Former UFC champion lists Top 5 fights he wants to | MMA News
The first UFC event of the 12 months, UFC 324: Gaethje vs. Pimblett, takes place on Jan. 24 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The event will make the start of a new period for the struggle promotion in partnership with Paramount +. Looking forward to the remaining of the 12 months, former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling listed the Top 5 matchups he’s like to see happen in 2026.
1. Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall
“First but not least, Jon Jones versus Tommy Aspinall,” Sterling said on his YouTube channel. “The final unification of the heavyweight division to give us some clarity. Who’s really the best heavyweight in the UFC?
“It’s a big struggle. It ought to have occurred. Quite a bit of people said Jones was ducking. Quite a bit of people said all these issues. ‘He (Jones) did not need the smoke. He’s too younger and hungry.’ I disagreed,” Sterling said.
“I would love to see that matchup so we get that definitive reply, and we will finally see who is de facto the baddest man on the planet.”
2. Petr Yan vs. Merab Dvalishvili 3
“My next struggle, of course, the one and only Merab [Dvalishvili] versus [Petr] Yan 3. And this is in no specific order. I might just love to see this struggle in 2026, hopefully sooner slightly than later,” Sterling said
“Whe I say that that means, none of these guys have to take a struggle in-between the rematch, the trilogy. That’s where I’m at with that. I believe that can be a great struggle,” continued the former titleholder.
“The first one was a landslide for Merab. No one scored that something other than 50-45. And then you’ve the rematch … Relatively a close back and forth battle with Yan trying better in most cases, in most exchanges. So, I’ll give him that, but it makes it very thrilling for a trilogy struggle.”
3. Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler
“People are going to call me loopy for this, but this man has gone on a religious journey, and I might love to see Conor McGregor versus Michael Chandler finally occur,” said Sterling. “This is the 12 months.”
“I’m just hoping that, , he does what he says he’s going to do and comes back and provides us one more, provides us a classic Conor McGregor performances,” Sterling continued. “If that man is collection and does come back, I’d love to see that for 2026.”
Related: Arman Tsarukyan pulling for Justin Gaethje to beat Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324
4. Arman Tsarukyan vs. Ilia Topuria
“Another big one, it has to be Arman versus Topuria. This has to occur,” Sterling said. “It’s a robust matchup too. I actually cannot call it because I believe Arman is wise enough on the toes defensively and makes use of great lateral footwork where I believe it is more durable to entice him against the cage. Then I believe we get to see glimpses of Ilia’s grappling.(*5*)I’ve obtained to give the flyweights a little love.”
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