Over the last 25 years, the UFC has grown into a dominant force in providing exciting, highly anticipated bouts for fans. But occasionally, the best-laid intentions go awry, leaving combat enthusiasts to ponder the enormous matchups that might have taken place. With fighters like Kayla Harrison and Alex Pereira looming large, UFC 307 is paving the way for big fights down the road, but now is the ideal moment to relive the bouts that never happened and left fans wondering what-ifs instead.
Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes: The Dream That Fell Apart Before It Was Born
The hype for a matchup between two-time Olympic judo champion Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes, the most dominating female fighter in UFC history, was tremendous. Nunes had easily defeated every opponent put in her path, even the formidable Cris Cyborg, and Harrison was tearing up the PFL cage and becoming well-known very soon.
The only thing separating Nunes and Harrison from a possible megafight was Julianna Peña, who was expected to be just another simple obstacle. Everything appeared to be set up for an epic battle between two titans. But then, catastrophe struck. In one of the biggest surprises in MMA history, Peña submitted Nunes at UFC 269, shocking the whole world. Harrison resigned with PFL, ending any immediate chances of the fight, having seen her possible opponent collapse in real time.
Harrison lost her dream opponent in Nunes when she eventually retired, even though Nunes later exacted revenge and reclaimed her title. The magic moment, when both warriors were at their best, has passed, but the fight might yet happen in the future.
Tony Ferguson vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov: The Ultimate Unfinished Business
There have never been any UFC bouts that have generated as much excitement as Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson. These two fighters continuously demonstrated during the 2010s that they were the best in the lightweight class. Though fate had different ideas, they were destined to cross paths often and come together.
Five different injuries, strange mishaps, and eventually the COVID-19 pandemic caused the scheduled fights to be called off. The ultimate blow was delivered in 2020 when Ferguson, who had previously considered unbeatable, lost badly to Justin Gaethje rather than Khabib. From that moment on, Khabib retired unbeaten and Ferguson’s supremacy fell apart, leaving fans to wonder for eternity what may have occurred if these two natural forces had faced off in an octagon.
Mirko Cro Cop vs. Randy Couture: The Unpredicted Victory
Imagine this: PRIDE’s lethal knockout artist, Mirko Cro Cop, going up against UFC legend, “Captain America” Randy Couture. For MMA fans back in 2007, this was the ultimate situation—especially because Cro Cop was making his UFC debut after dominating elsewhere. However, Cro Cop had to overcome Gabriel Gonzaga, a formidable but generally unknown opponent, before he could face Couture.
The world was astonished by what transpired next. Gonzaga executed a head kick of his own to put Cro Cop out cold, turning the tables on Cro Cop, who was about to deliver one of his trademark head kick knockouts. The ideal matchup between Cro Cop and Couture was lost in an instant, and although Cro Cop made up for the defeat years later, he never achieved the kind of success in the UFC his supporters had dreamed of.
Conor McGregor vs. Rafael dos Anjos: The Unofficial Superfight
Conor McGregor and Rafael dos Anjos, the UFC lightweight champion at the moment, were on the verge of a superfight in 2016. Following his triumph in the featherweight championship, fans were curious to see how McGregor would hold up against the fierce style of dos Anjos. However, dos Anjos had to withdraw from their UFC 196 battle due to a broken foot; in his place, Nate Diaz famously submitted McGregor.
The fight with dos Anjos never happened, despite the fact that McGregor later exacted revenge and defeated Eddie Alvarez to win the lightweight belt. Rather, McGregor’s career veered off course into boxing and celebrity feuds, and dos Anjos was defeated by Alvarez for the title. In an other reality, McGregor vs. dos Anjos would have been the main event of UFC 200; sadly, it was just not meant to be.
Yoel Romero vs. Michael Bisping: The One That Got Away
Following Michael Bisping’s stunning victory over Luke Rockhold to win the UFC middleweight championship, fans demanded a matchup with Yoel Romero, the formidable Cuban who had established himself as one of the most feared fighters in the division. Fans were drooling at the thought of Romero’s unrelenting, bone-crushing style going up against Bisping’s brazen, underdog mentality, as tension between the two athletes increased.
However, mismatch politics, injuries, and time prevented the bout from taking place. Instead, Bisping lost his championship to Georges St-Pierre in an incredible comeback, and Romero faced Robert Whittaker for an interim title. MMA fans will always wonder what may have been when Bisping and Romero’s highly anticipated showdown never happened.
Some of the most exciting fights in the wild world of mixed martial arts never make it to the mat. Superfights that were just a step away from happening are abundant in UFC history, whether it’s because of injuries, unexpected upsets, or bad scheduling. While fans will be teased with images of what might have been by the bouts that never transpired, UFC 307 promises to deliver its own share of spectacular moments.
