UFC 311: Islam Makhachev Feels 'Bad' For Khabib Nurmagomedov 'It's gonna be a long night for him'
MMA fans love nothing more than creating dream match-ups between fighters from different eras. Debating fantasy fights can get heated, especially considering how high the caliber of athletes has gotten in the UFC.
Although there's no way of knowing who would win hypothetical fights, it's a fun discussion. Everyone's got an opinion, including artificial intelligence (AI). Whether or not AI is a good predictor of super fights is a whole other debate, but its picks are certainly interesting.
10 Israel Adesanya Vs. Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson
A Showdown Between Two Of The Flashiest Strikers In The UFC
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Venue
Madison Square Garden, New York, USA
Weight Class
Middleweight (185 lbs)
Winner
Israel Adesanya
Round of Victory
5
Method of Victory
Unanimous Decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47)
In this bout that AI bills as "The Ultimate Striking Masterclass", Adesanya and Wonderboy go the distance in a highly technical fight. AI predicts that Wonderboy would have some success early with his blitz attacks and superior speed. It even claims Wonderboy stuns Adesanya with a head kick in round 2.
However, Adesanya's ability to read his opponent combined with consistent jabs and low kicks lead to a momentum shift in round 3. As the fight goes on, Stylebender's size advantage becomes more apparent as his shots slow down Wonderboy significantly.
By the final bell, Adesanya was the clear winner, taking over in the later rounds, but Thompson gave a good account for himself.
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9 Anderson Silva Vs. Alex Pereira
A Titanic Battle At Middleweight
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Venue
T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Weight Class
Middleweight (185 lbs)
Winner
Alex Pereira
Round of Victory
Round 3
Method of Victory
KO (Left hook)
In this Brazilian middleweight showdown, AI pits the 185 lbs legend, Anderson "The Spider" Silva against the UFC's breakout star of recent years, Alex "Poatan" Pereira. Through the early rounds, AI predicts that an elusive Silva frustrated Poatan with slick footwork and sharp head movement. Still, Pereira's power is evident with every strike landed visibly affecting Anderson.
In round 3, Silva continues to look strong, until Pereira pushes him against the fence and lands a bomb with a left hook. Silva crashes to the canvas and Pereira pounces, finishing the fight with ground strikes. AI favors Pereira's raw power over Silva's skills in this match-up.
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8 Conor McGregor Vs. Ilia Topuria
"The Notorious" Against "El Matador" Is A Mouth-Watering Fight
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Venue
Croke Park Stadium, Dublin, Ireland
Weight Class
Lightweight (155 lbs)
Winner
Ilia Topuria
Round of Victory
Round 4
Method of Victory
TKO
In a fight that could very well happen in the future, AI sets the stage for McGregor vs. Topuria in Croke Park, Dublin, McGregor's home city. As fans might expect, AI fancies the Irishman to come out of the blocks quickly, pressing forward, and landing several left hands, bloodying Topuria. However, Topuria withstands the early punishment.
As the fighters enter the third round, McGregor slows down significantly and Topuria begins to gain momentum and wins the round. In round 4, Topuria lands a vicious combination, staggering McGregor, who covers up against the fence. Topuria continues to flurry, forcing the referee to step in. In this European match-up, AI gives "El Matador" the edge.
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7 Georges St-Pierre Vs. Anderson Silva
A Fight UFC Fans Begged For In the 2000s
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Venue
Rogers Centre, Toronto, Canada
Weight Class
Middelweight (185 lbs)
Winner
George St-Pierre
Round of Victory
Round 5
Method of Victory
Unanimous Decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47)
UFC fans pleaded with Dana White for years to make this fight happen, but alas, it never took place. In AI's fantasy fight night, the bout goes ahead in GSP's home country of Canada. AI predicts that Silva starts the stronger, utilizing his speed to land several crisp jabs and body kicks. However, GSP eventually finds his timing and secures a late takedown in round 1, putting Silva on his back.
This proves to be pivotal as Silva becomes hesitant to throw kicks, fearing the takedown. GSP recognizes this and has more success on the feet. Although Silva shows flashes of brilliance throughout, AI believes GSP's superior wrestling allows him to secure 3 out of the next 4 rounds, grinding his way to a decision win.
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6 Brock Lesnar Vs. Francis Ngannou
This Fight Would Have Broken UFC Records
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Venue
Madison Square Garden, New York, USA
Weight Class
Heavyweight (265 lbs)
Winner
Francis Ngannou
Round of Victory
Round 2
Method of Victory
KO (Right uppercut)
In a bout between two of the scariest heavyweights in history, AI chooses a suitable venue, MSG in New York City. As he typically did, AI anticipates a fast start from Lesnar, who uses his size and explosiveness to push back Ngannou and stifle his striking. Ngannou showcases good defensive wrestling, stopping the takedown, leading to four minutes of fighting against the cage.
AI predicts that Lesnar eventually secures a first-round takedown, but doesn't have time to take advantage of it. As the fighters emerge for round 2, Lesnar appears fatigued from the monstrous effort he put out in the first. Ngannou stuffs an early takedown attempt and when the pair break, "The Predator" lands a devastating uppercut, putting Lesnar out cold.
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5 Ronda Rousey Vs. Cris Cyborg
Two Of The Biggest Names In Women's MMA Never Fought
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Venue
Honda Center, Anaheim, California USA
Weight Class
Featherweight (145 lbs)
Winner
Cris Cyborg
Round of Victory
Round 1
Method of Victory
TKO
During Ronda Rousey's tenure, the UFC didn't have a 145 lbs weight class for women so fans never got the chance to see Rousey vs. Cyborg. Thankfully, AI can act as a simulator for this one.
AI predicts that Rousey comes out with her signature aggressive approach, looking for the clinch to get the fight to the ground. However, Cyborg proves a match in the grappling department, stuffing her early attempts.
As the first round progresses, Cyborg is able to maintain striking distance and begins dominating the exchanges. Rousey has no answer for Cyborg's power and speed and eventually goes down from a big right hand. Cyborg follows her to the ground, finishing the fight via TKO. AI believes this one would go similarly to Ronda's final UFC fight against Amanda Nuñes.
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4 Cain Velasquez Vs. Fedor Emelianenko
Emelianenko Never Made The Anticipated Move To The UFC
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Venue
Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan
Weight Class
Heavyweight (265 lbs)
Winner
Cain Velasquez
Round of Victory
Round 4
Method of Victory
TKO
Old-school MMA fans lose sleep thinking about what might have been if Fedor joined the UFC. For years, the great debate at heavyweight was whether Cain Velasquez or Fedor was the greatest of all time. According to AI, this would have been a banger.
In the early rounds, Fedor is on top, remaining calm and fluid with his striking, and landing several heavy shots that trouble Velasquez. Cain reverts to wrestling to turn the tide but Fedor defends well. In the third round, however, Velasquez finally gets Fedor down and inflicts severe punishment from the top with big elbows.
As the pair emerge for round 4, Emelianenko is bleeding and breathing heavily. Velasquez lands another takedown and forces a TKO from the top.
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3 Georges St-Pierre Vs. Kamaru Usman
Two Of The Best Welterweights Of All Time
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Venue
Bell Centre, Montreal, Canada
Weight Class
Welterweight (170 lbs)
Winner
Georges St-Pierre
Round of Victory
Round 5
Method of Victory
Split Decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47)
Before losing to Leon Edwards, Kamaru Usman was considered one of the welterweight greats, second only to the great Georges St-Pierre. Riding a three-fight losing streak, Usman's standing is lower than it has been but few astute fans would be surprised to see him make a big comeback.
If GSP and Usman were to face off in their primes, AI sees it as a very close contest. After four close rounds of clinch work, fence fighting, tactical striking, and plenty of scrambles, it's all square going into round 5.
In the final round, AI predicts that GSP turns to tactical fighting, measuring with his jab and staying active on the feet. His fight IQ earns him the round, leading to a split decision win on the scorecards.
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2 Khabib Nurmagomedov Vs. Islam Makhachev
A Fascinating Fight That Could Never Happen
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Venue
Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Weight Class
Lightweight (155 lbs)
Winner
Khabib Nurmagomedov
Round of Victory
Round 5
Method of Victory
Unanimous Decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47)
A fight between the master and the protégé, Khabib vs. Islam could only happen in a fantasy world. As you might expect, AI predicts a grappling clinic from these dominant lightweights. Both men are well-matched in the early grappling exchanges and each enjoys some success. On the feet, Islam is sharper, landing solid counters.
Recognizing Makhachev's superiority in striking, Khabib abandons exchanging hands, and doubles up on the grappling, wearing Islam down against the fence. As the fight enters the championship rounds, Khabib's pressure reigns supreme. He manages to get Makhachev down and keep him there.
AI predicts that Khabib's dominance in the key moments earns him a unanimous decision win.
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1 Jon Jones Vs. Francis Ngannou
The Heavyweight Fight Everyone Wants To See
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Venue
Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Weight Class
Heavyweight (265 lbs)
Winner
Jon Jones
Round of Victory
Round 4
Method of Victory
Submission (Rear-nake choke)
If Francis Ngannou ever comes back to the UFC, fans will want to see him face Jon Jones. In this AI simulation, Ngannou comes out swinging in the first round, landing several good shots, but nothing clean enough to hurt Jones. Jon uses his fight IQ and range to keep out of reach and lands several well-timed calf kicks, slowing down Ngannou.
The second round looks similar to the first, although Ngannou's legs are compromised and he doesn't have the same pep on his shots. In the third, Jones trips Francis and secures a takedown, allowing him to reign down some heavy elbows.
As they emerge for the fourth, Francis is visibly fatigued and Jones looks relatively unscathed. After securing another takedown, Jones takes Ngannou's back, and eventually sinks a rear-naked choke, forcing the tap.