5 Major UFC Fights to Look Forward to in 2022
2022 is already knocking on the door, but it can’t come fast enough for the UFC fans. UFC is one of the most respected fighting companies in the world, and they are ready to secure their place on the top with their program for the following year.
What is next for UFC in 2022? We can just say it will be a fantastic year. UFC will keep us on our toes, and here are 5 major UFC fights that are already announced and we are waiting for.
1. Calvin Kattar vs. Giga Chikadze — UFC featherweight
The headline fight is the one between Calvin Kattar and Giga Chikadze. It can, in fact, even play a part in the rise of a future title contender in the UFC featherweight division. Kattar’s wins against fighters like Ricardo Lamas, Shane Burgos, and Dan Ige made him one of the most admired and respected featherweight contestants. Chikadze, on the other hand, is one of the fastest-rising talents, so winning Kattar could undoubtedly put him in line for a title shot later in 2022. The first UFC event for 2022 will be on Saturday, 15 of January. So, make sure to renew your subscription for your sports TV channels before that or watch it on the several apps that allow live UFC streaming.
2. Jared Cannonier vs. Derek Brunson — UFC middleweight
One of the biggest UFC events for the first part of 2022 will be on Saturday, 22 January 2022. The clash will be between the middleweights Jared Cannonier and Derek Brunson. Brunson is on a winning streak, but Cannonier is coming off one of the biggest wins of his career so far — a victory over Kelvin Gastelum. This is one of the fights that are so hard to predict a clear winner for, which may be why it will be so exciting.
3. Thiago Santos vs. Magomed Ankalaev — UFC light heavyweight
This fight will happen on Saturday, 12 of March 2022, but it is worth the wait. If Ankalaev wins, it will mean that he can jump overJiří Procházka and face the current champion Teixeira directly at some point in 2022. But Santos is not an easy opponent that should be taken lightly. The Brazilian holds a win over former champ Jan Blachowicz and several other fights that make him an experienced and dangerous competitor.
4. Brandon Moreno vs. Deiveson Figueiredo — UFC flyweight
Even though it was expected for this fight to happen in UFC 269, it was moved to UFC 270 at the beginning of 2022. The first two fights between those phenomenal players have been so memorable. The first one ended in an unlikely draw after Figueiredo was penalized because of persistent fouling. And the second one kept us at the edge of our seats till the third round when Moreno performed a rear-naked choke and took the win. Based on the previous 2 fights, the next one is expected to be even more spectacular. Watch it on Sunday, 23 of January 2022.
5. Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane — UFC heavyweight
Maybe the biggest and most exciting fight for the beginning of 2022 is between Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane. It will be an epic battle where two styles and two of the division’s greatest-ever strikers will compete against each other.
For the moment, Ngannou is considered the favorite since many call him the reigning UFC heavyweight champion. He is also the heaviest hitter in MMA history, but his fight against Miocic showed improved his defensive wrestling game as well. Surprisingly he also showed much more patience, but would that be enough to win against the current interim champion Gane? Gane is much more technical, and he has the experience on his side — he won against every fighter he’s faced in the promotion this far. Let’s see who will win on Sunday, 23 January 2022.
Conclusion
Exciting times are coming for UFC fans. Top-quality fighting and entertainment are guaranteed, and it will be interesting to see what UFC will show us next. Don’t miss an exciting year that will be full of many surprises and excitement for sure.
