5 potential UFC non-title fights to look forward to in 2022

#4. Zhang Weili vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk 2

This next entry will be a rematch of one of the most memorable fights in UFC history.

Zhang Weili is coming off back-to-back losses to the champion Rose Namajunas. The former UFC strawweight champion will have to rack up a couple of wins on the trot to find a way back into title contention. ‘Magnum’ has a few options on the table as the UFC’s 115 lbs division has no shortage of fighters on the rise.

One exciting option for the Chinese fighter would be a rematch against another former UFC strawweight champion, Joanna Jedrzejczyk.

The duo locked horns in the co-main event of UFC 248 when Weili was the 115lbs champion. The bout was sensational, to say the least. It won the Fight of the Year accolade, marking the first time in the promotion's history that a fight between two women won the award.

Both women have now lost twice to the reigning UFC strawweight queen, Rose Namajunas. With the likes of Carla Esparza and Marina Rodriguez lining up to take on ‘Thug Rose’ next, Weili and Jedrzejczyk might have to square off in a title eliminator fight.

Joanna Jedrzejczyk has been out of action since her incredible fight with Zhang Weili. She has been critical of Weili's skills in the past and will be eager to run it back. In an interview with SCMP MMA, Jedrzejczyk had this to say about her potential return to the octagon:

“She [Zhang Weili] might be the next one. I don’t know. I don’t know how much I need the fight with Weili Zhang to get the title shot.”

Catch the full interview with Jedrzejczyk on the South China Morning Post's YouTube channel below:

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#3. Gilbert Burns vs. Khamzat Chimaev

Khamzat Chimaev’s rise in the UFC has been unprecedented, to say the least. The Russian-born Swedish fighter has resonated with UFC fans in an incredibly unique way, largely thanks to his relentless style, intimidating persona, and his dominant performances so far.

Chimaev is undefeated in his MMA career and boasts a professional record of 10-0 (4-0 in the UFC), with all of his wins coming via submission or KO/TKO. Moreover, no fighter has been able to take Chimaev into the third round of a bout. Much has been made of his striking differential as well, leaving many analysts and fans stunned at how dominant he is in the octagon.

‘Borz’ returned to the octagon in emphatic fashion at UFC 267, where he made light work of Chinese ace Li Jingliang in Abu Dhabi.

Following a flawless performance by Chimaev, the collective opinion among fans and analysts alike was that he could potentially be the biggest threat to Kamaru Usman’s reign as the UFC welterweight champion.

However, Khamzat Chimaev will need to fight a top-ranked welterweight before competing for the title. Enter Gilbert Burns. The former UFC title challenger is looking to build his way back into title contention after losing to Kamaru Usman at UFC 258.

‘Durinho’ defeated Stephen Thompson at UFC 264 this past July, and a win over Chimaev could propel the Brazilian towards another shot at divisional gold.

Furthermore, Chisanga Malata of SunSport confirmed that a welterweight matchup between Khamzat Chimaev and Gilbert Burns is being targeted by the UFC brass. Malata suggested that this matchup is likely to have significant title implications in the UFC welterweight division.

Stylistically, it is an incredible matchup. Both men have one-punch knockout power. It will be interesting to see how Burns’ elite-level jiu-jitsu fares against Chimaev’s dominant wrestling prowess.