Always eager to attract the crowds, whether packing arena seats or viewing from home via pay-per-view, the Ultimate Fighting Championship rarely disappoints. Opening the schedule for 2022 will be the UFC 270 event on 22 January, held at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, as the world’s most popular mixed martial arts promotion gets the new year going with a bang.
Not just one but two eagerly anticipated title fights will be headlining UFC 270, accompanied by a fine array of exciting contests on the fight card for this event. Headlining the event is the UFC Heavyweight Championship title unification, as Francis Ngannou takes on the interim champion Ciryl Gane, finally getting to decide which of these two superb fighters will take the belt.
The second and equally deserving of headlines is Brandon Moreno versus Deiveson Deiveson Figueiredo, as the reigning UFC Flyweight champion prepares to be tested by the number one challenger. As the latest contest between the Mexican and the Brazilian, this is a trilogy fight in which both fighters will be looking for a definitive resolution, plus the chance for one of these two rivals to walk away with the title belt, of course.
Francis Ngannou vs. Ciryl Gane
Nobody can forget Ngannou’s murderous left hand at UFC 218 in December 2017, rated by ESPN as their ‘Knockout of the Year’, when he delivered the KO punch in the victory against Alistair Overeem. This would firmly establish the Frenchman as a firm favorite amongst MMA fans, which also set him up for a first career attempt at the title.
The opportunity came quickly at UFC 220 in January 2018, although Ngannou was unable to find any way to beat Stipe Miocic on that occasion, as the American broke the record for most consecutive UFC Heavyweight Championship title defenses. Nevertheless, that loss by unanimous decision spurred Ngannou to improve his overall technique, as he sought another opportunity to top the UFC rankings.
Fearsome punching power and great timing brought added four more KO wins to the impressive resume of Ngannou, before the inevitable rematch against Miocic, which eventually came at UFC 260 in March 2021. This time there would be no stopping the fists of Ngannou, who finished Miocic in just two rounds with a KO punch.
Heavyweight Supremacy is at stake this January!@Francis_Ngannou and @Ciryl_Gane will lock horns for the 𝖀𝖓𝖉𝖎𝖘𝖕𝖚𝖙𝖊𝖉 👑! #UFC270 pic.twitter.com/sfXmIasXDM
— UFC_Asia (@UFC_Asia) December 23, 2021
Heading into this next contest at UFC 270, there’s no doubting that Gane will be wary of the firepower Ngannou boasts at the end of each arm, albeit full of confidence his unbeaten record can be continued. In this clash of the French titans, Gane will certainly fancy his chances on the back of such an impeccable path to this title bout.
Gane managed to demolish Derrick Lewis with a KO victory in round 3 at UFC 265, extending his perfect MMA record to 10 wins and zero losses. This follows on the back of a flawless professional Muay Thai record, where he won all 13 bouts on the French circuit. After debuting in the TKO promotion with 3 wins, UFC came calling and so far, Gane has continued to deliver with 7 consecutive wins in the world’s biggest MMA promotion.
The majority of sportsbooks have this bout pegged as an even contest, giving both Ngannou and Gane an equal chance of winning. As a contest which genuinely could go either way, this guide to the best MMA betting sites could make all the difference, especially if you’re looking to get an edge with top tips and strategies, covering all the different betting markets available.
Brandon Moreno vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
Just in case you happened to be hiding in a cave somewhere, missing the last two remarkable contests between these two superb fighters, Brandon Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo will be going at it for the third time in a row at UFC 270. The first encounter ended in a draw at UFC 256 in December 2020, before Moreno took victory at UFC 263, defeating Figueiredo with a rear-naked choke and submission in round 3.
Due to the fascinating spectacle these two phenomenal fighters produced in each bout, there was always a sense of unfinished business and inevitably, Dana White was excited about putting on another great show between them. Moreno will undoubtedly be keen to protect the title and his undefeated UFC record, featuring 2 draws and 4 wins.
Figueiredo won the UFC Flyweight Championship in February 2020 after beating Joseph Benavidez, then during an incredible year for the Brazilian, defended his title against Alex Perez and Joseph Benavidez, ahead the draw with Brandon Moreno in December 2020. This trilogy contest brings an opportunity to get the title back in his hands, plus the chance of revenge that always gets UFC fans even more engaged.