5 prime candidates to headline UFC 317 and make International Fight Week great again

Make International Fight Week great again (MIFWGA)!

That should be the mentality of Dana White and the UFC brass as they plan this year’s annual festivities, which culminate June 28 with UFC 317 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The International Fight Week event used to always feel special, always feel like something to look forward to, always feel like the Super Bowl of mixed martial arts, and that’s because the headliner set it apart from other pay-per-views throughout the year. When was the last time we truly felt that? You’d have to go back to 2021 and UFC 264, which had the highly anticipated trilogy between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier in the main event.

Since then, we’ve ended up with Israel Adesanya vs. Jared Cannonier at UFC 276 in 2022, Alexander Volkanovski vs. Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290 in 2023, and Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka 2 – which was booked haphazardly on just a few weeks’ notice – at UFC 303 in 2024. All of those were fine and worthy regular pay-per-view headliners, but they didn’t feel massive in the way an International Fight Week main event should feel.

It’s time for the UFC to change that, and there is no shortage of realistic options to choose from this year. Below are the top five.

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Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall

Did you hear the crowd go wild at the UFC 309 pre-event press conference last November when White said Tom Aspinall should fight the winner of Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic? That was the moment Jones’ mind might’ve changed about Aspinall.

Fans did that one day after Jones explained in great detail at UFC 309 media day why he didn’t think Aspinall was worthy. And it might’ve worked. After Jones dismantled Miocic as expected, he immediately opened the door to unify the title with Aspinall but said it would take “f*ck you money” for him to accept it.

When White guaranteed Jones vs. Aspinall would happen this year, it was a strong show of confidence. But just earlier this month, White said the promotion has a timeline to “move on” from it if they can’t come to a deal with Jones. Uh oh?

Bottom line: The fans have spoken. This fight – which White said would be the biggest in UFC history – has to happen, and there’s no better time than International Fight Week. The longer this draws out, the less likely it is to come to fruition. Let’s go, UFC. Pay the man!

Jon Jones vs. Alex Pereira

All that being said about Jones vs. Aspinall above, Jones vs. Alex Pereira would no doubt be an acceptable consolation prize. Whether or not it’s possible could hinge on what happens next month when Pereira defends his light heavyweight title against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313. A Pereira loss likely would cause a fight with Jones to lose some shine, but a Pereira victory would set the stage for an epic superfight.

Jones was adamant during UFC 309 fight week that he preferred Pereira instead of Aspinall because of the legacy factor. Could there be anything bigger for legacy than perhaps the biggest champion-vs.-champion showdown of all time to cap off International Fight Week?

Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev

Another champion-vs.-champion showdown, the timing might not be better than International Fight Week to book Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev. Echoing the sentiments of Joe Rogan, who cares if Topuria has only one featherweight title defense? Would you seriously rather see him in a rematch with Volkanovski or fight Diego Lopes instead of Makhachev? Plus, after what he achieved last year, a move up makes sense for Topuria.

Yes, Makhachev seems hesitant about this matchup given that he twice gave the previous featherweight champ, Volkanovski, a crack at his lightweight title, but all that awaits him at lightweight are rematches. Plus, Topuria’s star power at this moment – after being named 2024 Male Fighter of the Year – feels stronger than Volkanovski’s ever was. Stylistically, this is also an excellent matchup of two guys at their best, and it would have fight fans salivating.

Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev

Khamzat Chimaev’s first UFC title shot: That, in and of itself, is a big enough deal. After seeing Dricus Du Plessis dominate Sean Strickland this past weekend at UFC 312, the intrigue has increased tenfold.

Whereas before it felt like Chimaev’s UFC title reign was inevitable, there’s no question Du Plessis is the wild man who has what it takes to stop Chimaev. It’s not a superfight like the ones mentioned before, but this matchup provides the big-fight feels worthy of headlining International Fight Week.

Conor McGregor vs. Anybody

Of all these possibilities, Conor McGregor’s return to the UFC this summer is a long shot. But then again, he was slated to headline International Fight Week last June at UFC 303, so it might not be not out of the realm.

Realistically, who even knows if McGregor will ever fight in the octagon again? But if the UFC decides the time is right to bring back its biggest star and can strike a deal with him, International Fight Week makes sense.

Against whom? The Nate Diaz trilogy, Jorge Masvidal and Michael Chander would be among my first choices, but honestly pick anybody. It’s McGregor’s return after four years. Enough said.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 317.