2020 has already seen MMA get off to an exciting start with the brief return of Conor McGregor. He’s already looking for some big fights but what other bouts are there that could take place this year?

It took just thirty seconds for McGregor to beat ‘Cowboy’ Donald Cerrone last weekend. That victory was important for the UFC who know that he’s the first person people think of when their company is mentioned. Now he’s back with a win, there are plenty of potential match-ups for him. He’d love a return match with Khabib Nurmagonedov. 

The unbeaten Russian Lightweight champion has his own big fight lined up. He takes on top contender Tony Ferguson in April, or will he?  That’s a fight which has already had four postponements. If another comes along, then UFC President Dana White has indicated that McGregor could replace him.

That lightweight title fight is due to take place in New York. That wouldn’t please the Las Vegas casinos who are used to making good money when McGregor comes to town. McGregor is no stranger to a collaboration with top online casinos, having been sponsored by one of the most popular online operators, BetSafe. He’s been an ambassador for them since 2017 and is one of several MMA fighters they have sponsored. Mohsen Bahari is also another notable fighter that has joined team BetSafe. Over the last few years the operator has been keen to strengthen their brand further in the MMA scene, they also became the official gaming partner for Cage Warriors a few years ago.

Another big fight could be McGregor staying at welterweight and challenging champion Jorge Masvidal. That would be another memorable fight as McGregor bids to win another title.

MMA isn’t all about Conor McGregor though and there are plenty of other big fights that could happen in 2020. Jon Jones is scheduled to defend his light-heavyweight title against Dominick Reyes at UFC 247 scheduled to take place on February 8. 

Jones is the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC, but his opponent is one who has beaten some top fighters in his career, including Daniel Cornier and Thiago Santos. Unbeaten in the UFC, Reyes won his last fight in the first round and his clash with Jones is one to make your mouth water.

If Nurmagomedov gets past Ferguson and a fight with McGregor doesn’t materialise, Georges St-Pierre, could be his next opponent. This would be another fight that could potentially be a history making one. 

St-Pierre is a two-weight champion and the word is he wouldn’t mind going back to lightweight. No one ha ever won UFC titles at three different weights, that’s a record that could change this year.

One triple champion is Henry Cejduo, or ‘Triple C’ as he likes to be called. The former Olympic gold medallist has won two titles in the UFC. He is currently the holder of both the bantamweight and flyweight titles, so there are plenty of potential opponents out there, one being the number one contender for his bantamweight title, ‘Magic’ Marlon Moraes. The potential challenger lost to the champ at UFC 238 but beat Jose Aldo in December and will be gunning for a rematch some time in what looks to be another exciting year for UFC.

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