5 explosive fights to make in the UFC light heavyweight division

#4. Dominick Reyes vs. Paul Craig

Dominick Reyes suffered the first loss of his professional career against Jon Jones in 2020, in what turned out to be the latter's final fight at 205 pounds. Many believe Reyes deserved to come away with a decision win on the night, and unfortunately, his luck hasn't turned since.

Following the loss to Jones, Reyes suffered back-to-back knockout defeats to former champion Jan Blachowicz and the reigning light heavyweight king, Jiri Prochazka.

Dominick Reyes is on a three-fight losing streak [Image via @espnmma on Twitter]

Reyes' strength of schedule isn't to be ignored, and considering the fact that he has taken a year-long hiatus, expect him to return to the octagon more motivated than ever before.

Nevertheless, he needs a favorable matchup this time around, and Scottish grappling phenom Paul Craig seems to fit the bill.

Craig is among the most interesting contenders in the division. 'Bearjew' came up short in his last outing against Volkan Oezdemir, wherein some pretty gaping holes in his game were exposed. If Reyes can keep the fight on the feet, this should be a relatively easy night at the office for 'The Devastator'.

Additionally, Craig has emerged as a fan-favorite in recent times, and a win over a former title challenger like Reyes will more than likely see his stock reach new heights. This fascinating striker vs. grappler matchup is a throwback of sorts, offering both light heavyweights a chance to return to winning ways.

Paul Craig (left) and Dominick Reyes (right) [Images via @domreyes24 and @bigpaulcraig on Instagram]

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#3. Jamahal Hill vs. Volkan Oezdemir

Jamahal Hill has slowly but surely emerged as a bonafide contender in the UFC light heavyweight division in recent years.

Jamahal Hill is rising up the ranks [Image via @espnmma on Instagram]

Hill secured a UFC contract with a scorching performance on Dana White's Contender Series in 2019. He went on to pick up knockout wins in his next three outings, one of which was later overturned to a no-contest after he tested positive for marijuana.

'Sweet Dreams' suffered the first loss of his pro MMA career last year after dislocating his arm while trying to escape a Paul Craig armbar attempt. Despite losing, he showed his grit and will to continue in a situation where most fighters would tap.

Since the loss to Craig, Hill has bounced back in style with three back-to-back KO wins over Jimmy Crute, Johnny Walker and, most recently, Thiago Santos. The next logical opponent for 'Sweet Dreams' is none other than Volkan Oezdemir, who has been critical of Hill in the past.

Jamahal Hill notably clapped back at Volkan Oezdemir, warning the Swiss fighter against picking a fight with him. Both 'Sweet Dreams' and 'No Time' are devastating knockout artists and this certainly makes for a fun matchup.