UFC’s five unmissable fights this summer include two championship rematches

Five championship matches. Several other matchups among the top 10. Some high-profile rematches. More than a dozen fights with former world champions.

The UFC has a whole summer of fights lined up. After taking this next weekend off, the promotion makes a big impact on July 11 in Abu Dhabi with UFC 251, with a trio of title fights. This will be followed by three other fight cards in the UAE throughout the month, and then he will return to the United States for a race that, in late August, will include five additional events. With many fights. Great fights.

When I was asked to write about the five most anticipated fights of the summer, my initial thought was to put together a list of the top dozen and distribute it to the ESPN team to gain a consensus on which ones resonate the most with the group.

“No,” they said, “this is you list.”

Ah yes, okay then.

It makes sense to approach the exercise this way, actually, because each fan will look at daylight saving time and have different fights. We all have our own preferences. Some might point to those five barrel title fights between now and Labor Day and end their list. For me, title fights represent less than half of my top-five list. However, I did include three rematches, while other fans might avoid that kind of reservation, thinking, “I’ve been there, done that.”

No matter your taste, there is a fight for you. Several, in fact. Here are my picks:

Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier 3

August 15 in Las Vegas

Let’s start with the fight on my list that is further in the future. Why? Because UFC 252’s main event is the summer fight, and I seriously doubt he’s alone in that sentiment. The eager anticipation of finally seeing Miocic and Cormier complete their heavyweight championship trilogy will propel us through the sweaty dogs days to come. What could be better? Cormier knocked out Miocic in the first round in July 2018 to become a two-division champion. In the rematch 13 months later, Stipe made it through a difficult start to regain his title with a fourth-round TKO. Who will fall this time?

There is even an additional intrigue surrounding the third meeting. These two men started on fairly cordial terms, but two years later their rivalry has an advantage. That is what happens when only you and another fighter go a long way competing for the throne at the top of the Heavyweight Mountain. There have been head games, amplified microaggressions to the point where these guys seem to share this feeling: I definitely can’t afford to lose with that boy. With Cormier committed to retiring from MMA after tonight, the result here will be his enduring lasting memory as an active fighter. And for Miocic, who hasn’t seen anyone but DC in front of him for two years? He wants to get this man out of his face as soon as possible.

Bottom line: If I was picking my most anticipated fight of the summer, it would be this one. If I was putting together a list of three unmissable bouts, I could complete this trilogy along with the recorded replays of Miocic-Cormier 1 and 2. I can’t wait.

If you like to watch heavyweights …: Junior dos Santos against Jairzinho Rozenstruik (August 15), Derrick Lewis against Alexey Oleinik (August 8), Fabricio Werdum against Alexander Gustafsson (July 25).

Robert Whittaker vs. Darren Till

July 25 in Abu Dhabi, UAE

Sometimes a champion is knocked off a throne and seemingly falls off the face of the earth. That’s what seems to have happened to Whittaker, who has seen the middleweight division advance since he dropped his belt to Israel Adesanya last October. In some ways, Adesanya was already the star of the weight class even while Whittaker was still reigning, both for “The Last Stylebender’s” stupendous talent and Whittaker’s absence of injury and buttoned-up demeanor. But here comes an opportunity for the former champion to return to the map. Or not.

What makes this matchup especially appealing to me is that it came out of left field. Just nine months ago, who could have even foreseen sharing the cage with Whittaker or any of the top 185 kilos? But then, in November, the lifetime welterweight went up one division and jumped to the bottom of the group, taking on Kelvin Gastelum. Even the split decision victory made him an instant contender. If you beat Whittaker, the sky is the limit.

If you like to see clashes at the crossroads …: Kelvin Gastelum vs. Jack Hermansson (middleweight, July 18), Chris Weidman vs. Omari Akhmedov (middleweight, August 8).

Frankie Edgar vs. Pedro Munhoz

July 16 in Abu Dhabi, UAE

There are championship fights and high-stakes contender fights that, looking at the big picture, mean more to the UFC and its various weight class hierarchies. But sometimes you just have to go with what excites you. And I like some Frankie Edgar fights. Those of us who have followed the career of man apparently forever have always had to tie down for many ups and downs, sometimes in the same fight, sometimes in the same round. As of this month, Edgar has been in the sport for 15 years, and not a second of that has been boring. However, the past few years have not been so kind to this former champion. Edgar, who is moving to bantamweight, has lost three of four and appears relegated to a guardian role.

That brings me to Edgar’s opponent. Munhoz suffered a loss of momentum for Aljamain Sterling over a year ago and has not fought since. But just a few months before that loss, KO had eliminated Cody Garbrandt and was on a streak. Munhoz had established himself as a rising bantamweight contender, and a victory here could restore that status to his name.

If you like to see contenders on the rise …: Calvin Kattar vs. Dan Ige (men’s featherweight, July 15), Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Derek Brunson (middleweight, August 1).

Alexander Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway

July 12 in Abu Dhabi, UAE

The first time these two shared the Octagon, in December, Volkanovski performed surprisingly to become UFC featherweight champion. It was his 18th consecutive victory, so everyone already knew that the Australian was formidable. But who was prepared to see Holloway dethroned so decisively? Max had won 14 of his previous 15 fights, the only loss was against Dustin Poirier at lightweight. He had the look of a champion destined to reign for a long time.

This is Holloway’s chance to get back his belt and the mojo he lost. It’s Volkanovski’s chance to shut up anyone who still doubts he’s the best fighter, not just a guy who had a great night. That’s what draws me to this UFC 251 main event, even more than the welterweight title fight at the top of the tent. Kamaru Usman vs. Gilbert Burns will be an electrifying junk, but the 145-pound rematch that will take place just before it takes risks that are more personal and primary than a championship belt. It is a confrontation of two men who have already proven their worth but who still have to remind us of what they are made of. It’s the fight I’m looking forward to the most that night.

If you like watching rematches …: Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Joseph Benavidez (July 18 for vacant men’s flyweight title).

Rose Namajunas vs. Jessica Andrade

July 12 in Abu Dhabi, UAE

Here’s another rematch on that loaded UFC 251 main card, this one among a pair of former strawweight champions. And yes, I include this fight in two of the three title fights that night: Usman against Burns at welterweight and Petr Yan against Jose Aldo for the vacant bantamweight championship. I’ll see you all, of course, but this one is particularly fascinating for me to contemplate because of how the first meeting had such an abrupt change. Namajunas was rebuilding Andrade until Andrade picked up Namajunas. The punch that ended the fight was terrifying vicious.