5 UFC fights that we would love to see in 2022

#4. Jorge Masvidal vs. Colby Covington

UFC fans would love to see a grudge match between Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal in 2022/

The UFC loves to book major grudge matches between its stars, particularly when they don’t really need to add a lot to an already-existing rivalry. Considering the same, 2022 could be the year when bitter rivals Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington finally face off in the octagon.

Once training partners and good friends – Covington apparently stayed on Masvidal’s couch for a period of time. However, the two welterweight contenders fell out a few years ago. ‘Chaos’ blamed jealousy, while Masvidal claimed Covington had 'ripped off' one of their coaches.

If anything, it’s a surprise the UFC hasn't already attempted to book the two against one another. However, with both men receiving shots at UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in 2021, the time perhaps wasn’t right.

In 2022, though – with both men arguably out of title contention following their losses to ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ – a fight between the two makes perfect sense.

There would be an immense amount of trash talked before the fight – guaranteeing the interest of fans to be piqued. Moreover, it could also prove to be an exciting clash inside the octagon.

Could Masvidal’s sharper boxing allow him to outstrike and knock Covington out, or would the wrestling game of ‘Chaos’ allow him to grind ‘Gamebred’ down? Essentially, it’s a fight that makes almost too much sense for the UFC to not book it at some point in 2022.

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#3. UFC lightweight title: Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev

Islam Makhachev is perhaps the most intriguing opponent out there for UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira.

The UFC has already suggested that Charles Oliveira’s next UFC lightweight title defense could come against Justin Gaethje.

There have also been rumors around ‘Do Bronx’ potentially defending his title against Conor McGregor. However, the opponent most fans really want to see the Brazilian square off with is undoubtedly Islam Makhachev.

A training partner and close friend of former UFC lightweight kingpin Khabib Nurmagomedov, Makhachev is riding an impressive nine-fight win streak dating back to 2016.

Last year was probably his most impressive year to date. He pulled off three submission wins in a row, over Drew Dober, Thiago Moises and Dan Hooker.

The Dagestani is already booked to fight top-ten ranked Beneil Dariush in early 2022. If he can get past that fight, and Oliveira holds off the challenge of Gaethje, fans would hope that the UFC puts together a fight between the two.

An Oliveira/Makhachev clash could be one of the best grappling matches ever seen in the UFC. Moreover, it’d also provide a lot of intrigue, as it’d probably be the closest fans would ever get to seeing a fight between Oliveira and Khabib.

With both men likely to fight against other opponents first in 2022, there’s doubt around if this clash would happen. However, most UFC fans would hope it does.