The UFC Transition
Right now there is a transition in the UFC and we are waiting for the next dominant champions to show up. I am writing this just after UFC 217 where 3 titles changed hands, which seems to make this situation even worse.
Going back a few years we didn’t realise how lucky we were with the most dominant champions in UFC history with GSP, Jon Jones and Anderson Silva. They all ruled their respective divisions with an iron fist. There was never a question of who was the best within their division. Now over all the different weight divisions, there is just one champion with more than three title defences and that is Demetrious Johnson. Up until UFC 217 there were two as Joanna Jedrzejczyk had 5 title defences until her defeat. Outside of that there is no dominant force in the other division.
Heavyweight, Stipe Miocic – 2 defences – has been a top heavyweight but there doesn’t seem to be many heavy weight fights and the title fights are very few and far between. Also I think Velasquez is better.
Light Heavyweight, Daniel Cormier – 2 defences – Was always a question mark as he did not win the title from Jon Jones. He lost to Jones then Jones was banned for 2 years, they fought again and Jones failed a drug test. Without this win over Jones Cormier will always be haunted, and he will never be the true champion.
Middle Weight, GSP – 0 Defences – GSP had his first fight as a middle weight at UFC 217 where he beat Michael Bisping for the title. This division is crazy with Romero, Jacare and Roockhold who are all amazing fighters. Then there is Robert Whittaker as the interim champ. Regardless of what GSP decides to do the title holder will not hold his belt for long in this crazy talented pool.
Welterweight, Tyron Woodley -3 defences – Tyron Woodley has defended his title three times. Each was as boring as hell. He is a great fighter but for whatever reason he just con not connect with the crowd. He has had some amazing KO’s on his highlight reel, great power and great movement. There is just something with him and this is why people are not that fussed about him. Maybe it is because he fights to safe to keep the title.
Lightweight, Conor McGregor -0 defences. The money man. Has never defended a title yet made more money than any fighter in UFC history by a long long way. People pay to watch him over any other name in the UFC, he is only going to be around for another couple of fights and then be gone.
The interim light weight champion Tony Fergusson, is in the division that McGregor more or less ripped apart and is now left in tatters.
Featherweight, Max Holloway – 0 defences – I do feel sorry for the small guys technically brilliant but have a hard time drawing a crowd, even though he beat Jose Aldo he has not made his mark just yet as it is another division that McGregor left in tatters.
Bantamweight, T J Dillanshaw 0 defences – This division had a very dominant champion in Dominic Cruz. Grambrandt beat Cruz then lost to Dillanshaw in his first defence. It will be very hard to stop Cruz regaining the title even though TJ wants to fight mighty mouse.
Flywieght, Demetrious Johnson 11 defences – at the moment he is the man, no better champion in the sport
Featherweight, Cris Cyborg 0 defences – Brutal,legend, but no one wants to fight her.
Bantamweight, Amanda Nunes 2 defences – looking good so far with some good defences, especially when she smashed Rousey
Strawweight Rose Namajunas – 0 Defences – Shock win over Joanna Jedrzejczyk the rematch should be interesting, even though Rose said she will not give Joanna an immediate rematch.
As more women are getting in to the sport it is really improving the depth in each of these divisions
It can’t be long before that is another group of freaks who will take the sport by the scruff of the neck and control their division. After Chuck Liddell lost his title after years of being champ (light heavyweight) the title was passed around by a few people before it settled on Jon Jones’s waist. The heavyweight division is the one division that has never had a dominant champ as no one has had more than 3 title defences. Part of me thinks that everyone is so damn good that it is very hard for someone to stand out, then the other part of me thinks that there is always someone who is just better and history is littered with fighters who have proven this time and time again.
Gareth Lewis
Head MMA Instructor