A near-title walk or a queen fall. Recall the UFC’s big moments in 2021

Every year is special in its own way, bringing various surprises, good and not so positive moments and events. It is no different in MMA. What are the biggest events 2021 offered in the UFC?

The end of a long-time queen

Quite possibly the biggest surprise not only in 2021, but in the entire history of the UFC was brought by the UFC 269 tournament in December. Amanda Nunes and Julianna Peña faced off in the first of two title fights the main card offered.

Nunes was the clear favorite, and the odds were absolutely lopsided. No one expected Amanda to lose her belt. The last time she lost in 2014, she is considered the best fighter in history. She’s held the bantamweight belt since July 2016. She’s defended it several times.

But Peña was able to beat her. Although the first round looked more in favor of Nunes, however, in the second round the champion went into a shootout, but she cashed in a lot, which decided the fight. Once Nunes got on the ground, it was no problem for her opponent to apply the choke.

Nunes tapped out, accepted the loss like a true champion and congratulated her successor. Of course, she asked for a rematch, saying she would come back stronger. UFC boss Dana White confirmed the rematch, saying who else should deserve it more than Amanda.

The year of Charles Oliveira?

Not many would have expected it as recently as late last year, but the current lightweight champion is Charles Oliveira, who not only won the title in 2021, but also defended it. He didn’t have easy opponents and it has to be said that he got the title with a bit of luck.

Dustin Poirier was supposed to face Michael Chandler for the title after his win over Conor McGregor in January. However, Chandler had one fight in the UFC under his belt, while Poirier always had to fight hard to get a title shot. So he turned the fight down, preferring to accept a third fight with the Irishman.

Charles Oliveira, who had an 8 fight win streak in a row, took the chance, beating the legendary Tony Ferguson, but he was going through a nasty decline at the end of 2020. The Brazilian had absolutely obliterated Ferguson, it was incredible what Tony had endured.

The very next fight was with Chandler for the title. But Oliveira beat him in the second round. But there was a lot of talk about the title not having a proper holder. That’s why Poirier, who was a big favourite before the Oliveira fight, was given the chance. But even he couldn’t find a recipe for the Brazilian.

Although Oliveira cashed in a lot in the first round, he had Poirier down in the second round and in the third round he choked him out with a standing submission. From that point on, no one can doubt his qualities.

Oliveira will have an interesting schedule in 2021. Originally, a title fight with Justin Gaethje was supposed to be on the cards, but Conor McGregor has claimed his shot and although a fight with him doesn’t make sense, Oliveira wants to make money and will quietly put him ahead of Gaethje.

Teixeira second oldest champion in UFC, Prochazka close to title

One of the big moments also concerns the Czech Republic. That’s because Jiri Procházka has been on the top rungs of the welterweight division and after his win over Dominick Reyes, he was the understudy in the title fight between Jan Blachowicz and Glover Teixeira.

Few expected that perhaps Blachowicz could lose to the seasoned veteran. After all, he’s beaten very good fighters in his last few fights, and is very complex himself, yet the 42-year-old veteran was able to force him to tap out in the second round with a choke.

Teixeira thus became the oldest man ever to reach the title fight. Overall, then, he is the second oldest champion in UFC history.

His next opponent will almost 100% be Prochazka, who he met immediately after his win. He talked about him at the press conference, as well as several times in the media afterwards.

The question is how much harder or easier an opponent for Prochazka than Blachowicz would be. One thing is certain. For our MMA scene, 2022 will be the biggest year in the history of the sport.

When dreams come true. Moreno has been released from the UFC in the past, now he’s the champion

“Never give up, dreams will come true if you go for it.” It’s words everyone has heard in their lifetime, but not everyone believes them. But Brandon Moreno has shown that they are not just platitudes.

In fact, in 2018 he was released from the UFC after two losses in a row, not knowing himself what his future would be. Eventually, he cut one winning fight in the LFA organization and returned to the UFC after a year and a half.

However, he was still an underdog, entering most of his fights as an underdog. However, he hasn’t lost once in the UFC since his return. In six fights, he has won four times and drawn twice. One of the draws, meanwhile, came in December 2020 after a phenomenal title fight with Deiveson Figueiredo, who defended his belt.

Immediately after the draw, there was talk of a rematch. Moreno made a huge impression. And the rematch actually happened in June 2021. Moreno again jumped in as the favorite, but put on a dominant performance, knocking Figueiredo out by third-round choke.

In doing so, he became the first Mexican champion in UFC history, further proving that nothing is impossible. He understandably gave vent to his emotions, fulfilling a dream that seemed impossible to achieve. Now he wants to do his best to take MMA in Mexico to the next level.

Moreover, we can look forward to Moreno’s third fight with Figueiredo on January 23rd. So there is definitely something to look forward to.

McGregor’s failed comeback

It was supposed to be a big deal. Conor McGregor was coming back to the cage after a year. His opponent was Dustin Poirier, who he had beaten in the past. But Poirier had matured since then, becoming one of the best fighters at his weight, while McGregor hadn’t exactly moved on.

In addition, he faced veteran Donald Cerrone before the January fight, who was taken as fodder, not a relevant opponent. That’s also why Poirier was the favorite against McGregor, and he easily proved that in the fight. A great tactical performance was enough to win the second round.

There was a lot of talk that the Irishman was simply not good enough for the top, that he was written off. So he took the next fight, but Poirier was again better from the beginning, moreover McGregor broke his leg and the fight was over after the first round. If McGregor hadn’t gotten hurt, he probably would have had a slim chance of winning anyway.

There was a lot of talk about what would happen to the Irishman next. But there are still many people interested in fighting him. Not because he is perhaps a real test for the top at the moment, but rather because McGregor is a guaranteed earner. Champion Charles Oliveira, for example, is interested in the fight, and Michael Chandler has already sent in a challenge.

McGregor certainly won’t be missing out on great opponents, but unless he reignites the fire he previously captivated the entire fight scene with, it’s going to be tough, maybe even undignified.

Sources: UFC, Twitter, Sherdog