UFC Reveals Rest of Schedule for 2024
There are many events left on the 2024 schedule that will have the interest of UFC fight fans everywhere. One of the biggest disappointments is that the fight between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler won’t be happening this year. Although, I think anyone looking at MMAfighting latest news honestly will think that that fight is likely never going to happen.
There is also a lot of anticipation for when Jon Jones will fight next. His fight with Stipe Miocic hasn’t been tagged with a date yet, but fight fans are eager to see it go through so that the heavyweight division can finally move forward. The UFC finally has some positive movement.
Following UFC 300, the promotion seemed to hit a lull, and many events were underwhelming. However, UFC 305 last weekend in Perth, Australia, produced a strong main event, and a few other exciting fights on the PPV card have reenergized the fanbase.
Here’s a look at what was announced by the promotion.
UFC Noche Nearly Hit a Snap
Merab Dvalishvili drew the ire of UFC CEO Dana White. Dvalishvili is set to get his opportunity to fight for the bantamweight title against Sean O’Malley on Sept. 14 at The Sphere in Las Vegas. However, Dvalishvili scared some of the fanbase this week.
Dvalishvili posted a picture of himself with a cut on his head on social media. While White said Dvalishvili was fine, he also criticized the fighter for posting it on social media to begin with. The best MMA news sites know how important the UFC Noche event is to White.
He has promoted it as the greatest combat sports event in history. White also said the UFC has spent more than $17 million to get the event going and won’t make a profit. The UFC Noche event will also feature the third women’s flyweight title fight between Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko.
Who Got the Next Shot at Alex Pereira
Khalil Roundtree Jr. is a respected veteran fighter. But the thought that he should fight Alex Pereira for the UFC light heavyweight title seems absurd. For the main event at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City, Roundtree will be tasked with trying to tame the powerful champion.
It was a strange choice on many levels. Roundtree is on a five-fight winning streak but is also suspended for using performance-enhancing drugs. Roundtree’s last win was a knockout of former light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Smith, but Smith is past his prime.
This should be a fight where both men choose to stay on their feet. It will be interesting to see if Roundtree has the mettle to hang with Pereira.
Holloway Has Chance to Build on Legend Status
Max Holloway has never been knocked out. Holloway is coming off one of the most wild wins in UFC history at UFC 300. Now, Holloway will once again be attempting to reclaim his former featherweight belt at UFC 308 on Oct. 26 in Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Holloway’s path to a championship won’t be easy. Ilia Topuria has been one of the top young fighters in the promotion for the past few years. Topuria, 27, has won all 15 of his professional fights.
He flattened Alexander Volkanovski last time out. Holloway lost all three of his fights with Volkanovski, but fighting Topuria will be a different challenge. Expect this fight to be a potential fight-of-the-year contender.
Has Apex Outlived its Purpose?
The Apex is the subject of much debate among MMA fans. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the MMA latest updates showed that the UFC having the Apex helped the sport keep going. It was a unique thing to watch, being able to clearly hear the strikes land and the instructions from the corners.
But there has been a lot of pushback from the fanbase recently, as many people wanted to see the events in person. The UFC hadn’t been traveling as much.
UFC 309 Will Be in World’s Most Famous Arena
The first scheduled fight between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic was supposed to take place in Madison Square Garden. There is some hope that when the UFC returns to New York City for UFC 309, it could be a possible main event.
While Madison Square Garden is antiquated by today’s standards due to its age, the New York City staple is still held in high reverence by combat sports fans. Expect fans to be excited when the UFC returns.
Blanchfield, Namajunas Try to Stay in Title Picture
Erin Blanchfield had a chance to establish herself as the No. 1 contender when she recently fought Manon Fiorot. She missed her opportunity and will now have to fight another former champion, Rose Namajunas, to keep herself at the top of the rankings.
Blanchfield and Namajunas will headline UFC Edmonton on Nov. 2 in Edmonton, Canada. Namajunas is still attempting to adapt to going up a weight class and trying to utilize her strong striking to stop heavier opponents. This should be an interesting matchup between a few strong fighters.
Namajunas’ star has faded because of her inability to put opponents away. There is still hope that Blanchfield will be able to take it up another notch. However, Blanchfield’s striking will need to improve.
What Else Can You Expect?
UFC 310 will be held in Tampa, Florida. The UFC will also make a trip to Macau in late November. All in all, there is still plenty of action left on the docket for 2024.
With McGregor not fighting and Jones’ status still uncertain, there have been some disappointments for UFC fans. However, there have been many fighters who have been able to step up and successfully fill the void.
Find all the latest boxing news and MMA breaking updates on boxingnews.com.
By Dean McHugh.
