5 biggest UFC grudge matches that need to happen in 2021

#2. UFC flyweight division: Brandon Moreno vs Deiveson Figueiredo

These two UFC warriors have already been through some serious battles together. At UFC 256, Brandon Moreno challenged Deiveson Figueiredo for the UFC flyweight championship. After five grueling rounds of brutal action, the bout was declared a draw.

Fast forward to UFC 263 and Moreno officially became the UFC’s first ever Mexican-born champion. He stopped Figueiredo in round three with a merciless rear naked choke.

The wars these two have waged thus far have been nothing short of instant classics in the UFC. Despite the loss, Figueiredo is currently sitting comfortably at the top of the UFC flyweight rankings. Neither man has fought since and Dana White will presumably want at least one more flyweight title fight before 2021 comes to an end.

The obvious booking here is a trilogy between these two gladiators. For Moreno, it will be the continuation of his journey to the top and whether or not he can stay there. For Figueiredo, it will be one last shot at finally defeating ‘The Assassin Baby’ and, in turn, reclaiming the gold.

Of all the grudge matches on the list, this may be the most likely to occur before 2022 blows in.

#1. UFC welterweight division: Jorge Masvidal vs Colby Covington

.@GamebredFighter I know you’re dumb and desperate, but you spelled JOURNEYMAN TITLE wrong junior. Reading is fundamental and #supernecessary. Just like WINNING is #supernecessary to get title fights. You should try both sometime, you trash bag. https://t.co/OTjrSKNbOI

— Colby Covington (@ColbyCovMMA) September 6, 2019

Bringing it full circle here with another huge match for ‘Gamebred’ in 2021.

There’s grudges and then there’s just outright blood feuds. What’s bizarre to think these days is that there was a time when Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington were best buds. The American Top Team standouts have had perhaps the most bitter falling out in the history of the sport.

Considering the level of hatred and vitriol between the two, it’s pretty clear there’s only one way to settle this: in the octagon. A fight between these two fierce rivals would print huge bucks for whichever UFC card was lucky enough to host it.

The dispute between the two apparently goes back to Covington’s time as interim welterweight champion. A pay dispute with ATT led to the pair falling out. In the years since, these two welterweight tough guys have frequently taken time to publicly bury one another.

If Covington manages to dethrone ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ later this year, it’ll be a feather in his cap that Masvidal never managed to attain. If he loses, this blood feud remains a hot prospect to headline a title-free card in the near future. Given Covington’s Usman rematch is in November, this one might seem like a tall order for 2021.

However, it wouldn’t be the first time a fighter’s had a brief layover between fights. Whether it’s 2021 or 2022, Masvidal vs Covington is a fight Dana White needs to get booked sooner rather than later.