The UFC will fashionably start the New Year as the world’s most skilled mixed martial arts athletes prepare to engage in combat.
The MMA events scheduled for 2024 are anticipated to be among the most significant in the sport’s history, with several high-profile fights in January, and February, and lots of anticipated action at the main UFC betting sites.
With that said, join us today as we preview the top five UFC events to get the most excited about in 2024.
UFC 300
Saturday April 13, 2024
The UFC has promptly announced many events for the early part of the upcoming year, accompanied by significant contests guaranteed to get the juices flowing of avid MMA fans.
However, despite announcing just three fights for the event, UFC 300 is set to be one of the most historic events in MMA history. The previous milestones of UFC 100 and UFC 200 involved the likes of Brock Lesnar, Amanda Nunes, Daniel Cormier, Anderson Silva, Jose Aldo, GSP, Michael and Bisping. Still, we know the UFC President, Dana White, has an even more stacked lineup of high-profile fighters for the promotion’s 300th pay-per-view.
The event’s formal declaration incited intense excitement among combat sports enthusiasts worldwide, leaving them curious about the potential headliners.
White and his crew of highly skilled matchmakers went to great lengths to organize and plan UFC 100 and 200, which occurred in July 2009 and July 2016, respectively.
The memory of those cards remains vivid in the minds of MMA enthusiasts, and White intends to replicate that sensation with a highly impressive 300 event.
Three fights have already been announced for UFC 300:
- Jiri Prochazka vs. Aleksandr Rakic
- Aljamain Sterling vs. Calvin Kattar
- Bo Nickal vs. Cody Brundage
To further understand how much of a spectacle UFC 300 will be, the already announced bouts above could each headline a normal UFC PPV or Fight Night, but two of the three are reportedly preliminary contests!
Some of the rumored fights in the works include:
- Tom Aspinall vs. Alex Pereira
- Dustin Poirier vs. Nate Diaz
- Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler
- Israel Adesanya vs. Khamzat Chimaev
UFC 297
Saturday January 14, 2024
While UFC 300 is still four months away, fear not because UFC 297 is approaching and has the potential to be one of the most thrilling pay-per-view events of the next year. Although the complete main card has not yet been fully disclosed, the few fights that have been announced are pretty entertaining. Arguably, the most significant bout is the clash between Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis.
The anticipation for the Sean Strickland vs. Dricus Du Plessis fight intensifies as UFC 297 draws near. The two individuals transitioned from harsh verbal exchanges during a recent press conference to a physical altercation that quickly gained significant online attention.
Footage of Sean Strickland and DDP getting into an altercation at UFC 296
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) December 17, 2023
Indeed, at UFC 296, Strickland aggressively lunged at Du Plessis and pummeled him with his fists in response to Du Plessis’ explicit invitation to engage in a physical altercation. Both individuals are unable to exercise patience, but who’s complaining? It’s the perfect drama needed to get us excited about the first PPV of the year, and with the women’s bantamweight championship co-headlining the event, it’s a recipe for a banger!
The Return of Conor McGregor
TBD
The highly anticipated return of everybody’s favorite Irish MMA fighter is an event in itself. But the question remains: when will Conor McGregor return to the octagon?
More than two years have passed since the renowned athlete suffered a leg fracture in his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier, marking his most recent appearance in the Octagon.
McGregor, who has fully recovered from the injury, is anticipated to make his comeback to the UFC in the upcoming year. This comes after a scheduled fight with Michael Chandler was called off after their time as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter in 2023.
Fans, critics, and McGregor himself believe that UFC 300 would be the perfect fit for his return; the biggest event of the last decade, headlined by the biggest sports superstar, it makes sense!
🚨JUST IN🚨
Dana White has revealed he’s in talks with Conor McGregor after The Notorious’ UFC 300 and fight rant in Saudi Arabia last weekend.
“We talked tonight. I’m in Abu Dhabi, he’s in Dubai.
“We’re gonna figure something out. We’re talking.” pic.twitter.com/WgVTTqYgQ7
— Chisanga Malata (@Chisanga_Malata) December 28, 2023
UFC 299: The “Suga” Show Returns
March 9, 2024
Conor McGregor is the UFC’s biggest PPV draw. Still, after flatlining Aljamain Sterling for the bantamweight championship earlier in 2023, “Suga” Sean O’Malley is unquestionably making a case for the second biggest.
The good news is that we already have a date for his return, and in O’Malley’s first title defense at 135 lbs, he’ll face a menacing opponent in Marlon “Chito” Vera. It’s a rematch that fans have long called for since Vera became the first and only person to defeat “Suga,” albeit with the assistance of a freak perineal nerve injury.
UFC 299, however, isn’t just a hype card because of O’Malley vs. Vera; we’re also gifted with Ian Curtis Blaydes vs. Jailton Almedia, Gilbert Burns vs. Jack Della Maddalena, Petr Yan vs. Yadong Song, and the long-awaited debut of Michael “Venom” Page, who’ll face Kevin Holland in a guaranteed banger! To say this card is ‘stacked’ would be an understatement.
Chito Vera and Sean O’Malley continue to chirp at one another 👀 #UFC299 pic.twitter.com/Tqy0my0IZL
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) December 23, 2023
A “Special” Event at the Las Vegas Sphere
September 14, 2024
The Sphere, a recently established facility in Las Vegas, has gained significant attention. However, aside from its participation at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, its potential influence on professional sports remains mostly undisclosed at present. That is on the verge of altering.
Dana White, the president of the UFC, said that the MMA organization had secured the Sphere as the location for an event in September 2024, which also coincides with Mexico’s Independence Day. This will be the first live athletic event to take place inside the facility.
The capacity of The Sphere is around 20,000 spectators. Thus far, it has successfully accommodated a series of U2 concerts that were completely sold out and provides tours and fan experiences on most days. When discussing the 2024 event, Dana White did not provide any hint regarding the participants who will engage in combat at the Sphere, but we know it will be special!
Dana White says the UFC has booked the Sphere in Las Vegas for Mexican Independence Day 2024 📆 #UFC295
“Remember that I said this to you tonight, I’m going to put on the greatest live combat sports show anybody has ever seen.” pic.twitter.com/Bxs6Z5avAq— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) November 12, 2023
