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#4. Marlon Moraes vs. Merab Dvalishvili - UFC 266
While Brazil's Marlon Moraes has already fought for the UFC's bantamweight title before, his upcoming opponent, Merab Dvalishvili, is still exploring unchartered territories.
Dvalishvili's aggressive wrestling game has made him a true force to be reckoned with. 'The Machine' has plowed through his past six opponents in the UFC, with the likes of Casey Kenny, John Dodson and Cody Stamman all falling victim to his relentless pressure.
Dvalishvili is currently ranked 10th in the UFC's bantamweight division, while Moraes sits at sixth. Should the Georgian pick up another decisive victory here, a number one contender fight against a fellow top-ranked fighter seems quite plausible.
#3. Li Jingliang vs. Khamzat Chimaev - UFC 267
Khamzat Chimaev was one of the UFC's biggest breakout stars in 2020. Three dominant victories over John Phillips, Rhys McKee and Gerald Meerschaert saw Chimaev booked to fight top welterweight contender Leon Edwards. Unfortunately, Chimaev contracted COVID-19 and suffered heavily from its long-term effects. This led to the Edwards fight being scrapped and nearly pushed 'Borz' into retirement.
However, Chimaev is now back and has a new opponent - Li Jingliang. The Chinese is coming off a brutal KO victory over Santiago Ponzinibbio. With Jingliang ranked 12th in the welterweight division, it is slightly optimistic to say a win over Chimaev will be enough for a number one contender fight.
However, should Chimaev win, it is likely that he will be moved right to the top of the pack. Considering he was offered what was essentially a number one contender shot against Edwards off the back of only three UFC wins, it is clear that the UFC holds Chimaev in incredibly high regard.
The promotion could re-schedule the Leon Edwards fight as well. The Jamaican-born fighter is currently in limbo after defeating Nate Diaz at UFC 262. Despite the win, he is now being forced to wait for Colby Covington to rematch welterweight champion Kamaru Usman before securing his own title shot. A fight against Chimaev would be a good matchup for Edwards to stay active and solidify his place as the next number one contender.
