Jack Hermansson vs. Joe Pyfer – UFC Vegas
This fight is the only bout on this list that is headlining a card. Some might argue it’s not under the radar due to its placement, but with all the other headliners surrounding it, we think it’s getting lost in the shuffle.
No. 10 ranked Jack Hermansson will face off with Joe Pyfer, who has quickly become a man on everyone’s watch list. This fight is intriguing for many reasons. Pyfer is appearing in his first main event after raking in wins over Alen Amedovski, Gerald Meerschaert, and Abdul Razak Alhassan. A win over Hermansson could propel him onto the rankings for the first time in his short career.
Hermansson badly needs a win. He hasn’t fought since his loss to Roman Dolidze in December 2022 and has only won one of his last four fights.
Hermansson vs. Pyfer takes place on Feb. 10 in Las Vegas, NV.
Neil Magny vs. Mike Malott – UFC 297
Neil Magny vs. Mike Malott will appear on the UFC 297 card in Toronto, Canada. Magny is looking to rebound from his loss to Ian Garry at UFC 292 and will go head-to-head with Malott, a rising Canadian star.
I think I’ve shown everybody already that I should be taken seriously in this division, Malott told MMA Junkie. With his fight, I’m not so much focused on him as I am the position. This is a number I’m fighting for. This is my spot on the ladder, this is my ability to start climbing in the ranks.
Watch for these two to have something to prove heading into the bout.
Magny vs. Malott takes place on Jan. 20 in Toronto, Canada.
Merab Dvalishvili vs. Henry Cejudo – UFC 298
Most people believe that Merab Dvalishvili should have gotten the fight with new bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley, but politics got in the way and Marlon Chito Vera got it instead. But since we aren’t seeing a title shot for Dvalishvili, this fight with former UFC champ-champ Henry Cejudo is the next best thing.
Cejudo relinquished his titles years ago and then returned to the UFC in hopes of earning at least one back when he took on Aljamain Sterling. That didn’t go as planned and he lost the fight. He can’t afford to lose another one and keep his legacy intact.
“Looking at the Merab and Henry fight, I think stylistically Merab has got the cardio advantage,” Sterling said on his YouTube page. “I think with me and Henry, you could see that Henry’s output was not very high because I think he’s nervous about getting tired… If it’s three (rounds), that could be the only benefit that Henry Cejudo will have on his side, because he can play the clock.
This fight pits Georgian wrestling against American wrestling and we may get a slug feat if neither wants to risk the ground game. Either way, there are big title implications on the line and the storyline alone is enough to tune in.
Dvalishvili vs. Cejudo takes place on Feb. 17 in Anaheim, CA.
Patrício Pitbull vs. Jesus Pinedo – Date TBD
PFL founder Donn Davis announced that the Bellator champions would fight the PFL champions in a champion vs. champion event in 2024.
That means Bellator GOAT and featherweight champion Patricio Pitbull will fight the 2023 season winner, Jesus Pinedo. The two even faced off after Pinedo was given his title.
Out of all the potential Bellator/PFL match-ups, this is the one we think isn’t getting enough excitement. If Pitbull wins, it solidifies his GOAT title but if Pinedo wins, it puts PFL among the best in the world. A lot rides on the outcome of this particular match-up.
He’s a tough rival, just like everyone I’ve been fighting, Pinedo told MMA Junkie after the fight. It’s just another fight for me, and I’m ready. I know that I will finish that fight. It won’t reach a decision, just like all the other fights I’ve been doing.
Kevin Holland vs. Michael Venom Page – UFC 299
We saved the best for last. Michael Venom Page makes his UFC debut when he takes on Kevin Holland. The UFC did not give him an easy fight to start his Octagon career.
Page has been a free agent since his departure from Bellator, but UFC President Dana White announced he’d been officially signed during the UFC 296 post-fight press conference.
Holland is no slouch, he’s known as one of the most unpredictable fighters in his division. And he’s hungry. He’s coming off a loss and won’t want to lose to someone that MMA fans will consider less-than.
One thing we do know about the fight is the pre-fight trash talk will be good, and won’t cross a line.
The trash-talking is going to be good, but respectful, Page said on The MMA Hour. What I’ve been seeing so far in combat sports, I hate. I don’t like people talking about people’s fathers, people’s wives, people’s girlfriends, people’s kids, all of that stuff. We need to go back to martial arts.
Holland vs. Page will take place on March 9, in Miami, FL.
