MMA Fights We Need To Wish Into Reality

Even though we’ve only just finished UFC on ESPN 43, we’re already thinking about the next fights on the calendar. Of course, some of the bouts on our minds aren’t ones that have actually been scheduled just yet. We’re talking about the fights that we’d love to see but don’t yet have any assurance that they’ll happen.

Every MMA fan has those dream matchups that may or may not come true one day. After seeing what some of the stars at UFC on ESPN 43 accomplished, we’re eager to see what they could bring in certain pairings. We don’t know if we’ll ever get to see these fights in the future, but we’re not going to stop wishing for them anytime soon.

Cory Sandhagen vs. Sean O’Malley

At UFC on ESPN 43, Cory Sandhagen managed a split-decision win over Marlon “Chito” Vera. It was a great accomplishment for the number five ranked fighter and almost feels a little familiar. After all, it wasn’t long ago that another top-five MMA star emerged victorious over a notable challenger in a split-decision victory. We’re referring to Sean O’Malley, who succeeded against Petr Yan. These similarities alone would make for quite an interesting fight between the two victors. Of course, the pair also being versatile and dynamic bantamweight fighters means that this matchup would make for some compelling viewing.

Marlon “Chito” Vera vs. Petr Yan

Speaking of Marlon “Chito” Vera and Petr Yan, wouldn’t those two make for an iconic bout too? Although Vera didn’t seem to be at his best in the fight against Sandhagen, he’s still an incredibly popular fighter with plenty to offer. He’s definitely not one to overlook anytime soon, despite the defeat, and the same goes for Yan. Even with several recent split-decision losses, he’s still highly capable of pulling out all the stops in a bout. We can imagine a matchup between him and Marlon resulting in quite a powerful battle, one that neither will be willing to lose. The fact that they make for a solid pairing on paper is also pretty convincing.

Maycee Barber vs. Amanda Ribas

2023 marks five years in the UFC for Maycee Barber, and she’s celebrating the anniversary with quite an impressive run. At UFC on ESPN 43, she achieved her fourth straight win, beating Andrea Lee in one of her most monumental victories so far. With Barber seemingly justifying the hype around her, fans are eager to see everything that she has in the ring. That’s why Amanda Ribas would potentially make for an excellent competitor. Currently ranked number nine in flyweight, she too has moved up from strawweight like Barber. Plus, she very recently had a unanimous win at UFC 285 that’s given her some excellent momentum. To see her take on Maycee would be something special.

Holly Holm vs. Julianna Peña

When it comes to sports, people typically retire a lot earlier than they might with another job. However, Holly Holm is now in her 40s, and she’s showing no signs of stopping. At UFC on ESPN 43, she won over Yana Santos, proving that she’s still one of this sport’s greatest fighters. So, who should she pit her skills against next? We’d suggest Julianna Peña, one of the few exceptional fighters that she hasn’t been up against. Both women are former champions, with Julianna losing the belt to Amanda Nunes in 2022. Although the number two ranked fighter hasn’t indicated what she’s doing with her career yet, if she plans on continuing to fight, she and Holly would be an excellent matchup.

Nate Landwehr vs. Jack Shore

UFC on ESPN 43 was an excellent showing for Nate Landwehr, who achieved a quick submission against Austin Lingo. His victory was one of several for Landwehr recently, proving him to be one of the rising stars in the featherweight category right now. Could he sustain that momentum if he went up against Jack Shore? The Welsh fighter is also quickly proving his might in this weight category, recording a near-perfect win record across over a dozen matches. With both being highly capable fighters eager to cement their place as featherweight fighters, a bout between the two would probably be unmissable.

We’ve no idea if any of these bouts will happen. However, as matchups go, they certainly make a lot of sense for where each fighter is at right now. If even just one of them becomes a reality, we’ll be very happy.