UFC
11 UFC fights you just can’t miss in January
UFC fights in January. Photo via UFC
After a break over the holidays, UFC holds two exciting events in January, with the stacked UFC 297 as the month’s big card.
Besides the middleweight and women’s bantamweight title bouts at UFC 297, we will also see a bunch of other interesting matchups, including a bunch of future possible title contenders.
Take a closer look at some of the absolute best UFC fights coming up in January!
Andrei Arlovski vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta, Jan 13
Andrei Arlovski. Photo: Jasen Vinlove – USA TODAY Sports
Andrei Arlovski will take on Waldo Cortes-Acosta in a heavyweight bout at the first UFC event of 2024. The Fight Night takes place at the UFC Apex on January 13.
Veteran Arlovski, who’s is closing in on 60 professional MMA fights, rides a two-fight losing skid and is in big need of a win.
Cortes-Acosta has a 10-1 record will make his fifth appearance in the UFC octagon.
Magomed Ankalaev vs. Johnny Walker, Jan 13
Photo: Peter Casey – USA TODAY Sports
Light Heavyweight top dogs Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker will square off in the main event on January 13.
The pairing originally met at UFC 294 in October which ended in a no contest when Ankalaev landed an illegal knee.
The doctor decided to stop the fight as Walker seemed confused. However, the Brazilian light heavyweight contender got upset about the doctor’s call and wanted to keep on fighting.
Matheus Nicolau vs. Manel Kape, Jan 13
Manel Kape. Photo via Instagram (@manelkape)
Top ranked flyweights Matheus Nicolau and Manel Kape will square off in a very important fight for the division.
No. 5 ranked Nicolau looks to bounce back from a tough KO against Brandon Royval in April while Kape rides a four-fight winning streak and could possibly get himself a title shot with a good win on January 13.
Jim Miller vs. Gabriel Benitez, Jan 13
Jim Miller. Photo via Instagram and YouTube
Lightweight veteran Jim Miller is as active as they come even though he’s 55 fights into his career and 40 years old.
On January 13 he will take on Mexico’s Gabriel Benitez before entering the cage again at UFC 300 on April 13.
“I feel like I have it figured out at the moment. After 300, I think the thing is to fight close to home again,” Miller said.
Brad Katona vs. Garrett Armfield, Jan 20
Photo via Instagram (@bradkatona.
A bantamweight bout between Brad Katona and Garrett Armfield will take place on UFC 297.
The Canadian fighter Katona made his UFC comeback with a unanimous decision win at UFC 292 after four straight victories in BRAVE CF.
He currently rides a five-fight winning streak while Armfield comes from a first-round stoppage win against Toshiomi Kazama.
Raquel Pennington vs. Mayra Bueno Silva, Jan 20
Mayra Bueno Silva. Photo via Instagram (@ufc)
The women’s bantamweight will finally have a new champion after UFC 297.
In the co-main event, former title challenger Raquel Pennington and Brazilian contender Mayra Bueno Silva will square off for the vacant bantamweight strap.
Pennington is a promotional veteran with 17 UFC fights to her name. She’s riding a five-fight winning streak that includes names like Pannie Kianzad, Macy Chiasson and Ketlen Vieira.
Bueno Silva has fought nine times in the octagon and holds wins against the likes of Lina Länsberg and Gillian Robertson. In her last fight she submitted Holly Holm but the win was overturned after she tested positive for ritalinic acid.
Neil Magny vs. Mike Malott, Jan 20
Neil Magny. Photo: USA TODAY via Imagn Content Services, LLC
Welterweight gatekeeper Neil Magny will take on Canadian prospect Mike Malott in an interesting fight.
Malott is undefeated in the UFC, with three straight wins, and holds a 10-1 record. Magny has been a professional MMA fighter since 2010 and has tons of experience.
He has alternated wins and losses over the past few years and comes from a tough defeat against rising star Ian Garry.
Arnold Allen vs. Movsar Evloev, Jan 20
Arnold Allen. Photo via Instagram: (@arnoldbfa)
Top ranked featherweights Arnold Allen and Movsar Evloev will clash in a three-round bout in Toronto.
No. 3 ranked Allen comes from an April loss against former champion Max Holloway. The loss snapped a 12-fight winning streak that dated back to 2014.
No. 9 ranked Evloev is undefeated with an impressive record of 17-0, with seven wins in the UFC.
Gillian Robertson vs. Polyana Viana, Jan 20
Gillian Robertson. Photo via YouTube
UFC veteran Gillian Robertson will take on Polyana Viana in an interesting strawweight bout. Both fighters are just outside the rankings an in need of a big win.
Submission specialist Robertson comes from a tough loss against Tabatha Ricci while Viana lost to Iasmin Lucindo in her last outing.
Chris Curtis vs. Marc-André Barriault, Jan 20
Marc-Andre Barriault. Photo via Instagram: (@powerbar_mma)
Chris Curtis will square off against Canada’s own Marc-André Barriault in a middleweight bout at UFC 297 in Toronto.
Barriault is looking to snatch No. 12 ranked Curtis’ place in the middleweight rankings.
Sean Strickland vs. Dricus du Plessis, Jan 20
Sean Strickland. Photo via YouTube
The most interesting fight in January is by far the middleweight title fight between champion Sean Strickland and South African challenger Dricus du Plessis.
Strickland will make his first title defense after winning the title when he defeated Israel Adesanya in September via a massive unanimous decision win.
Dricus du Plessis is undefeated in the UFC with six straight wins. He comes from a second-round TKO against former champion Robert Whittaker.
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