Francis Ngannou (image via UFC/YouTube)

There have already been some huge UFC fights that have taken place in the first half of 2021, but the second half of the year only looks to continue in that same fashion. 

UFC is set to welcome back fans at some point over the next couple of months, and Dana White will be keen to set some big fights up to ensure that fans can witness some of the most entertaining action to make up for the fact that they haven’t been in attendance for well over a year. 

Still, which fights could we be set to see before the end of the current calendar year?

Conor McGregor vs Dustin Poirier

There are no prizes for guessing the fight that makes the top of the list, as Irish superstar Conor McGregor will be returning to the octagon for the second time this year in July. 

White has already revealed that this will be the first fight with capacity for the UFC, and it will likely make for one of the most memorable nights of the year. 

McGregor and Dustin Poirier have been involved in heated confrontations throughout their career, which meant that there was a pleasant surprise in the build-up to their first fight when there was a lot more respect on show.

The lead up to this third, and final bout between the pair has been anything but. McGregor and Poirier have clashed on social media on a number of occasions, and it is only whetting the appetite for what we could be about to see in Las Vegas in July. 

It will certainly be winner takes all when they clash in a couple of months, as both stars have already recorded one win apiece.

Jon Jones vs Francis Ngannou

It has been muted for a couple of years now that Jon Jones will be stepping up to the heavyweight division. This year is certainly the best time for that to happen, as there is a mouth-watering bout between Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones that could be made. 

It seems as though there has already been trouble in making the fight happen, as both fighters are yet to come to any kind of agreement in principle.

Fans will be hoping that this doesn’t lead to the idea being scrapped, as Jones vs Ngannou could not only be the biggest fight of 2021, but also the biggest fight that we have ever seen in the heavyweight division. 

Ngannou made history at UFC 260 earlier in the year when he won the heavyweight championship. It was a stunning display by the 34-year-old, as he won by KO in the second round against Stipe Miocic. However, the fight against Jones is the biggest one that could be made in UFC.

Francis is the UFC equivalent of Derrick Rose in the NBA. As TwinSpires puts it Rose as one of the most underrated players in NBA history, Francis Ngannou is probably one of the most underrated fighters in UFC.

Deiveson Figueiredo vs Henry Cejudo

It’s fair to say that not many UFC fans believe that Henry Cejudo is done with the Octagon just yet. He announced his retirement last year after successfully defending the bantamweight title against Dominick Cruz. 

However, there is ever expectancy that he will return as soon as a challenge that interests him arises. That challenge could come in the form of Deiveson Figueiredo.

Figueiredo came into 2021 off the back of one of the best years of his career, as he won three of the four fights that he had. The only fight that he didn’t win was a contentious draw against Brandon Moreno. 

He has held the flyweight title since beating Joseph Benavidez by submission to their rematch after Figueiredo missed the weight in the first contest. If there was one fight that would make Cejudo come out of retirement, then this would be it.