The final time the UFC was hosted in Chicago was again in June 2019 for UFC 238, the place Henry Cejudo defeated Marlon Moraes.
On this specific occasion, ‘Triple C’ grew to become a simultaneous two-division champion after claiming the vacant UFC Bantamweight title.
Quick ahead to the current, the Middleweight Championship is on the road between Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev.
Whereas that bout would be the fundamental attraction, listed below are 5 different fights which might be actually unmissable.
Geoff Neal vs Carlos Prates
Beginning with a Welterweight battle between two knockout artists who sit simply outdoors the highest 10 within the division.
Neal is coming off a first-round TKO win after stopping Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 308.
‘Handz of Metal’ has earned loads of credible wins in opposition to the likes of Belal Muhammad, Mike Perry and Vicente Luque.
The Texan has a complete of 10 knockouts within the 16 triumphs he’s earned in his MMA profession.
One of the crucial noticeable Combating Nerds blended martial artists misplaced their final bout to Ian Machado Garry at UFC Kansas Metropolis.
Prates went on an unimaginable run in 2024 with the UFC, combating 4 instances and securing 4 consecutive knockouts.
Because it comes as no shock, ‘The Nightmare’ has 16 KO/TKO victories from 21 wins, simply displaying how harmful he’s.
It will likely be a shock if this battle goes to the bottom as Neal tries to choose up from the place he left off, whereas the Brazilian searches for redemption.
Jared Cannonier vs Michael ‘Venom’ Web page
A considerably stunning, however anticipated Middleweight battle when introduced, as there’s a lot at stake for this one.
Cannonier earned an unimaginable comeback knockout win in his final bout, defeating Gregory Rodrigues at UFC Vegas 102.
The previous title challenger is skilled on this recreation, dealing with former 185-pound champions reminiscent of Anderson Silva, Israel Adesanya, Robert Whittaker and Sean Strickland.
‘The Killa Gorilla’ doesn’t usually go the space when victorious, incomes 11 knockouts and two submissions.
MVP amazed UFC followers when he grew to become the primary man to defeat Shara Magomedov at UFC Saudi Arabia, whereas making his Middleweight debut.
The London-born fighter is understood for his showstopping performances, particularly in Bellator, as he’s tied for many knockouts in that MMA promotion.
13 of Web page’s 23 victories have ended by KO/TKO, though he has picked up three submission wins.
Cannonier holds the dangerous job of sustaining his #8 contender’s spot, as MVP tries to grab precisely that.
King Inexperienced vs Diego Ferreria
The featured prelim, which showcases two Light-weight veterans seeking to redeem themselves.
Inexperienced suffered a horrific loss after receiving a weird spinning wheel kick knockout in opposition to Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 313.
The Californian has confronted so many notable opponents, together with Islam Makhachev, Tony Ferguson and Dustin Poirier.
A menace on each the ft and floor, the previous Light-weight contender has secured 11 knockouts and 9 submissions.
Ferreira’s two-fight win streak was snapped in his final bout after a call loss to Grant Dawson at UFC 311.
The Brazilian has confronted fellow veterans within the 155-pound division, together with a win over former champion Anthony Pettis.
The 40-year-old has earned 12 stoppage victories in 19 skilled wins.
This battle can solely be deemed as unpredictable, whether or not it goes to the bottom or ft, or whether or not it goes to the judges’ scorecards or not.
Gerald Meerschaert vs Michal Oleksiejczuk
An thrilling 185-pound battle with two males who very hardly ever go a call.
Meerschaert stands on a two-fight dropping streak after struggling a unanimous choice defeat to Brad Tavares at UFC Vegas 105.
Regardless of by no means coming into the Middleweight rankings, GM3 has confronted contenders reminiscent of Kevin Holland, Khamzat Chimaev, and lately Reinier de Ridder.
The Wisconsin blended martial artist is well-known for choking or tapping his opponents out, holding 29 submission triumphs.
Oleksiejczuk snapped his three-fight dropping streak with a first-round TKO victory in opposition to Sedriques Dumas at UFC 314.
The Polish fighter has confronted powerful competitors in his UFC profession, going up in opposition to the likes of Ovince Saint Preux, Caio Borralho and Michel Pereira.
‘Hussar’ likes to cease his enemies by knockout as he claims 15 KO/TKO wins from his 20 profitable professional fights.
It appears clear that this battle will both have Meerschaert profitable by submission or Oleksiejczuk profitable by knockout.
Bryan Battle vs Nursulton Ruziboev
As soon as once more, there may be one other thrilling Middleweight battle which takes place within the Early Prelims.
Battle managed to just do sufficient in his first PPV occasion, defeating Randy Brown by cut up choice.
Whereas at present on a five-fight unbeaten streak, ‘The Butcher’ has solely misplaced one UFC bout in his 9 fights with the organisation.
With 13 victories, the Charlotte-born fighter has stopped 4 of his opponents by knockout and 6 by submission.
Ruziboev made it two wins in a row at UFC Vegas 106 when he went the space with Dustin Stoltzfus to win by unanimous choice.
Though he’s a 185-pound fighter, the Uzbek did have an opportunity to enter the Welterweight rankings, however misplaced to Joaquin Buckley, his solely UFC loss.
The 31-year-old holds 33 stoppage wins with 13 ending by KO/TKO and 20 by submission.
This battle might give both man a chance to interact in opposition to a ranked opponent of their subsequent contest.
