July is shaping up to be an exciting month in combat sports, from MMA to boxing, there is plenty to watch. With five UFC events, including two PPV’s, Bellator vs. Rizin and a blockbuster boxing match-up, there’s a lot to keep your eyes on. We take a look at the top five fights to watch this July.
Top 5 Fights to Watch in July 2023
5. AJ McKee vs. Patricky Pitbull
Headlining Bellator vs. Rizin 2 on July 29th, former Bellator featherweight champion, AJ McKee faces a familiar name in Pitbull, however, not the brother that he has stood across from twice. This time it will be Patricky Pitbull that McKee will clash with.
McKee has a history with the Pitbull brothers having gone 1-1 with Patricio Pitbull at featherweight. Since losing the rematch to Patricio, McKee moved up to lightweight, where many thought that he could shine. He’s failed to impress, however. Despite picking up two victories, he hasn’t looked as dominant as we all thought that he would.
Pitbull is coming off a championship loss to Usman Nurmagomedov back in November and will be looking to return with a vengeance.
This one is so exciting due to the history between McKee and Team Pitbull and is certainly not one to be missed.
4. Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje 2
Headlining UFC 291 for the infamous BMF belt, top lightweights, Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje will meet again after their epic 2018 encounter.
Both men are at the top, elite end of the 155lbs division, however, seem to be slightly out of the question for a title shot as things stand. Poirier is coming off a war with Michael Chandler in a fan favourite fight last year and Gaethje is coming off an epic fight with Rafael Fiziev in London in March.
Both Gaethje and Poirier put on a fight-of-the-year contender in 2018, landing a combined 295 strikes in less than four rounds. On this occasion, it was The Diamond who got his hand raised, knocking out The Highlight in the fourth round. Will it be repeat or revenge at UFC 291? Who knows, which is why it is a must-watch fight.
3. Jan Blachowicz vs. Alex Pereira
UFC 291’s co-main event is arguably more intriguing than the main event. Former light heavyweight champion, Jan Blachowicz will clash with former middleweight champion, Alex Pereira. It will mark the Brazillian’s light heavyweight debut and when Poatang took on Israel Adesanya last time out, they looked like they were in different weight classes, making the move up in weight a logical one. It also marks the first time that Pereira will look to rebound from a loss in the UFC.
For Blachowicz, it will mark his return to action following a draw against Magomed Ankalaev in an interim title fight which saw neither man be crowned the champion. Blachowicz was comprehensively out-grappled in that one but don’t expect that to happen at UFC 291.
This fight will answer massive questions as to where both men are at in terms of their careers, if Blachowicz can still clash with the best and whether Pereira was all hype or can avenge the loss of his teammate, Glover Texiera against the champion, Jamahal Hill.
2. Alexander Volkanovski vs. Yair Rodriguez
Headlining this year’s international fight week will be a clash for the undisputed featherweight title. UFC 290 will see the champion, Alexander Volkanovski clash with the interim champion, Yair Rodriguez. It will be the first time that we see the Aussie look to bounce back from a loss (since 2013) following his loss to Islam Makhachev up at 155lbs.
Rodriguez will compete for the undisputed strap for the first time in his career after capturing the interim title with a submission win after a dominant performance over Josh Emmett last time out.
After dominant victories over Max Holloway, Chan Sung Jung and Brian Ortega, the P4P king, Volkanovski is making a valid case that he is the GOAT, especially at featherweight.
The next challenger, Rodriguez is riding the wave of Mexican MMA after Brandon Moreno really put the country on the map in the championship picture. After two straight victories, including his last, dominant victory over Emmett, Rodriguez has many fans thinking that he could be the one to topple Volkanovski’s reign.
The UFC 290 main event will answer all these questions, however, so be sure to tune into the highlight of international fight week 2023.
1. Terence Crawford vs. Errol Spence
With all four titles on the line, history will be made on July 29 👑#SpenceCrawford @ErrolSpenceJr @terencecrawford pic.twitter.com/GsPj0vdUvm
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) June 7, 2023
