Five dreamy UFC fights we need to see in 2023 including McGregor vs. Chandler, Jones vs. Ngannou, and Covington vs. Chimaev

THE Ultimate Fighting Championship is headed for a massive 2023 after another record-breaking year.

But there are several fights that the mixed martial arts leader must endure in order to make them unforgettable for twelve months.

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The promotion’s pay-per-view schedule begins January 21 in Brazil — with a fight for the vacant light heavyweight title between Glover Teixeira and Jamahal Hill, who is leading the bill from UFC 283.

And in February, a champion-versus-champion bout between featherweight and lightweight kings Alexander Volkanovski and Islam Makhachev will headline UFC 284 in Perth.

Though 2023 starts with a bang, there are five fights the promotion must piece together to make the year truly iconic.

Francis Ngannou vs. Jon Jones

Jon Jones’ long-awaited heavyweight debut was apparently set to come in 2022 after he settled his latest round of legal troubles.

The former pound-for-pound king was on course to take on ex-champion Stipe Miocic but the fight didn’t pan out.

The plan is for Jones to challenge current heavyweight king Francis Ngannou for the strap in April.

Negotiations are still ongoing, although SunSport understands they are “slow” at this point.

It’s also clear that the Jones camp feels Ngannou has been “given plenty of time to decide” whether to stay with the UFC.

MMA fans around the world are hoping that an agreement can be reached so The Predator can welcome Bones to the heavyweight division in one of the biggest comeback fights in UFC history.

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Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler

MMA superstar Conor McGregor appears fit and ready to return to the octagon after his 17-month hiatus due to injury.

As always, the UFC figurehead has many options for his next outing.

But a clash with Michael Chandler makes the most sense for The Notorious at this point.

Despite his 2-3 in the octagon, three-time Bellator Champion Chandler has risen to stardom in the promotion thanks to his manic fighting style and mic skills.

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The match would be stylistically chaotic from the off, considering the pair’s propensity to hit the ball with the wall.

NCAA Division I wrestling against Chandler would present McGregor with a variety of problems, although the Irishman would have a distinct advantage when it comes to batting.

Chandler has shown a vulnerability to being drawn into wars and severely curtailed in his fights with Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier.

So the playing field would be reasonably level if the pair were tossing down.

Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya II

Israel Adesanya’s dominant reign as middleweight champion ended in November at Madison Square Garden’s showdown by Alex Pereira.

The final stylebender was on course to retain his belt via decision before being caught by a hell of a left hook and dealt with by a barrage of vicious follow-up shots.

Adesanya’s dominance of the division alone warrants him an immediate rematch.

But factor in the fact that in the first round he was just seconds away from finishing off the Brazilian, to whom he lost twice in kickboxing, and you’ve got all the reasons you need to make that one run back.

The rematch will be huge for both fighters’ legacy and will undoubtedly be one of the biggest fights of the year.

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Colby Covington vs. Khamzat Chimaev

Undefeated Khamzat Chimaev has been buzzing through comers since his debut on Fight Island in summer 2020.

And the time has come for him to face the ultimate test to see if he’s ready to fight for the title.

That test was to come in the form of none other than two-time welterweight title challenger Colby Covington.

Before Kamaru Usman was dethroned by Leon Edwards, Covington was the second best 170-pounder in the world.

Though Chimaev is being urged to face the Edwards vs. Usman III winner, his ridiculous weight error prior to his canceled fight with Nate Diaz means he shouldn’t be anywhere near a title shot.

But a win over Covington would really, and most importantly, deservedly put him on the verge of contending for UFC gold.

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Tom Aspinall vs Ciryl Gane

Britain’s Tom Aspinall was cruelly derailed by injury in his UFC London duel against Curtis Blaydes in July.

If he hadn’t torn three ligaments in his knee, the Wigan warrior would be on the verge of a title fight.

A showdown with former title challenger Ciryl Gane – who was on the cage side in Aspinall’s win over Alexander Volkov – was in store for Aspinall.

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And once he recovers from the injury that will likely keep him on the sidelines through late 2023, it’s a fight the UFC should seriously consider.

The match-up would be stylistically intriguing as both men move like they are light-footed middleweights.

And it would not only crown the best heavyweight in Europe, but also determine a serious contender for the winner of a potential Ngannou-Jones clash.