To put it lightly, October has undoubtedly been a wild whirlwind of a month for MMA. They don’t call it the spooky season for no reason…
Photo Source: MMA Junkie
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First, we broke some crazy news. There was the unexpected twist involving Charles Oliveira, who, due to a cut, had to pull out from his eagerly anticipated bout against Islam Makachev. Yet, the MMA world barely had time to grab tissues when Alexander Volkanovski, showcasing his giant balls, stepped in. This move has spurred a flurry of discussions on Volkanovski’s future, particularly concerning his potential matchup with Ilia Topuria in January after coming up on the wrong side of a KO. While fans are divided on the decision, it’s undeniable that Volkanovski and his team know best especially considering what he said about how staying active seems to help keep his mental health in order. All I know is if Volk fights in January there will be no excuses from him or his team.
Khamzat Chimaev victory over Kamaru Usman at UFC 294
Kamaru Usman, a consistent dominator in MMA and recently former P4P king,, also created ripples this month. The discussions surrounding his fight against Khamzat Chimaev versus the original matchup with Paulo Costa have been relentless. Some argue the significance of a potential Costa bout, but it’s essential to recall Usman’s unparalleled legacy. This includes his earlier position as the number one pound-for-pound fighter. His middleweight ambitions, coupled with his undeniable skill set, makes any fight involving him monumental. Let’s see him vs Whittaker.
Speaking of Khamzat Chimaev, his rise in the MMA world has been nothing short of meteoric. The buzz surrounding a potential title shot against Sean Strickland is electric. Dana White’s endorsement of this bout has only added fuel to the fire. With all eyes on this potential matchup, predictions are already swirling about the outcome. If Khamzat doesn’t get Sean out of their quick, I could see Sean walking him down in the later stages of a 5 round fight.
Francis Ngannou vs Jon Jones has the potential to be the biggest MMA fight of all time
Then there’s the saga involving Jon Jones and his withdrawal from the Stipe Miocic fight at UFC 295. To the astonishment of many, some fans have criticized Miocic for not accepting a bout with Sergei Pavlovich or Tom Aspinall. How fans could turn on Stipe Miocic of all people is beyond me. It’s crucial to understand the gravity of a Jones-Miocic face-off. It’s a clash of titans, a battle for legacy. The GOAT vs heavyweight specific GOAT. The significance of such a bout is unparalleled, and its postponement is understandably disappointing for many. Especially considering the insane ticket prices people paid to see it at MSG. That’s the fight to make without question. Jones vs Stipe or Ngannou. That’s it. Speaking of…
Francis Ngannou drops fury in 3rd!
The awe-inspiring journey of Francis Ngannou cannot be overstated. People say all the time that there should be movies made about someone’s career but this is one that would appeal to even the non-MMA fan base. His ascent from the sand mines of Africa, overcoming homelessness in France, to clinching the UFC championship title, and then challenging boxing heavyweight champion Tyson Fury is the type of stuff the ancient philosophers would write prophesies about. Ngannou’s story transcends the boundaries of MMA and serves as a testament to the indomitable human spirit. He may have lost, but did he? It’s almost impossible to make a fight for him in the PFL now. He’ll certainly continue to pursue boxing if his contract allows. Boxing fans and MMA fans want it. Can you imagine a Wilder vs Ngannou fight? It remains to be seen just how big the fumbling of the bag was.
With the rollercoaster of events this October, the MMA community is on the edge of their seats. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Kamaru, Khamzat, Volk and Ngannou. What do you predict?
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