5 MMA fights we all want to see in 2022
By Oli Dickson-Jefford
MMA went from strength to strength in 2021, becoming one of the most talked about sports in the globe and attracting as much attention as boxing at times.
And, after an incredible 12 months, things could be just as interesting in 2022 with a whole year of fighting set to commence.
With not that many fights yet to be sorted, MMA fans across the globe are dreaming about the fights they want to see this year.
Here are five potential fights that would excite in 2022.
Conor McGregor v Nate Diaz
We’ve seen this fight twice before, but a third encounter between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz seems well overdue.
The two fought twice back in 2016, winning one fight each, though have not faced off again despite ongoing rumours about a trilogy fight.
McGregor and Diaz both find themselves at a crossroads in their career having lost their last two fights, with the future of both seemingly up in the air.
There is not much love lost between the two and there arguably isn’t a bigger fight for either man right now.
2022 would provide the perfect platform for these great foes to finally complete their trilogy.
Kayla Harrison v Amanda Nunes
Two gold medals shows just how good Kayla Harrison was as a judoka, and she has also excelled in her MMA career so far.
The American has a 12-0 record since making her pro debut in 2018, though many have argued that she hasn’t faced the highest calibre of opposition just yet.
One way of changing that would be a fight against Amanda Nunes, one the all-time MMA greats.
Nunes herself may have a point to prove after her recent defeat to Julianna Pena, with the Brazilian surely looking to rebound from that shock loss.
This fight would give Nunes the perfect chance to bounce back and prove she’s still at the top, while allowing Harrison an opportunity to show that she’s now the best fighter in the division.
This fight looked all set to go ahead in 2021, only for injury and illness on both sides to derail it indefinitely.
Yoel Romero failed a medical exam shortly before the fight was meant to take place in early May, and since then Anthony Johnson has pulled out of fights due to illness.
News of the fight’s cancellation back in the spring came as a huge disappointment to MMA fans with Romero and Johnson both compelling fighters to watch.
Hopefully 2022 will provide another opportunity for these two great fighters to meet once again with the eyes of MMA fans worldwide watching.
Zhang Weili v Jessica Andrade
The first fight between Zhang Weili and Jessica Andrade, won by the former, was not exactly a classic contest and isn’t a fight that’s been talked about greatly since.
However, both have improved massively since and are now among the biggest names in the sport.
That’s particularly true for Andrade, who stepped up in weight after that defeat in 2019 but is now looking to step back down again.
If the Brazilian does that Weili is the likely fight to take on, with the Chinese star having a point to prove after two losses to Rose Namajunas.
With Weili looking to rebound after those losses and Andrade wanting to prove herself in her old weight division, a fight between these two could be a classic.
Jorge Masvidal v Colby Covington
This would be a real grudge match, and one that would dominate headlines before and after the contest takes place.
Masvidal and Covington are two of the biggest fighters in MMA, let alone their weight division, and it is hugely surprising that they have not fought each other before.
Both have recently tasted defeat to Kamaru Usman as well, meaning both will surely want to stamp their authority back in this division and prove those losses were a fluke.
All signs are pointing to this contest taking place at some point in 2022; let’s just hope that we get to see them take each other on.