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UFC 266 will feature a rematch that's 17 years in the making when Nick Diaz squares off against former welterweight champion Robbie Lawler.
The first time they fought, Lawler still had hair, Diaz's younger brother Nate wasn't in the UFC yet and George W. Bush was the president of the United States. In their first go-round, the pair produced a classic UFC fight, with Diaz emerging victorious in astounding fashion.
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Fortunately, MMA fans will get to relive the nostalgic feud as Diaz and Lawler gear up for round two. Unlike this rivalry, however, some UFC classics aren't meant to have sequels due to a variety of reasons.
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With that in mind, here are five blockbuster UFC rematches that probably will never happen.
#5. T.J. Dillashaw vs. Dominick Cruz (UFC Fight Night 81)
Dominick Cruz was stripped of the UFC bantamweight title after he suffered a string of injuries. In his absence, T.J. Dillashaw emerged as the division's top guy. He defeated Renan Barao to claim the title and then defended it against Joe Soto and in a rematch against Barao.
After spending a few years on the sidelines, Cruz set out on a mission to reclaim the title he never lost in January 2016. Dillashaw found out who the real top guy in the 135-pound division was.
Ring rust didn't appear to be an issue for Cruz, who returned like he never left in the first place. 'The Dominator' was still as quick and elusive as ever after recovering from a potentially career-ending injury. Ultimately, a split decision win put Cruz back on the mountaintop after recapturing the title.
However, Cruz's second reign did not last very long. Up-and-coming Team Alpha Male star Cody Garbrandt dethroned Cruz after putting on the performance of a lifetime.
But the hot potato game with the UFC bantamweight title wasn't over. In his first title defense at UFC 217, Garbrandt locked horns with training partner-turned-bitter rival Dillashaw. 'No Love' crashed and burned as fast as he rose through the ranks when Dillashaw defeated him in back-to-back outings to kick him out of the title picture once and for all.
Of course, we know how this story goes. Dillashaw was suspended and stripped of the title after testing positive for EPO, while Cruz has moved on to focus on his career as a commentator. The two have never crossed paths since and probably never will given where they are in their respective careers.
#4. Conor McGregor vs. Jose Aldo (UFC 194)
Conor McGregor's 13-second knockout of Jose Aldo was arguably the most important fight of the Irishman's UFC career. The UFC 194 showdown between the long-reigning featherweight champ and white-hot interim titleholder was the moment that launched McGregor's career into the stratosphere.
Taking nothing away from McGregor's incredible performance, not much can be proven in a fight that ended after only a few seconds. So why hasn't there been a rematch?
It's reasonable to assume that the UFC was protecting McGregor, who was a money-printing machine for the promotion. There's no reason to believe McGregor wouldn't beat Aldo for a second time. However, the Brazilian has proven time and again that he's one of the most consistent contenders on the UFC roster and putting him against the Irishman is just too risky of a business move.
Aldo reclaimed the featherweight strap before losing it to Max Holloway, but his second chance against 'The Notorious' never came. Presently, the two are separated by two weight divisions after McGregor climbed to lightweight and Aldo dropped to bantamweight. For that reason alone, it's highly unlikely that they'll meet again inside the octagon.
#3. Amanda Nunes vs. Cris Cyborg (UFC 232)
For a time, the GOAT debate for women's MMA revolved around UFC champs Amanda Nunes and Cris Cyborg. In one of the biggest dream matches in UFC history, the Brazilian warriors finally collided with the featherweight title on the line.
Coming in as a +200 underdog, Nunes shocked the world when she outstruck the more physically imposing Cyborg with under a minute left in round one. In doing so, the 'Lioness' became the first-ever female champ-champ in the UFC, a distinction that she still holds today.
Nunes has gone on to make four consecutive title defenses and solidify her status as the undisputed women's GOAT of the UFC. Cyborg, meanwhile, returned to winning ways after bouncing back with four straight wins, including her final fight in the UFC and her first three outings in Bellator MMA.
Given that Nunes and Cyborg are in two separate promotions, a rematch between the two Brazilian icons is likely out of the equation.
#2. Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm (UFC 193)
From 2013 to 2015, Ronda Rousey appeared to be the most dominant champion in the UFC. That all changed when she met former undefeated kickboxer Holly Holm in the main event of UFC 192.
In hindsight, Holm being pegged as the heavy underdog against Rousey was a massive miscalculation on the part of betting analysts. But at the time, 'Rowdy' was cruising through a 12-fight winning streak with multiple stoppage wins.
Come fight night, Holm exposed Rousey's lack of proficiency in the striking department. 'The Preacher's Daughter' picked the seemingly invincible champion apart before putting her away with a thunderous head kick in the second frame.
Rousey would return to the octagon over a year later and was mauled by Nunes, who handed her a second consecutive stoppage loss. That was the last time Rousey was seen in the octagon as she'd moved on to professional wrestling before leaving combat sports altogether in 2019.
#1. Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor (UFC 229)
Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov collided in one of the most highly anticipated matchups in UFC history. With two of the biggest MMA stars set to lock horns, UFC 229 generated approximately 2.4 milion pay-per-view buys, which remains the highest buyrate in the promotion's history.
As we've learned in previous years, McGregor usually gets his rematch after a loss. He was awarded an immediate rematch against Nate Diaz five months after their first go-round and a trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier less than six months after he was knocked out in their rematch.
But with Khabib, it was a completely different story. McGregor was thoroughly dominated by the Russian fighter to the point where an immediate rematch wasn't justifiable. On top of that, lightweight contenders Poirier and Justin Gaethje were on a roll and snubbing them in favor of McGregor would have been such a bad look for the company.
'The Eagle' defended his crown twice more after vanquishing McGregor. However, the undefeated champ revealed that he was hanging his gloves up after 29 professional MMA fights in October 2020.
Unless the UFC can convince Khabib to come out of retirement, a rematch between the two stars will forever remain a what-if scenario.
