5 Must See UFC Fights in 2024 Including McGregor vs Chandler and Adesanya’s Battle With Du Plessis

5 Must See UFC Fights in 2024 Including McGregor vs Chandler and Adesanya’s Battle With Du Plessis

Byron Pillay
May 14, 2024 at 11:00 PM
  • Conor McGregor will finally return to Octagon action when he takes on Michael Chandler
  • The Middleweight division is stacked in the UFC, with many stars wanting to climb the ranks
  • Israel Adesanya will look to reclaim his Middleweight strap when he fights Dricus du Plessis

The UFC have already dished up some action-packed entertainment this year, and there's still more to come.

Fight fans have plenty to look forward to, including Conor McGregor's return to the Octagon.

Conor McGregor will return to Octagon action against Michael Chandler.
Conor McGregor will fight Michael Chandler later this year, just one of the many exciting fights on offer in the UFC. Image: Jeff Bottari.
Source: Getty Images

With The Notorious set to make his comeback at UFC 303, Sports Brief looks at five mouth-watering fights that will take place in 2024.

5 UFC fights you shouldn't miss

Conor McGregor vs Michael Chandler

The UFC's first-ever double champ will finally make his return to the Octagon when he takes on Chandler.

McGregor last competed in a match in 2021 when he lost to Dustin Poirier, but is out to prove once more that he's the biggest star in the organisation.

Chandler has been waiting for this fight since before the two were coaches on The Ultimate Fighter, and refused to take on anyone else until he got his shot at the Irishman.

Islam Makhachev vs Dustin Poirier

Makhachev is considered to be one of the most dominant champions in recent memory.

The Russian has only lost one fight in 26 professional bouts, with his one loss coming in 2015. Since then, he's been on an absolute tear and is the current Lightweight champion.

His challenger is a man who has fought for the belt on three occasions, only winning the interim version of it.

Poirier is also the last man to beat McGregor, and while he's already one of the greats, winning the title will cement his legacy as a legend.

Israel Adesanya vs Dricus Du Plessis

Another title fight that fans are eager to see is the Middleweight clash between Adesanya and Du Plessis.

The Nigerian-born star and the South African champion have been embroiled in a bitter rivalry, but have not had a chance to settle their differences in the cage.

The rivalry stems from comments Du Plessis made about wanting to be the first champion from Africa who lived on the continent, words that didn't sit well with Izzy.

Both men wanted the fight to happen in Africa, but they will finally clash in Australia later this year.

Sean Strickland vs Paulo Costa

Strickland is out to prove that his title win was not a fluke.

The American dethroned Adesanya, but then dropped the title to Du Plessis.

Strickland is eager to climb back to the top of the mountain, but he will face a man equally as hungry.

Costa was in line to face Khamzat Chimaev, but he pulled out due to an infection he suffered following elbow surgery.

Costa was in action earlier this year when he lost to Robert Whittaker via decision, but a win over the former champion will thrust him into the title picture again.

Robert Whittaker vs Khamzat Chimaev

The UFC's Middleweight division is stacked at the moment, and there is no shortage of challengers for the title.

Australia's Whittaker was champion of the division in 2017, and held the belt until 2019 when The Last Stylebender beat him.

Whittaker had a chance to earn another title shot when he took on Du Plessis, but his defeat to the South African left him further away from winning the gold.

He will now have to face an undefeated fighter if he wants to rise up the ranks again.

Borz has fought 13 times in the UFC and is yet to be stopped. Chimaev has finished the majority of his fights in the first round, and only two were decided by the judges' scorecards.

Chimaev is one of the more dangerous fighters on the roster, but has not faced someone the calibre of The Reaper yet.

Authors
Byron Pillay photo
Byron Pillay
Byron Pillay is a sports writer and Head of the Department at Sports Brief (joined in 2022) with over 10 years of experience in community journalism and a degree in journalism from Caxton's Cadet School.
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Conor McGregorIsrael Adesanya