanya’s own epic encounter with Kelvin Gastelum.

The two men have already been sniping at one another on social media – with Costa calling Adesanya a “skinny clown” and ‘The Last Stylebender’ accusing the Brazilian of using steroids. And on paper, it’s a genuinely fantastic fight, with Adesanya’s pinpoint, sniping striking pitted against ‘The Eraser’ and his more straightforward, bulldozing Muay Thai style.

Neither man has a loss to his name yet, meaning someone’s ‘0’ would also have to go if they did meet inside the Octagon. Simply put, this is an awesome fight that the UFC must book this year.

#2 Alexander Volkanovski vs. Chan Sung Jung – UFC Featherweight title

The UFC should book 'The Korean Zombie' as Alexander Volkanovski's first title defense
The UFC should book 'The Korean Zombie' as Alexander Volkanovski's first title defense

Australia’s Alexander Volkanovski stunned everyone when he unseated longtime champion Max Holloway to claim UFC Featherweight gold in December, and while the rumoured plans for his first defense involve an immediate rematch with the Hawaiian, for once the UFC ought to swerve their usual habits and instead book him into a fight with Chan Sung Jung.

‘The Korean Zombie’ was last seen fighting in his home country, as he stopped former Lightweight champion Frankie Edgar inside a single round with a vicious flurry of strikes. The win was Jung’s second in a row, as he’d previously stopped the highly-ranked Renato Moicano in June in a finish that took less than a minute.

It’s true that Holloway perhaps deserves an instant rematch due to his excellent record as champion – 3 successful title defenses – and it’s also true that we’re only just a year removed from Jung suffering a knockout at the hands of Yair Rodriguez, but ‘The Korean Zombie’ is arguably the most popular 145lber on the UFC’s roster, and coming off his big win over Edgar, he’s never been hotter.

A fight between the Zombie and ‘Alexander The Great’ would undoubtedly make for fireworks; could the Aussie’s clean striking and pressure-fighting break down Jung and his iron chin? A rematch with Holloway can wait – the UFC should give us this fantastic-sounding fight instead.

#3 Kamaru Usman vs. Jorge Masvidal – UFC Welterweight title

A fight between Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal could be one for the ages
A fight between Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal could be one for the ages

Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal were undoubtedly two of 2019’s breakout stars for the UFC; Usman defeated Tyron Woodley to claim the Welterweight crown and then stopped bitter rival Colby Covington in a fantastic fight in December, while Masvidal knocked out both Darren Till and Ben Askren before stopping Nate Diaz in controversial circumstances to win the UFC’s first – and only – ‘BMF’ title.

With the challenge of Covington now out of the way, the 170lbs division doesn’t have a clear-cut top contender for Usman – and so surely, it makes sense for the UFC to hand Masvidal his long-awaited title shot.

‘Gamebred’ hasn’t lost since 2017, is now a firm favourite with the promotion’s fanbase, and as a member of American Top Team, has a natural rivalry with the former Blackzilian Usman.

The only snag? Masvidal has stated that he’d rather take a fight with Conor McGregor – assuming ‘The Notorious One’ beats Donald Cerrone next weekend – than fight ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ for his title, which makes sense in a way as a McGregor fight would undoubtedly draw more eyeballs.

However, it’s also fair to say that a McGregor fight would become even bigger if Masvidal were to defeat Usman for the UFC Welterweight title – and even if he were to lose, which is more likely given Usman’s insane record and skills, a fight with the Irishman would still be on the table. This fight simply makes too much sense for the promotion to ignore.

#4 Henry Cejudo vs. Petr Yan – UFC Bantamweight title

Henry Cejudo should defend his UFC Bantamweight title against Petr Yan this year
Henry Cejudo should defend his UFC Bantamweight title against Petr Yan this year

UFC Bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo is still on the shelf after undergoing shoulder surgery in 2019, and even after dropping his Flyweight title, he doesn’t have to look very far for potential title contenders. Aljamain Sterling, for instance, has been on a tremendous run, while Marlon Moraes bounced back from his loss to Cejudo to beat Jose Aldo in December.

The man who would make for the best challenger right now though? Devastating Russian striker Petr Yan. ‘No Mercy’ most recently destroyed UFC legend Urijah Faber at UFC 245, knocking him out with a nasty head kick in the third round, and the Russian’s boxing skill seems unmatched in the 135lbs division.

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But could he deal with the phenomenal wrestling of Cejudo? The Olympic gold medallist has been able to take down practically every opponent he’s faced in the UFC, and judging by his fight with Moraes, he’s got an absolutely iron will and is unbelievably hard to stop even when he’s hurt.

This one would essentially be the classic fight between the unstoppable force and the immovable object – and if Cejudo could overcome the challenge of ‘No Mercy’, he’d have to be considered amongst the best 135lbers to ever grace the UFC.

#5 Amanda Nunes vs. Aspen Ladd – UFC Women’s Bantamweight title

Could Aspen Ladd be the woman to take down Amanda Nunes?
Could Aspen Ladd be the woman to take down Amanda Nunes?

After beating Germaine De Randamie in December, UFC Bantamweight and Featherweight champion Amanda Nunes re-affirmed her claim to being the best female MMA fighter of all time. How much longer she can keep up her incredible run is anyone’s guess, but as far as a next challenger for her goes, the UFC should look no further than Aspen Ladd.

Admittedly, it’s only been six months since Ladd was knocked out by De Randamie in just 16 seconds, but since then she’s picked up a big TKO win of her own over former Featherweight title challenger Yana Kunitskaya, and in truth, the loss to De Randamie came due to a controversial referee stoppage.

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Ladd would also give Nunes somewhat of a unique challenge; unlike the last three victims of ‘The Lioness’ – Cris Cyborg, Holly Holm and De Randamie – she’s more of a ground specialist, and we haven’t seen a fighter go after the clinch and takedowns against the Brazilian for a long time. She’s also extremely strong for 135lbs, and nobody has yet been able to match Nunes’s own strength.

‘The Lioness’ is now approaching the same point as the likes of Anderson Silva and Georges St. Pierre once did – every fight she has is worth watching regardless of the opponent simply to see greatness in action – but Ladd would almost definitely represent the toughest test she’s faced in some time.

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Edited by Arvind Sriram