2023 didn’t disappoint in terms of great MMA action, and 2024 looks just as promising, if not more.
With 2024 underway, there’s a new year of fresh possibilities for dream matchups across the MMA landscape, from the UFC to Bellator, PFL, RIZIN FF, ONE Championship and more.
For 2023, unfortunately, only four of the 23 dream fights MMA Junkie wished for came to fruition. We’re not deterred, however, and are back with another slate of 24 matchups we aspire to see in 2024.
Below, we present MMA Junkie’s wish list of 24 fights we’d like to see in 2024.
Jessica Andrade vs. Loopy Godinez
Loopy Godinez was one of the biggest standouts in 2023, and because of it, she deserves some big opportunities in 2024.
With four wins, Godinez broke the record for the most victories in a calendar year for a female fighter in the UFC. She was active, and she was good, earning one Performance of the Night bonus in the process, getting herself in the UFC strawweight rankings and defeating a then top-10 opponent Tabatha Ricci in the process.
I’d love to see Godinez, who is booked against Virna Jandiroba at UFC Atlantic City on March 30, clash with former champion and respected veteran Jessica Andrade at some point in 2024. They’re two of the best athletes in the division, and they both come to fight. It would surely be an entertaining scrap, and a solid matchup for both.
Bryce Mitchell vs. Diego Lopes
Diego Lopes is turning into must-see T.V., and there are a lot of fun matchups for him at featherweight.
I think one that makes a ton of sense, and at the same time promises to be a spectacular fight, it’s Lopes vs. Bryce Mitchell. Mitchell has been regarded as arguably the best grappler in the division, but Lopes is beginning to put that in question.
Both these guys are fantastic, entertaining grapplers. Lopes is on a two-fight winning streak and Mitchell is coming off a bad knockout loss against Josh Emmett, which his recovery from could be the primary hiccup in getting this in the short-term. Nevertheless, I think this fight makes a ton of sense for both.
Aaron Pico vs Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire
Patricio Freire’s 2023 wasn’t great, but he’s still one of the most respected names outside the UFC, and still holds the Bellator featherweight title.
Having lost to Sergio Pettis in an attempt to become a three-weight division in Bellator, plus getting surprisingly knocked out by Chihiro Suzuki in Japan, I’m sure “Pitbull” can’t wait to get back in the cage and prove he’s still a top dog despite his recent defeats. One of the best ways to do that is to defend his title against hungry lion like Aaron Pico.
This is a fight that makes sense for Bellator’s featherweight division, and one of the more important fights to make outside the UFC. This was in my wish list of 2023, and once again finds itself in the 2024 edition.
Johnny Eblen vs. Derek Brunson
Bobby Green vs. Dan Hooker
Gilbert Burns vs Sean Brady
I know Gilbert Burns has business to take care of with Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 299 in March, but win or lose, next or not, I’d like to see him fight Sean Brady at some point this year.
Burns has long been regarded as the best grappler at welterweight, and maybe even the entire UFC. However, Brady has been looking good recently and this matchup has me intrigued. Although clearly top contenders, both Burns and Brady seems to be a few wins away from fighting for the title, so it would make sense for them to collide at some point in the future.
Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad
Michael Chandler vs. Benoit Saint-Denis
I know Michael Chandler is expected to fight Conor McGregor on June 29, and I know Benoit Saint-Denis is scheduled to fight Dustin Poirier at UFC 299 on March 9. But whatever happens in those two matchups, I hope that it leads to an eventual clash between the former three-time Bellator champion and the streaking Frenchman.
These two are made for each other. They’re both good athletes with exceptional power and explosiveness. This might be the most exciting fight you can book at lightweight, and for that reason alone, it’s a must for this list.
Michael Page vs. Stephen Thompson
Max Holloway vs. Josh Emmett
This matchup had never crossed my mind until Josh Emmett recently decided to shoot his shot and call out Max Holloway. See why callouts are important?
The thought for some time now is that Holloway had fought everyone relevant at featherweight. Well, that’s not entirely true. Holloway has yet to meet Emmett, despite them sharing the division for several years.
The fight makes perfect sense. Holloway stays busy by fighting someone in the rankings, and the 38-year-old Emmett gets one last chance at making a run at the UFC belt. Also, if Holloway wins, he wouldn’t be killing off a promising contender, given that Emmett has already had his chance. It’s also a story of power vs. volume. All in all, is a great and slept on matchup.
Alex Pereira vs. Jamahal Hill
Tatiana Suarez vs. Zhang Weili
I don’t think there’s a fight on this list that has been in the making as long as Tatiana Suarez vs. Zhang Weili. This women’s strawweight bout, which would almost certainly be for the title, has been talked about since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ever since Zhang first won the UFC women’s strawweight title in 2019, people have been dreaming of her and Suarez fighting for the belt. However, we know the unfortunate story. Suarez suffered a plethora of injuries that kept her away from the octagon for years. Zhang also took a pair of loses that derailed her from her championship track.
Fast-forward almost five years, and things have returned to normality. Zhang is once again, champion and Suarez is a healthy and active top contender. The path to it is clear if Suarez beats Amanda Lemos at UFC 298 in February, and it’s one of the best female fights you can book for 2024.
Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Colby Covington
Like we’ve seen with the recent announcement in the UFC lightweight division, it’s time that the legacy names fight the up and comers at welterweight. And yes, I mean you, Colby Covington.
It’s natural for top-five fighters to fight each other, but the recycling of the same names precludes certain divisions from truly determining the best fighter. That has long been the case at welterweight, and it’s time for some of the veterans to take on rising contenders and prove they’re still top.
This is the case for Covington. After his third title loss against Edwards in December, he needs to fight someone like Shavkat Rakhmonov. He can’t linger around the top anymore, just fighting the older names. I think this fight makes sense for the division, and it’s one hell of a matchup, too.
Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko 3
I feel like the shock factor of the upset in the first fight, and then the questionable judging of the fifth round by one judge in the rematch, has overshadowed the magic that two fights between Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko has created.
It’s not talked about enough, but Grasso vs. Shevchenko might be the greatest pair of championship fights we’ve seen in the history of the UFC women’s flyweight division, and it’s also likely to be the biggest rivalry. The two contests have been bangers, and I can’t wait for a third one, which seems inevitable.
Justin Gaethje vs. Dustin Poirier 3
Unfortunately, there will be a day, and in the near future, where the UFC lightweight division is no longer home of Justin Gaethje or Dustin Poirier.
These two have long been at the top of the game, and continue to be, but not for much longer given they’re in their mid 30s. MMA fans have been lucky to watch them, because they’re easily some of the most exciting fighters in the history of the sport.
Luckily, they have already fought twice and given us great moments. And we’re even more fortunate that they’re 1-1, meaning the potential for a third fight is quite high. I don’t suspect either Gaethje or Poirier will be prime for much longer, so 2024 would be the ideal year to settle the trilogy.
Alexandre Pantoja vs. Brandon Moreno 3
Alexandre Pantoja vs. Brandon Moreno 2 was my pick for 2023 Fight of the Year. The majority of the staff at MMA Junkie disagreed and went with Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski, which is certainly not a bad pick either.
Regardless, I’m ready to die on the hill that Pantoja vs. Moreno 2 was the best fight of the year, and naturally, I want to see them do it again. I know there may be some fatigue around Moreno once again fighting for a title, but if he beats Amir Albazi in Mexico City on Feb. 24, how can you deny him?
Also, fortunately for Moreno, the division is not that strong, so there’s not a big line of contenders. Pantoja vs. Moreno 3 is a fight I’d love to see. And who knows? Maybe this time around they win Fight of the Year.
Conor McGregor vs. Jorge Masvidal
Cris Cyborg vs. Kayla Harrison
Israel Adesanya vs. Khamzat Chimaev
Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya 3
One of the things that bothered me in 2023 was how quickly everyone moved on from the idea of a trilogy fight between Adesanya and Pereira.
Dana White said it was over. Adesanya said it was over. Are we forgetting the facts? I highly respect Adesanya, but sorry, things are far from settled. “Poatan” is 3-1 in combat sports over Adesanya and 1-1 in MMA. Adesanya can’t just beat Pereira after losing to him three times and then say he’s settled the rivalry.
For me, this rivalry is unfinished, and an MMA trilogy bout should happen at some point before it’s all said and done. It will likely be at light heavyweight too, which is a new twist, because I see it as unlikely Pereira ever returns to middleweight.
Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan
Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz 3
Every year that I’ve done this wish list, McGregor vs. Nate Diaz 3 has a spot. Sometimes it’s higher priority, sometimes it’s lower – but it’s usually within the top five.
This year is no different. I feel like last year or maybe the year before was the perfect time for McGregor vs. Diaz 3. This fight is no longer as good, because I feel both these guys have fallen a bit in terms of ability and relevancy. Either way, it’s a huge fight and a fun one from all angles.
The McGregor vs. Diaz rivalry proves that you don’t need to talk about someone’s murdered father or abusive parent to sell a fight. This rivalry was heated, but in the perfect way. I think it’s one of the best examples on how to sell a fight without crossing the line, and the numbers prove it, given both their previous bouts are among the most successful pay-per-views in UFC history.
The more we wait, the less appealing this fight seems to get. But it’s not too late to make it happen, and there aren’t that many obstacles preventing it.
Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou
