7 Must-See MMA Fights for the Rest of January
January kicked off with UFC 182, but the month certainly isn't over. It's just getting started.
The UFC brings three more cards to your television screens before the month concludes. This includes a Fight Night on Fox Sports 1, a Fight Night on Fox and another pay-per-view event. And with all this action there are can't-miss fights on the docket.
Why are these can't-miss fights?
Some of them will move the victors into title contention, and other scraps will prove to be exciting clashes between top-tier talents. Fans of mixed martial arts are lucky to be treated to the UFC's offerings this month.
Without further ado, these are seven can't-miss bouts coming your way throughout January.
Miesha Tate vs. Sara McMann
1 of 7
Event: UFC 183, January 31
UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey has already dispatched of both Miesha Tate and Sara McMann, but that division is still in need of a future title contender. The matchup between No. 2-ranked Tate and No. 3-ranked McMann should put the winner back in that top spot.
This is also a good stylistic matchup.
McMann is an Olympic medalist in wrestling, and that happens to be one of Tate's strengths as well. However, Tate is much more developed as an all-around mixed martial artist. This will be a fight that will truly test how far McMann has come in her career.
The former Olympian was nearly upended by Lauren Murphy in her last fight. Tate poses a much steeper test.
This fight will be the featured preliminary contest on Fox Sports 1 as part of its UFC 183 coverage.
Tyron Woodley vs. Kelvin Gastelum
2 of 7
Event: UFC 183, January 31
There may not be a hotter welterweight going right now than No. 7-ranked contender Kelvin Gastelum. He will get his chance to leap into title contention with a bout against No. 3-ranked Tyron Woodley.
This fight is the co-main event of UFC 182, and it is well-deserved.
Gastelum arrived in the UFC by winning The Ultimate Fighter in an upset over Uriah Hall. He has quickly shown his progression as a fighter with increasingly impressive performances inside the Octagon. Woodley will continue to put his talents to the test.
Woodley had an up-and-down 2014, but it ended on a positive note. He is coming off a big victory over Dong Hyun Kim in just 61 seconds.
This is a huge welterweight tilt for the month of January.
Ian McCall vs. John Lineker
3 of 7
Event: UFC 183, January 31
Want another important fight on the UFC 183 fight card? Flyweights Ian McCall and John Lineker give you just that.
This fight between Top 10 flyweights was scheduled for UFC Fight Night 56, but McCall was pulled on the day of the weigh-ins. The fight was rescheduled for UFC 183.
McCall, ranked as the No. 3 contender in the division, has back-to-back wins. A third would put him in position to challenge for gold and a potential third fight with champion Demetrious Johnson. Since the flyweight division lacks credible contenders, this fight will go a long way in finding that challenger.
Lineker has not yet fought Johnson or challenged for the title, so he would be a fresh face. And his incredible knockout power makes him one of the most enticing flyweights in the division. The issue with Lineker is he has a history of missing weight.
The No. 6-ranked contender remains one of the most exciting fighters in the division, and this matchup with McCall should be a Fight of the Night candidate on the January 31.
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Jordan Mein vs. Thiago Alves
4 of 7
Event: UFC 183, January 31
Thus far we have tackled three key fights with potential title implications, but the fight between Jordan Mein and Thiago Alves should just be pure fireworks.
Styles make fights? This is the prime example of that saying. Two aggressive fighters with a complete array of skills meeting in the center of the cage is exactly what fans want to watch. It helps bolster a stacked UFC 183 fight card.
Mein's stock was rising up the ranks, but a beatdown by Matt Brown in April 2013 curtailed his ascent. Mein has since put together back-to-back victories inside the cage.
Alves spent two years away from the cage nursing injuries and returned in 2014 with a Fight of the Night decision win over Seth Baczynski.
Neither fighter is ranked in the division, but the winner could garner some votes. That adds a little extra to this preliminary card bout.
Do not sleep on the action that Alves vs. Mein will bring to your screens at UFC 183.
Alexander Gustafsson vs. Anthony Johnson
5 of 7
Event: UFC on Fox 14, January 24
The bout between No. 3-ranked light heavyweight contender Anthony Johnson and No. 1-ranked contender Alexander Gustafsson was already a big fight as a five-round main event. And it already had big implications as a de facto title eliminator.
However, following Jon Jones' drug test failure that sent him to rehab, this fight gets even more interesting.
The winner will be next up for Jones and the light heavyweight title. Will we get a dynamic fighter like Johnson to oppose the dominant champion, or will Gustafsson get his long-awaited rematch after their Fight of the Year in September 2013?
Those are the storylines outside of the interesting matchup between the two contenders. Johnson has fantastic striking and good wrestling to complement it. Gustafsson continues to improve each fight out.
The UFC and Fox give us this fight for free on network television, and everyone should be tuning in with so much on the line.
Donald Cerrone vs. Benson Henderson III
6 of 7
Event: UFC Fight Night 59, January 18
Donald Cerrone, the No. 3-ranked lightweight contender, has already fought in January. He dominated Myles Jury to start his year off right after going 4-0 in 2014. He steps up on short notice to fight No. 5-ranked Benson Henderson.
The two have already met twice before in the WEC.
Their first fight for the WEC Lightweight Championship was amazing. Henderson edged out Cerrone in a fight that cemented Henderson as an upper-echelon lightweight. Their second fight for gold helped headline WEC 48, but it was over quickly as Henderson got a submission victory in the first round.
Now, Cerrone gets a chance to get one in the win column over his rival. He has all the momentum entering the fight.
If this fight is anything like their first encounter, we are in for a Fight of the Year contender. Unfortunately, this fight is only scheduled for three rounds instead of five. At least the fight is scheduled, and we are going to see two of the best in the world duke it out.
Anderson Silva vs. Nick Diaz
7 of 7
Event: UFC 183, January 31
There was no other choice, right? The top can't-miss fight had to be Anderson Silva vs. Nick Diaz.
This was already an interesting fight between two legends of the sport. Silva is considered to be one of the greatest of all time. Diaz is one of the most controversial fighters of all time. They both love to taunt and talk inside the cage. It should make for an exciting fight one way or the other.
Adding to the bout is Dana White. The UFC president stated if Silva wins he will earn another shot at Chris Weidman and the UFC middleweight title.
Silva is an aging athlete, but he is still a fascinating character with solid skills. Diaz moves back to 185 pounds for this fight.
Who will do enough to come out on top? The common knowledge makes one lean toward Silva, but don't sleep on Diaz sneaking one through to drop a fighter who is well past his prime.
However it turns out on January 31, a lot of interested parties will tune in to one of the most compelling bouts the UFC has ever put on.
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