Which Proposed UFC Bout Would You Most Like To See?

Charles Oliveira (Photo by Diego 19234. CC By 4.0 licence)

We live in a society where thanks to artificial intelligence and virtual reality, we don’t have to imagine how an event would play out or what the outcome of a specific matchup would turn out to be. We can make it happen virtually.

Whether it’s with old-school imagination or the algorithms of AI, playing the what if game is always loads of fun. And combat sports like MMA provide the perfect fodder for this type of endeavor. People often ponder how fighters of different eras would have stacked up if they’d actually faced each other for real.

Speculating is a big part of what makes sports fandom such a compelling pursuit. Today, virtual reality lets dream matchups come true. And the best UFC betting sites are taking this form of speculation to a level where it could pay off to invest in such dreamscapes. They offer betting lines and odds on potential MMA matchups.

Which of the following possible UFC bouts would you most like to see become a reality?

Charles Oliveira (+140) vs Dustin Poirier (-160)

It took Brazilian Oliveira 31 years and 31 fights to finally get his title shot. When the time arrived, Oliveira delivered the goods. He scored a second-round TKO of Michael Chandler at UFC 262 to claim the world lightweight title belt.

In the process, Oliveira set a new UFC record for finishes. It was the 17th victory by stoppage of Oliveira’s career. Yet it’s abundantly clear that in certain MMA circles, there is a constituency of fans that simply aren’t willing to buy into the Brazilian fighter’s legitimacy as a long-term championship belt holder.

The naysayers don’t see the Oliveira who’s won nine fights in a row. Instead, they recollect the guy who previously suffered losses at the hands of Frankie Edgar, Donald Cerrone, Anthony Pettis and Max Holloway.

At the same time, belief in Poirier has never been at a higher ebb during his UFC career. Following successive demolitions of former two-weight champion Connor McGregor, UFC fans see Poirier as the true notorious one.

Among all the proposed UFC bouts, this one seems to hold the best chance of becoming a reality. Though no official announcement has been made, there’s a rumor that won’t go away which is saying Oliveira-Poirier will be the main event at UFC 269 on December 11.

If that is indeed the case, lightweight contender Justin Gaethe is someone convinced that Poirier will be triumphant over Oliveira.

“It’s a very interesting matchup,” Gaethje told BloodyElbow.com. “I’ve got to favor Poirier, most certainly. [Oliveira] is a great grappler – he’s a great grappler – but again he doesn’t have great ability to take you down to the ground. 

“Poirier being a southpaw, it’s always funky when you face southpaws. It’s a little bit different, you don’t see them too often.”

Francis Ngannou (-130) vs Jon Jones (+100)

Jon Jones (Photo by Vengo Films. CC by 3.0 licence)

When Ngannou faced champion Stipe Miocic in a rematch for the world heavyweight title in March of 2020, UFC president Dana White was already hyping a bout between the winner and UFC legend Jon Jones.

It’s clearly a bout that Nganou, who knocked out Miocic to claim the title belt, wants to see come to fruition. 

​​”I think that’s the fight to make,” Eric Nicksick, Ngannou’s coach, told The MMA Hour. “And I would hate to miss out on that opportunity between Francis and Jon. 

“It kind of reminds me of when [Manny] Pacquiao and Floyd [Mayweather] were supposed to fight the first time and then Pacquiao went and got starched or something happened, right? And then the luster wore away. 

“So I’m hoping that that’s the fight that happens, because honestly, in my mind I feel that Jon Jones is the pound-for-pound GOAT. And as a coach and as a competitor, I want to compete against the best.”

Connor McGregor (+400) vs Kamaru Usman (-700)

On paper and on pay-per-view, this would be a great fight. In reality, is it, though?

How many beatdowns does McGregor need to suffer before MMA fans acknowledge that The Notorious One is no longer what he once was? 

UFC Hall of Famer Georges St-Pierre even suggested that it might be time for McGregor to step away from the octagon – or at the very least, take a step down in his level of competition.

“Conor has been out for a long time,” St-Pierre told The MMA Hour. “He needs to get back in there to spend more time in the octagon in order to find his own self, the way he moves and his abilities. 

“It seems like he might have lost some of his ability due to his inactivity.”