Five fights Michael Bisping wants to see in 2024

There are five fights that former middleweight champion and UFC commentator Michael Bisping thinks ‘must happen’ this year.  With title fights headlining the next three pay-per-view events, the UFC is coming out strong in the first quarter of 2024 leading into the historic UFC 300 event in April.  

Before revealing the list of fights that he says has to happen this year, Bisping said a bit of a disclaimer.  

“Of course there’s a lot of if, buts, and maybes, but the thing is if there’s a possibility for these fights to. happen, they’re probably going to happen because that’s what the UFC does.  They give the people the fights that you want to see.  This ain’t boxing,” Bisping said.  

Looking deeper into the year, past UFC 300, the fifth fight Bisping thought must happen this year was Israel Adesanya versus Dricus Du Plessis.  The two have already marketed the fight after Du Plessis defeated Robert Whittaker at UFC 290 this past July.  Adesanya entered the octagon after the win and assaulted Du Plessis with words.  

Du Plessis faces champion Sean Strickland in the UFC 297 main event on Jan. 20 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  

The fourth bout on Bisping’s list was a women’s super fight that pits champion against champion.  He believes women’s strawweight champion Zhang Weili should challenge flyweight titleholder Alexa Grasso.  It would give Zhang the opportunity to become a double champion.  

Moving into the Top 3, Bisping mentioned Conor McGregor.  McGregor is expected to return this summer against Michael Chandler potentially as a middleweight.  Regardless of the outcome of that fight, Bisping thinks McGregor versus Nate Diaz 3 could happen within the next 12 months.  With as big as the first two fights were, it’s easy matchmaking for the promotor.    

The second fight on Bisping’s Top 5 list was lightweight champion Islam Makhachev taking on second-ranked Justin Gaethje.  Gaethje is coming off a head kick knockout win over Dustin Poirier, and he hasn’t faced Makhachev yet.    

The fight that Bisping most wants to see in 2024 tops his list and is a heavyweight tussle.  Heavyweight champion Jon Jones facing interim champ Tom Aspinall got to number one spot.  

Jones was slated to faced former two-time champion Stipe Miocic but was forced out of the fight due to a shoulder injury suffered in training.  The fight will likely be rebooked after Jones fully recovers.  

Even if Jones defeats Miocic upon his return, he and Aspinall may not meet.  There’s been some hints that Jones may retire following the fight.  Miocic likely will as well.  

Michael Bisping: Top 5 UFC fights that ‘must happen’ in 2024