5 biggest UFC fights to look forward to in April
This weekend marks the final UFC show of March, and while the first weekend of April is without an event, there is still plenty to look forward to next month.
April features four UFC events, including one major pay-per-view, and so it should come as no surprise that there are a number of excellent fights on tap.
Whether these fights live up to the hype – indeed, whether they take place at all – remains to be seen, but it’s still worth getting excited for them
Here are five of the biggest UFC fights to look forward to in April.
#5. UFC bantamweight bout: Rob Font vs. Adrian Yanez
The UFC’s bantamweight division is arguably the promotion’s hottest right now. After huge bouts in March, April has another one on tap on the main card of the month’s first show.
UFC 287 might feature a big title fight in the headliner and a welterweight grudge match too, but there’s every chance that Rob Font vs. Adrian Yanez might steal the show.
Not only are these two fighters both ranked in the top 15 at 135 pounds, but they’re amongst the most exciting in the division, too.
Of the two, Yanez perhaps has the bigger hype around him now. He’s gone 5-0 in the octagon since arriving there in 2020, and has finished all but one of his foes via knockout. More to the point, he’s claimed a bonus award every time he’s fought.
Font, though, is more proven than his opponent here. He holds wins over Cody Garbrandt, Marlon Moraes and Ricky Simon, but he is coming off back-to-back losses, albeit against Jose Aldo and Marlon Vera.
Based on what we’ve seen thus far of Yanez, he’s likely to come into this fight looking to take Font’s head off. But given that the Boston-based fighter has never been stopped, it won’t be easy.
The outcome of this fight will probably come down to how well Yanez can deal with Font’s height and reach advantage. Either way, it should be a fascinating and fun fight to watch.
#4. UFC heavyweight bout: Curtis Blaydes vs. Sergei Pavlovich
April 22’s UFC Fight Night event features a major headline bout in the heavyweight division. It’s a fight so big that there’s every chance the winner will get a title shot in the near future.
The fight pits Curtis Blaydes against Sergei Pavlovich. With both men on lengthy unbeaten runs, you could probably argue that either man could’ve been handed the next shot at Jon Jones already.
Unfortunately for them, it looks like Stipe Miocic will be taking that spot, meaning that in this fight, someone’s run will end, probably in violent fashion.
On the face of it, the fight is a classic clash of grappler (Blaydes) vs. striker (Pavlovich). But, in reality, both men are well-rounded competitors who can do damage wherever the fight goes.
Despite the Russian being on the better run, winning his last five bouts, all via KO, it’s arguable that ‘Razor’ should be considered the favourite.
That’s because he’s probably the best wrestler in the heavyweight division right now, and it’s hard to shake the memory of Pavlovich being bullied by Alistair Overeem once he was taken down in their clash.
However, Blaydes has also shown a shaky chin in the past, and it’s arguable that nobody in the UFC hits harder than Pavlovich does, even at heavyweight.
Essentially, it feels highly unlikely that this one will go the distance, and with a lot at stake, this is definitely one of April’s biggest fights.
#3. UFC welterweight bout: Gilbert Burns vs. Jorge Masvidal
April 8’s UFC 287 features a huge welterweight clash in the co-headliner spot, as one of the promotion’s biggest drawing cards is set to return from a year on the shelf.
We haven’t seen Jorge Masvidal in action since his 2022 defeat to Colby Covington, a loss that clearly stung given the personal nature of their rivalry.
Despite Joe Rogan recently claiming that ‘Gamebred’ could beat prime Georges St-Pierre, it’s safe to say Masvidal has been on a slide as of late. In fact, he hasn’t actually won a fight since 2019.
He certainly hasn’t been given a softball match here, either. His opponent, Gilbert Burns, whitewashed Neil Magny in his last bout and looks to be in the form of his life.
His only recent losses came at the hands of Kamaru Usman and Khamzat Chimaev, and even then, he pushed both men hard, taking Chimaev the distance for the first time in his career.
On paper at least, this fight probably favors ‘Durinho’. He’s a world-class grappler who also has heavy hands. Masvidal has struggled with powerful grapplers in the past, most notably against Usman and Covington.
However, ‘Gamebred’ has his back to the wall in this one, meaning he could be more dangerous than ever.
Given Masvidal’s star status, this fight would be one of April’s biggest regardless, but it should also be a good one to watch, too.
#2. UFC featherweight bout: Max Holloway vs. Arnold Allen
April 15 will see the UFC visit Kansas City for a Fight Night event. In the headline bout, two of the best featherweights in the world will face off against one another.
For Arnold Allen, this clash with Max Holloway offers him a truly massive opportunity. The native of the UK has still never been defeated in the octagon, winning 10 fights in a row. However, he’s never beaten someone on the level of ‘Blessed’ before.
If ‘Almighty’ can pull off a win here, though, then he’d undoubtedly be in line to challenge the winner of the upcoming Alexander Volkanovski vs. Yair Rodriguez title bout.
For Holloway, meanwhile, the fight is a chance for him to show, once again, that he’s still better than any other 145lber on the roster not named Volkanovski. The Hawaiian holds wins over Rodriguez, Calvin Kattar and Frankie Edgar, and is still renowned as one of the best strikers in the promotion.
With both men preferring to stand and strike, this fight could well prove to be a classic, particularly as it’s scheduled over five rounds. Neither man is a wild brawler per say, but from a technical standpoint, it should be fantastic.
Therefore, when you add in the high stakes, this is definitely one of April’s biggest fights.
#1. UFC middleweight title: Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya
Unsurprisingly, the lone title bout set to take place in April is also the month’s biggest fight. However, the middleweight title clash between champion Alex Pereira and former kingpin Israel Adesanya is also one of the biggest fights of 2023, period.
The rivalry between the two men dates back to their days in the world of kickboxing, where Pereira was able to beat ‘The Last Stylebender’ twice, knocking him out cold in their 2017 clash.
When ‘Poatan’ followed Adesanya to the octagon in 2021, few fans could’ve expected him to rise up the ladder as quickly as he did, but after three fights, he was immediately matched with him in a title bout.
Most people saw this as a way for Adesanya – who had far more MMA experience – to gain revenge over the Brazilian. Instead, in an epic clash, Pereira came from behind to once again stop ‘The Last Stylebender’, taking his crown in the process.
A rematch was always inevitable, and in UFC 287’s headliner, it’ll finally happen.
Will Adesanya be able to avenge his loss, and finally defeat his Brazilian rival? Or will ‘Poatan’ once again prove that he’s pure kryptonite for ‘The Last Stylebender’?
There’s a fair argument for the fight going either way, and when you add in the fact that their last meeting was fantastic, this one is a must-see affair. When all is said and done, it’s likely to be one of 2023’s defining fights.