10 UFC fights that absolutely must happen in 2018

#9 Robert Whittaker vs. Luke Rockhold

Robert Whittaker vs. Luke Rockhold is the UFC's most intriguing Middleweight fight

We were so close to seeing what sounds like the best available fight at 185lbs at UFC 221, as current Middleweight champ Robert Whittaker was booked to fight top contender Luke Rockhold, but the champ has been forced out with a bad staph infection, and he’s been replaced with Yoel Romero, with another Interim title on the line.

Romero/Rockhold is a great fight in its own right, but assuming the winner fights Whittaker, well, we already saw the Aussie defeat Romero last year at UFC 213 and a rematch doesn’t sound all that appealing. Whittaker/Rockhold though? That sounds awesome. Could Whittaker deal with the incredible ground skills of Rockhold, as well as his dangerous kicking game? And how would Rockhold – who gets hit in almost all of his fights – handle the perfect timing and knockout power of ‘The Reaper’?

Sure, Rockhold lost in an upset to Michael Bisping, but everyone loses at points and it’s pretty clear that skill-for-skill, he’s still one of the top Middleweights in the world. With Chris Weidman only just turning around a three-fight skid, and Romero and Jacare Souza in Whittaker’s rear view, a fight with Rockhold simply makes sense and sounds great on paper. Hopefully, Whittaker makes a full recovery and we’ll see it later in 2018.