2016 has been an insane year for the UFC. The promotion was sold to a Hollywood talent agency, Conor McGregor broke multiple pay-per-view records and we saw some of the greatest fights in the history of the sport.
And it’s far from over. Though we’ve only got a little over a month left in the year, there are some amazing fights to look forward to. We’ve compiled a list of fights you should be thankful for, with odds from BookMaker.eu where available. If odds aren’t listed, it’s because they haven’t been released yet - but make sure to check back in as we’ll keep you posted when they do.
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UFC 206, December 10
Anthony Johnson +115 vs. Daniel Cormier -145
Doo Ho Choi vs. Cub Swanson
How hard does Anthony Johnson punch? Put it like this: if we still had death by firing squad, we could save a ton of bullets by shipping in “Rumble” to deliver a single punch to the guilty party. We haven’t seen a guy with punching power this scary since Chuck Liddell. He doesn’t just lay guys out - he rearranges their brain cells and takes years off their lives.
Yes, I know that Cormier has already beaten him before. But Rumble’s fists have been anointed by Ares himself to crush all who dare oppose him. You don’t miss a Johnson fight, under any circumstances.
The Korean “Superboy”, Doo Ho Choi, looks like a 25-year old kid who’d be more comfortable playing League of Legends then strapping up the gloves to fight. But make now mistake, like a mini-rumble, this guy lays people the eff out. He’s ended 10 of his last 11 fights by KO/TKO, and all three of his UFC bouts have ended in the first round. In fact, the combined fight time of those three is less than five(!) minutes.
And now he’s facing Cub Swanson, a willing brawler and highly entertaining boxer. This has got “Fight of the Night” written all over it.
UFC on FOX 22, December 17
Paige VanZant vs. Michelle Waterson
Sage Northcutt vs. Mickey Gall
I’ll admit it: Paige VanZant and Michelle Waterson are smoking hot, and that is part of the appeal of this matchup. But there’s also the fact that this is likely to turn into sloppy brawl in the best way.
While PVZ is still harnessing her potential, her raw aggression makes for seriously entertaining fights and her pace alone can beat a good number of opponents. . Waterson is scrappy as hell, as she served up the best Invicta FC fight in history for a back-and-forth thriller with Jessica Penne. Pitting the pair against each other in a main event is going to be a crazy display of heart.
There might not be any title implications when Northcutt squares off against Gall, but the setup is too compelling to ignore. Northcutt is the 20-year old golden boy of the UFC, a spiky blonde kid with a cheerleader’s pep. Gall is a 24-year old foul-mouthed Jersey kid who just spanked CM Punk. This is more than a young prospect matchup - this is a like a high school locker room fight between the clean cut star QB and the leather jacket bad boy.
UFC 207, December 30
Ronda Rousey -170 vs. Amanda Nunes +145
Cody Garbandt +165 vs. Dominick Cruz -210
The return of Ronda Rousey is one of the most intriguing stories of the year. It’s not just that she hasn’t fought for a year, it’s how badly she was humiliated. Looking like an amateur against Holly Holm is one thing. Having the entire world revel in your defeat is another. Seriously, Lady Gaga took her to task on Twitter.
But let’s not forget that she was the most dominant fighter on the planet before that loss. The chance that she recaptures that form is reason enough to watch this fight. But she’s facing off against Amanda Nunes, who is an absolute monster on the beast and the ground.
The best grudge match in the UFC is Dominick Cruz vs. Cody Garbrandt. And it’s a title match! Cruz has had beef with Team Alpha Male for a very long time, and Garbrandt is out to rep his team. What’s more, Cody has got the most explosive fists in the entire division. Watching him use them to try and solve Cruz’s style is gonna be a ton of fun.
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