The MMA community waits terribly for the return of its top stars.

In the upcoming months, UFC fans have a lot to look forward to. There is a tonne of talent on the next three pay-per-views in the promotion. Star power is one thing that’s lacking. The next PPV options are excellent for knowledgeable fans, but they don’t have the appeal to elevate MMA to a mainstream event.

The top names in mixed martial arts have a clear but uncertain future. Jon Jones, Sean O’Malley, and Conor McGregor are developing some rough plans. While some prospective reservations are lively, others are sluggish. Even though his act is becoming old, McGregor is still the most well-liked athlete in the sport. This year, his return will be a huge sporting event, but don’t hold your breath waiting for the UFC and McGregor to collaborate.

Let’s see what the greatest UFC stars have planned for the year.

Conor McGregor: A painfully overdue fight with Michael Chandler

When McGregor vs. Chandler was revealed in February 2023, it was an intriguing matchup. It feels like an empty promise now that fatigue has set in. According to McGregor, the fight would happen on June 29. President of the UFC Dana White refuted the report. The lack of communication throughout this experience has irritated me the most. The reason for the delay remains unidentified. No wounds. Absence of medication suspensions. No backup plans. Mostly, it’s been people pointing fingers subtly, making clumsy attempts to keep people interested, and expressing their dissatisfaction. There was supposed to be a fight between McGregor and Chandler after Chandler coached “The Ultimate Fighter.” We’re still not close to a date for the show, which ran from May 30 to August 15 of last year.

Jon Jones: Battling injuries and Stipe Miocic

There isn’t a heavyweight match that matters more than Jones vs. Miocic. Who files the complaints is irrelevant. To no avail, the UFC has been urged to advance the heavyweight class by supporters, the media, and UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. The UFC’s most successful light heavyweight and heavyweight champions, Jones and Miocic, have an expiring dream fight that White is determined to book. Jones was scheduled to face Miocic at UFC 295 in November after winning the vacant heavyweight title in March of last year. But Jones withdrew due to an injury, and UFC decided to take Miocic off the card as well. Aspinall defeated Jones to become the interim champion while Jones was out of the picture, but he is not allowed to defend the interim championship against Miocic or the fight he won against Jones. Come hell or high water, the UFC is committed to rescheduling Jones vs. Miocic for this year.

Sean O’Malley: A vengeful first title defense against Marlon “Chito” Vera

O’Malley’s chances of becoming a superstar are still up in the air. There’s no denying that he has a greater chance than most of succeeding. On a heavily packed UFC 299 card, O’Malley will square off against the lone person to have defeated him. A legitimate feud, crossover potential, a flashy champion, and a solid undercard make O’Malley vs. Vera an intriguing matchup. The reactions to O’Malley’s maiden defence of the bantamweight belt will reveal a lot about his future. If Spanish fighter Ilia Topuria defeats featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 then O’Malley is hoping for a title match versus the champion. A strong victory will increase O’Malley’s chances.

Israel Adesanya: Potential title shots in two divisions & a marquee spot at UFC 300

Adesanya, the former middleweight champion of the UFC, is in an incredibly advantageous situation. Following a devastating defeat against Sean Strickland in September, Adesanya had intended to take a lengthy break. He ended the sabbatical early and is attempting a resurgence. Although there is no word on what Adesanya would get, there are a lot of alternatives. Adesanya saw the coronation of middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis. Alex Pereira, the current light heavyweight champion, is expected to be the main attraction at UFC 300, but he does not yet have a healthy opponent. Adesanya finds himself in a difficult situation where he must decide whether to challenge his fiercest adversary for a second weight class belt or attempt to recapture his title from him. Although Adesanya’s health status for UFC 300 is uncertain, there’s a good possibility he competes for UFC gold this year.

Islam Makhachev: Three likely challengers for his next title defense

Although Makhachev’s return is not certain, he won’t have any trouble finding a rival. It is fortunate for a division to have several strong competitors. Among these weight classes is lightweight. Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, and Arman Tsarukyan are the front-runners to take on Makhachev. At UFC 300, all three will compete. Max Holloway will be the opponent for Gaethje’s ceremonial BMF championship defence at lightweight. Tsarukyan and Oliveira will battle one another. The victor of Oliveira vs. Tsarukyan should bat first because the match was deemed a title eliminator. Regretfully, 2024’s top contender bouts are illusory promises. Given the packed schedule of UFC events, convenience is paramount. Makhachev’s next opponent will be whoever is most available to suit the matchmakers’ needs, be it a winning Gaethje or the winner of Oliveira-Tsarukyan.