MMA Fights To Look Forward To In January 2018

MMA Fights To Look Forward To In January 2018
December 29, 2017
By Ryan Porzl

Note that at the time I release these, the full card of certain events have not been released so there may be other fights I would recommend but aren't announced until after I complete this. Also, card subject to change.



Stipe Miocic vs. Francis Ngannou (UFC 220, 1/20/18)- For the UFC Heavyweight Championship. Miocic is riding a five fight win streak with his recent win being over Junior Dos Santos by TKO at UFC 213 back on May 13th. Ngannou is riding a ten fight win streak with his recent win being over Alistair Overeem by KO at UFC 218 back on December 2nd. With two successful title defenses under his belt, Miocic is on the verge of history. Should he defeat Ngannou then he will be the first fighter to have made three successful title defenses of the UFC Heavyweight Championship in one reign. That alone makes this worth while to see if Miocic can succeed where many couldn't. Ngannou is coming off a knockout of the year candidate against Overeem and is capable of knocking anyone out. Miocic has suffered a previous knockout loss to Stefan Struve back in 2011 so he's capable of being knocked out. Does Miocic make history or does Ngannou become the new Heavyweight Champion of the World?

Daniel Cormier vs. Volkan Oezdemir (UFC 220, 1/20/18)- For the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. Cormier is unbeaten in five fights (four wins, one no contest) with his recent fight being a no contest against Jon Jones at UFC 214 on July 29th. Oezdemir is riding a five fight win streak with his recent win being over Jimi Manuwa by KO at UFC 214 on July 29th. Cormier is going into this fight in a unique position as he's been reinstated as UFC Light Heavyweight Champion thus making this the second time that he became UFC Champion without beating Jon Jones but due to Jones' self-destructive nature. Cormier has stated he still considers the recent fight a loss so the question is how does he handle it? Does he allow it to affect him and prevent him from fighting at his best or is he more motivated than before and looks to make a statement? Oezdemir has been a wrecking ball since his arrival in the UFC and is hoping to score another fast impressive knockout but with Cormier being a big, strong wrestler, the question is can he nail it before Cormier gets the chance to take him down? Cormier is coming off getting knocked out the first time so he's capable of getting knocked out. Does that affect him? Will he be gun shy and if so, will it open the door just long enough for Oezdemir to land the knockout punch?

Jacare Souza vs. Derek Brunson (UFC on FOX: Jacare vs. Brunson, 1/27/18)- This is a rematch from Strikeforce: Rousey vs. Kaufman on August 18, 2012. Souza is coming off a loss to Robert Whittaker by TKO at UFC on FOX: Johnson vs. Reis on April 15th. Brunson was riding a two fight win streak with his most recent win being over Lyoto Machida by KO at UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Machida on October 28th. Here, we got two fighters in different directions as Souza is top ranked fighter coming off a loss against the now current middleweight champion in Whittaker while Brunson is slowly moving his way up the ladder while coming off one of the biggest wins of his career in Machida. For Souza, a win not only allows him to get back on track but it's important given the next middleweight championship fight will be against current champion Robert Whittaker and former champion Luke Rockhold who are two men who hold wins over Souza so a win could allow him to face the winner which not only allows him the opportunity to be the UFC Middleweight Champion but allows him to avenge a previous loss. For Brunson, a win over Souza avenges a previous loss while given him another huge win which allows him a chance to make an argument that he should be the next contender after Whittaker/Rockhold.

Douglas Lima vs. Rory MacDonald (Bellator 192, 1/20/18)- For the Bellator Welterweight Championship. Lima is riding a three fight win streak with his recent win being over Lorenz Larkin by unanimous decision at Bellator NYC on June 24th. MacDonald is coming off a win over Paul Daley by submission at Bellator 179 on May 19th. Lima is currently on a great roll having become the first two time Bellator Welterweight Champion while avenging his previous title loss to Andrey Koreshkov and then defeated former top ranked UFC fighter Lorenz Larkin. A win over MacDonald would be another big win for Lima as MacDonald is a top fighter and it continues to establish Lima as the face of the welterweight division which he's been for the most part since Ben Askren left four years ago. MacDonald has a lot on the line as he was once considered the heir apparent to UFC's welterweight throne whenever Georges St-Pierre decided to step down but it never happened and he left UFC a year ago without ever having become champion. Now, MacDonald has a chance to become a champion and prove he was and is worthy of the hype. Should he lose, many will question if he's overrated as he will have come up short in UFC and Bellator championships.

Michael Chandler vs. Goiti Yamauchi (Bellator 192, 1/20/18)- Chandler is coming off losing the Lightweight Championship to Brent Primus by TKO at Bellator NYC on June 24th. Yamauchi is riding a three fight win streak with his recent win being over Adam Piccolotti by submission at Bellator 183 on September 24th. For one thing, this is a fight to seek out because it should be exciting as both are capable of putting on exciting fights and excellent performances. This is also one of those old guard vs. new blood type fights as Chandler has been one of MMA's top lightweights for years and one of Bellator's faces in not only the division but of the promotion since he first won the title in 2011 in that classic against Eddie Alvarez while Yamauchi is not only one of Bellator's top lightweight prospects but one of their top prospects period. Yamauchi always showed potential but has really been putting it together especially after moving up to lightweight last year. A win for Chandler means he's still a force to be reckoned with at lightweight while a win for Yamauchi propels him to becoming a top face in the division. There's also title implications as well as Patricky Freire is rumored to be facing champion Brent Primus next but the winner of this fight could meet the winner of that fight.