2020 may have sucked but it's the new year now and, whilst things might not be instantly better, there's some great things to get excited about in 2021.
It's a miracle for many of us that sport managed to go ahead in the way it did last year. Some big events were cancelled but after a few months of nothing we still managed to get top tier, elite sport back in one form or another.
We've got a list of exciting dates that you can already put on your calendar and some things that we could reasonably see in 2021.
Advert
2021 calendar:
23rd January: UFC 257: Conor McGregor vs Dustin Poirier II
20th February: Floyd Mayweather vs Logan Paul
21st March: Fernando Alonso return to F1
Advert
11th June: Euros
23rd July: Olympics
24th July: Lions Tour
18th September: Women's Rugby Union World Cup
Advert
24th September: Ryder Cup
23rd October: Rugby League World Cup
October: T20 World Cup
November: Ashes
Of course we're looking forward to Conor McGregor's return to the octagon. He took over a year out in between his previous two fights and by the time he fights Dustin Poirier again it'll have been 53 weeks since he beat Dustin Poirier.
Advert
No matter what you think of YouTubers fighting in general, it's difficult not to get excited about a Floyd Mayweather fight, even an exhibition, just for what comes with it.
Alonso's return to F1 sees another headline act in the sport and with Renault's improvements last year he'll be eyeing his first podium since 2014.
The Euros, Olympics and Ryder Cups are three of the best sporting events of any year they take place but the fact we'll have waited an extra year for all of them just makes them even better this time around.
The Lions tour, Women's Rugby Union World Cup, Rugby League World Cups, T20 World Cups and the Ashes only comes around every few years and we're excited for this year's editions.
Advert
Now to the things we hope to see this year and of course many of them involve fans being back inside stadiums at some point soon:
- An actual Premier League title race
- Lionel Messi playing for someone else
- Terence Crawford vs Errol Spence
- Israel Adesanya vs Jon Jones
- Jon Jones at heavyweight
- Conor McGregor vs Khabib Nurmagomedov II
- Katie Taylor vs Cris Cyborg
- Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury at a sold out Wembley
- England vs Scotland at a sold out Wembley
- Andy Murray returns to Wimbledon
- Jake Paul getting knocked out by someone, anyone
Last year's title win for Liverpool was incredible but by the time football paused in March there was little doubt who would win the league. This season suggests so far there could be an exciting race, lasting at least until May.
Of course we won't mind if Lionel Messi decides to stay in Barcelona but won't it be exciting to see him tear it up in England or even in Ligue 1, even if you think it's a farmer's league.
Terence Crawford vs Errol Spence is one of the fights we are desperate to see but right now it's likely to be held up by differing tv deals, lets hope the two undefeated welterweights get it on
Either Dana White gets his dream of Israel Adesanya vs Jon Jones at light heavyweight or the former 205lb king moves up to heavyweight, either way we'll be happy.
Of course if McGregor defeats Poirier for a second time then we'd love to see Khabib reverse his retirement and reignite the most combustible rivalry in UFC.
Talking of McGregor, Katie Taylor vs Cris Cyborg could be the women's version of the Irishman vs Floyd Mayweather and further boost the profile of women's boxing, which had an incredible 2020.
Wembley stadium could be the return of normality in potentially two of the biggest moments in 2021. If we can have a sold our national stadium for the summer for the Euros it will be one thing, especially the Scotland game in the Euros group stage, but Joshua vs Fury would be another level, imagine the Sweet Caroline!
Andy Murray hasn't played at Wimbledon since 2017, there was no tournament last summer so the Scot returning to SW19 this year will be great, if crowds can gather on Henman Hill then it could be another fun summer's eve in the capitol.
Finally Jake Paul! I may have said his brother Logan's fight with Mayweather is worth looking forward to but the younger Paul YouTuber's call outs of UFC stars are constant.
He's beaten two fellow non boxers in boxing fights and now wants an MMA star in the ring, he's still not fighting boxers, the sooner someone shuts him up the better, in my opinion!
What else are you excited for in 2021? Let us know in the comments.
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Rugby, Golf, Rugby news, Conor Mcgregor, Football News, olympics, Logan Paul, Boxing News, Football, Tennis, Cricket, UFC News, MMA News, Tennis news, Boxing, Premier League, Jake Paul, UFC, Cricket News, Euros