WILL THE NEW WAVE OF CHAMP, CHAMP’S IN THE UFC PROVE TO BE MORE PROBLEMATIC THAN REWARDING?
In the past 6 months, we have seen three cross division super fights with two “champ, champs” one in each of the UFC’s mens and woman’s divisions. Although these new super fights have been great for the fans and provided excitement and historic moments in the UFC. Is it exposing a new, bigger issue?
Since a fighter has been named champ, champ, or even, has won a “superfight” it seems to have cast a cloud over both divisions, with the UFC seemingly, in limbo about what to do next, waiting for a fighter to make a decision on which division is more credible or rewarding, as it seems impossible to defend both titles.
Although these superfights are great for the historic occassion, does this new latest trend in the UFC, along with the now constant talk of champions moving up, or down, to challenge another champion, show a distinct lack of in depth quality in the UFC?
McGregor did it first and admittedly made it iconic when he defeated Eddie Alvarez for the lightweight title in November 2016, to add to his featherweight title.
However, he swiftly moved over to boxing to fight Mayweather and never defended either belt, so was stripped of both for inactivity.
Although it created a mad scramble for both belts, which saw further history making fights and to his credit, Max Holloway emerged into a possible, future all time great in the featherweight division. Also Khabib, who defended against McGregor in the lightweight division looking like a beast. This I feel is where things can pan out for the best.
With that said. Since then. I feel the champ, champ mantel, although great for the person, seems to be problematic for the UFC. When Daniel Cormier became champ, champ after beating Miocic for the heavyweight title in July 2018, to add to his light heavyweight crown. Many said his achievement was even more Herculean than McGregor’s.
I tend to agree with this. However, he has also been stripped of the light heavyweight title, though DC claims he relinquished it, with Jones coming back from a ban to become the new champ.
Although it seemed to work out fine with Jones now the champion again. In the light heavyweight division, there only seems to be Jones and Cormier. The talk is, both might push for a heavyweight bout. So where does that leave the light heavyweight division?
No doubt it would be a huge opportunity for a new champion. But would anyone really care? Would it garner any interest after Jones & Cormier has left? I think the hope is Anthony Smith can emerge to carry the division, but what if he cannot? Gustaffson would be the next best thing and he has already lost twice to Jones and once to Cormier.
The woman’s division has been emerging in recent years with now, four divisions. However, the recent champ, champ, as dominant and a superb win as it was for Amanda Nunes. What does that do for Cris Cyborg, who is pushing for a rematch. It seems Nunes has cleaned the bantamweight division retiring Misha Tate and Ronda Rousey. Now destroying the myth of Cyborg at featherweight.
The talk again is she will relinquish the bantamweight title and stay at featherweight. But aside from a rematch with Cyborg. Who else is there at featherweight? Would Nunes have to move back to bantamweight to find credible fights or just rule at featherweight over a virtually non extant division with the UFC scrambling to find lambs to her slaughter?
I feel this is the current problem with all four woman’s divisions and you can understand why the UFC had always been so reluctant to expand. Though I see a few challenges for Namajunes at strawweight. Namely Jessica Andrade. After that. Where/whose next?
After Jedrzejczyk moved up to flyweight to fight Shevchenko for the title. Aside for Nico Montano coming back, due to not actually being defeated for the flyweight title. There are not many fights out there for Shevchanko, who had just moved down from bantamweight.
I feel bantamweight is the richest woman’s division in quality and it might get to the stage where sadly, either that or featherweight will have to go, likewise either straw or flyweight to go, in order to make the divisions more competitive.
Which in the short-term, may swallow some young talent coming up, looking to emerge, develop and progress into a contender. That’s a real catch 22. It’s either keep four divisions and further dilute talent in the woman’s divisions, losing the overall competitiveness, or lose one or two divisions, to make it more competitive, thus sacrificing some young talent that could emerge into real contenders.
That’s a huge dilemma. Are the UFC prepared to sacrifice a division for competitiveness or devalue a division, for the off-chance of unearthing another Rousey? Tate? Holm, Namajunes or even Nunes?
Moving on…The most recent situation is not a champ, champ, but was a cross division superfight winnerwhere a champ champ could have been crowned. Luckily, flyweight champ Henry Cejudo defeated bantamweight champ TJ Dillashaw who moved down to face him.
I say luckily as, although nothing was confirmed. The talk was, after former pound for pound no1 and the previous only flyweight champ in the UFC, Demetrious Johnson left, after making a record 11 defences of his title before losing to Cejudo. If Dillashaw had beaten Cejudo, it would have put and end to the flyweight division.
Again, although not confirmed. You could see that happening. As good as DJ was, he dominated the division from its inception but if TJ had come down and taken the title. It would have completely devalued the division, probably irreconcilably, forcing UFC to scrap it. Maybe.
In a way. That was probably the most super of all superfights that has taken place in the UFC. As Cejudo had said. he was fighting for a whole division. Fighting for people’s lives and livelihoods. That said. Imagine what his victory had done to TJ and the bantamweight division? Now you see how problematic superfights can become for the UFC.
Now I am not saying as you go further up the weight classes, superfights will start to determine whether divisions remain or not. However, these fights may just be taking on an extra significance than just a two weight champion. It could not get to a point where these super fights could determine a divisions position and priority in the company.
From the time UFC started to really expand to name a featherweight and bantamweight champions in 2010, then a flyweight champion in 2012, closely followed by a woman’s division with Rousey the bantamweight champion in the same year. The UFC have gone from strength to strength.
But everything has it limits. As much as they are competing, the UFC are not as big as boxing, no matter what anyone wants to say. No doubt, they are and have created huge fights, with the new wave of superfights, as much as it’s exciting for fans. Will create new issues for the UFC with the losing fighter and division of these superfights, having to build that champion back up to credibility to sell a fight.
Instead of the UFC being forced into making a decision. These superfights could make the decisions for them. With UFC’s growing popularity, talent is becoming stretched. There is not an abundance of elite fighters, to keep matching fighters of the same weight.
Money talks. Especially in the fight business. The UFC will go where the money is taking them. This is why I feel superfights are becoming more frequent and encouraged. With an over saturated, mediocrity of talent, the superfights are the way to go. The UFC could get to the stage, much like Cejudo, where champions of each division will be fighting for the legitimacy of their divisions.
Meaning, fighting for the amount of prize money, as well as attention, marketing etc the division will receive. If you are unlucky enough to be in a division where your champ lost a super fight. Then your division will be on a lower scale of attention, marketing & prize money.
It will then be the fighters responsibility to work their way up to be a champion in their respective division. Then fight another divisions champion, in order to re-legitimise their division, thus raising the quality, raising the prize money/attention etc. Thus solving the problem of devaluing divisions, while adding an extra element to the UFC.
