A pulsating year in the UFC drew to a close last weekend with Amanda Nunes cementing her position as the best female bantamweight on the planet while Cody Garbrandt surprised the masses with a comfortable win over bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz.
We look at some of the UFC rematches we would like to see in 2017:
Flyweight: Demtrious Johnson vs. Dominick Cruz
Demetrious Johnson reigns supreme and has been the UFC’s only flyweight champion. There is nobody really worth considering to fight him again in his weight class but a chance to avenge his last loss to Dominick Cruz at bantamweight must be on his mind.
That fight was building nicely for 2017, until Cruz lost his title last weekend, so this one might have to be put on the back-burner for another while.
Bantamweight: Cody Garbrandt v Dominick Cruz
It make sense. The two engaged in a back-and-forth scrap last weekend and it will be interesting to see how Cruz deals with his first loss in almost a decade. Despite the animosity between the pair in the lead-up to the fight, Garbrandt said he is willing to give Cruz an immediate rematch, something which is sure to make TJ Dillashaw pull his hair out.
Featherweight: Cub Swanson v Dohoo Choi
If you saw the first one, you’ll want to see this one again. Just when it looked like Swanson was falling out of contention in the division, he puts on a barn-burner with Choi. These two need to do it again for the sake of the fans. Whatever money they ask for, the UFC should give it to them.
Lightweight: Conor McGregor v Max Holloway
They have both vastly improved since their first meeting in Boston in 2013. Holloway will likely face Jose Aldo in a featherweight unification fight and the result of that will largely decide if the Hawaiian stays in the division or chases the last man to beat him.
As for McGregor, he no doubt has dates with either (or both) Tony Ferguson or Khabib Nurmagomedov, while the rubber match with Nate Diaz is sure to happen at some stage in 2017.
Conor McGregor with Eddie Alvarez. Image: ©INPHO/Tom Hogan
Welterweight: Tryon Woodey v Stephen Thompson
Their first bout ended in a draw at UFC 205 so it has to happen again. Demian Maia won’t be pleased, but they’re the breaks. Woodley and Robbie Lawlor would be worth seeing again also just to see if the former champion was caught with a lucky punch last time out or not.
Tyron Woodley and Stephen Thompson. Image: ©INPHO/Tom Hogan
Middleweight: Michael Bisping v Luke Rockhold
The rubber match in their trilogy is sure to have an interesting build up. The pair detest one another and it was evident at the post fight press conference when Bisping snatched the title from Rochold last time out.
Light-heavyweight: Daniel Cormier v Alexander Gustafsson
The pair fought out a classic back-and-forth affair in October 2015 landing a combined 260 strikes between them. Cormier took a split-decision but the pair should really do it again.
Heavyweight: Andrei Arlovski v Travis Browne
The pair won “fight of the night” bonuses for their one round brawl in May 2015. It’s not often the big boys just go out and trade but that’s exactly what happened here. Needs to be done again.
Women’s strawweight: Joanna Jedrzejczyk v Karolina Kowalkiewicz
The Polish ladies fought an exciting scrap at UFC 205 in Madison Square Garden and while Jedrzejczyk retained her title in the end, there's sure to be interest if the two were to meet again.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Karolina Kowalkiewicz with UFC President Dana White
Image: ©INPHO/Tom Hogan
Women’s bantamweight: Amanda Nunes v Cat Zingano
The pair fought a memorable brawl back in 2014, where Nunes stormed out of the gate and had her opponent in serious trouble early on. Zingano rallied in the second and eventually stopped the current champion in the third round.
Zingano has already called out Nunes for the way she reacted to beating Ronda Rousey at the weekend, so it looks like these two will go at it again at some stage in 2017.
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