Top 5 epic UFC rematches of 2021


Top 5 epic UFC rematches of 2021

Top 5 UFC rematches 2021

A rematch not only settles the scores for the fighter if the same person wins again, but can also be the biggest reason to back up a trilogy if the different person wins the second time as compared to the first time two fighters step into the cage. Hence today, we are going to look back to 2021 to rank the top 5 UFC rematches that took the world by awe and more excitement.

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These rematches can lead to potentially historic trilogies in 2022, as we move on from an already memorable 2021 for UFC as well as the sport of mixed martial arts.

Top 5 UFC Rematches: #5 Brendon Moreno vs Deiveson Figueiredo 2- UFC 263

Brandon Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo
Brandon Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo

Brandon Moreno, the current UFC Flyweight Champion, knew he will immediately get back to the former champion Deiveson Figueiredo when the first ended up not only in a draw but definitely the greatest fight in the UFC Flyweight history. Figueiredo did enough to keep the belt with him that time, but not for long.

Moreno, on the night of UFC 263, became first-ever Mexico born UFC champion in history by submitting Figueiredo in the rematch that not many people thought in the former’s way. The trilogy is already booked for UFC 270 and both Figueiredo and Moreno have put the flyweight division back on the map of people’s attention from the MMA world.

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#4 Rose Namajunas vs Zhang Weili 2- UFC 268

Zhang Weili vs Rose Namajunas
Zhang Weili vs Rose Namajunas

The first time UFC women’s strawweight champion Rose Namajunas and Zhang Weili fought was this year only when Namajunas delivered a spectacular switch kick knockout to dethrone Weili from her championship reign and end her 21-fight winning streak at UFC 261. They both then met as the co-main of UFC 268 at Madison Square Garden where Namamjunas and Weili went to distance in an intense and close battle that favoured Namajunas at the end.

Both these fighters have been responsible for keeping the fans hooked to the strawweight division this year, it will only be a matter of time when beside her striking ability, Weili will prosper the wrestling department as well and compete with a potential all-time great strawweight in Namajunas. Till now, Marina Rodriguez seems to be another contender that can put on a show for the fans of the women’s strawweight division.

#3 Kamaru Usman vs Jorge Masvidal 2- UFC 261

Jorge Masvidal and Kamaru Usman

UFC 251 turned much better in the final days when it was decided that UFC megastar Jorge Masvidal will fight the UFC welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman, for the title, in a matter of just 6 days notice. The fight did the highest PPV sales in 2020 considering the time being the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The fight went on a little monotonous with Usman keeping Masvidal on to the cage while stomping his foot so that there could be no distance for Masvidal’s unpredictable striking.

UFC 261 had to put the rematch on for it was the first time the audience was allowed in an arena with full capacity and the venue of the event, Jacksonville, Florida, demanded their hometown star in Masvidal. However, it took Usman just one round to figure out Masvidal and then got the job done in the second round with a spectacular, knockout of the year, straight right punch over Masvidal. This brought the rivalry to 2-0 in favour of Usman. However, Masvidal has shown his eagerness in fighting for a third title shot as soon as possible once he gets back on a winning streak.

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#2 Dustin Poirier vs Conor McGregor 2- UFC 257

Dustin Poirier vs Conor McGregor
Dustin Poirier vs Conor McGregor

UFC Lightweight Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor didn’t seem to, but finally, crossed each other paths once again, this time at the lightweight division. The last time Poirier and McGregor fought in 2014, was a featherweight bout with McGregor earning a knockout victory in the very first round. Now almost seven years into their career and both have become the most prosperous version of themselves as a fighter. The fight seemed to make all the sense for Conor then wanted to fight a southpaw like Poirier.

It took some leg kicks and a second-round for Poirier to capitalise over McGregor’s boxing stance and delegitimise his game plan and secure a knockout win at UFC 257. This added a need for trilogy and Poirier, who had the option of fighting for the belt in May, chose to wait for McGregor to fight the latter in July.

The trilogy at UFC 264, unlike the rematch, was built up by all the bad blood possible from McGregor’s side which increased the fans involvement worldwide. Though the trilogy ended with an unfortunate fracture on McGregor’s part, the rivalry will be written down in history as one to talk about.

#1 Kamaru Usman vs Colby Covington 2- UFC 268

Kamaru Usman vs Colby Covington
Kamaru Usman vs Colby Covington

Colby Covington threw all the nasty shots on UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman‘s family and his career to draw out all the bad blood and make the rivalry one of the nastiest ever. But the fans knew they will get more than just the trash talk. It still was believed before their rematch that Usman’s first title defence, the first fight against Covington, was the hardest fight of his life and many people thought that the latter won more rounds before the fifth round TKO win by Usman which was deemed by Covington as controversial work by the referee.

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The rematch from Covington promised to be finishing the deal of rivalry. This fight, therefore, headlined the MSG card of UFC 268 and rightfully deserved to do so for the fight the fans were about to see, and they rightfully saw another one of the all-time great fights in the welterweight history just like the first fight.

Although Covington lost to Usman again via unanimous decision, there were times when he got Usman in trouble we had never seen the latter get in since the first fight with Covington. The fight proved that both Usman and Covington, are elevated in fighting level from the rest of the welterweight division, and hence it will not be surprising to see a third fight between the two. This makes the #1 in our top 5 UFC rematch of 2021.

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