5 fights that the UFC must make in 2017

#4 Dominick Cruz vs Demetrious Johnson 2

Cruz outwrestled Johnson in their first fight, but no two fights are the same

Some fights in the UFC make waves due to the larger-than-life personas of the fighters involved in them, but the ones that truly nurdle a purist’s fancy are those that are technically intriguing and impossible to predict.

A rematch between Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson presents exactly that. Two of the most advanced minds with next-gen skill sets in MMA and champions of successive weightclasses, it is a fight that would capture every hardcore fight fan’s imagination – again.

Their first fight wasn’t a landslide victory for Cruz by any stretch of imagination, and Johnson’s speed and skill in striking did pose a problem for him. Since then however, Johnson has gone on to capture the UFC Flyweight Title and rack up a disbelief beggaring 10 victories on the trot.

Cruz on the other hand, spent most of the time nursing himself back into the Octagon after being riddled with one serious injury after another.

Just as comparisons between Johnson and the great Anderson Silva – at least in terms of the number of their successive title defences – were beginning to crop up, Cruz made his latest comeback against TJ Dillashaw and regained the title he never lost.

If Demetrious Johnson breaks Anderson Silva’s record of 12 consecutive title defences, there is nothing stopping him from making the step up in weight to avenge his loss to Cruz. If you are a fight fan, this is a fight you have to see!