Why UFC Divisions are Stagnating
Ever felt like you’re in slow motion? If you haven’t, it’s worth asking any UFC fighter nearing title contention, not because they see strikes and takedowns coming as if they’re in the matrix (although some make it look like that’s the case), but because they’re probably sick and tired of waiting for their shot at the belt.
Now more than ever, the movement of divisions has felt slower and slower. We see the same names in the top five for years at a time, not necessarily because of their clear superiority over their competition, but because they refuse to take fights. Champions aren’t helping either, in fact, they contribute to this problem the most. These two factors are pivotal in deciphering why UFC divisions feel like they’re stuck in the mud, and with them explained, perhaps we can find a solution to these issues.
Clinging Contenders
I am going to list some names, and I’d like you to guess what they have in common in terms of their UFC career:
- Justin Gaethje
- Stephen Thompson
- Conor McGregor
- Stipe Miocic
- Dustin Poirier
These are all incredible athletes within their own right, but the common denominator is that all five of these fighters stayed in the top five of their division while having 0–2 fights a year. How? Why? It seems inconceivable that with the hundreds signed to the UFC, a select few can stay at the top while doing much less than those perhaps three or four places below them. The reasons for this phenomenon are numerous, but it mostly comes back to the business side of the promotion, and the fighters’ good relations with UFC brass.
All five of those fighters I mentioned have storied careers that people look back on fondly, and so long as they have a number next to their name, the road to title contention is shorter, bigger fights can be made and they can be used to sell pay-per-views when they occupy the main and co-main event. It took McGregor six years to be removed from the lightweight rankings, and during that time, he hadn’t won once at the weight class since he was first introduced into them with his spectacular second round KO over ‘The Underground King’, Eddie Alvarez.
There are, as always, other factors coming into play. Conor has been recovering from a broken tibia since July 2021, Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson looked to be returning to better activity levels until his latest opponent, Michel Pereira, missed weight (Thompson cited his previous experience with Darren Till who missed weight before their fight as reasoning for declining the Pereira fight), and it’s hard to forget that the COVID-19 pandemic shook up not just MMA, but the entire sports world. However, it’s hard to deny that new blood is not kept waiting at the gate because guys like Poirier and McGregor have much more leverage in choosing who they fight.
Champs With Other Plans
The UFC’s modern years have characterised by the elimination of worthy contenders receiving their title shot. Khabib Nurmagomedov would have to wait an additional year and a half for his title shot at lightweight when Conor McGregor got the fight against then champion Eddie Alvarez, with only two fights at the weight class against Nate Diaz, who wasn’t exactly in the mix with the divisional elite. Even more recently, UFC bantamweight Cory Sandhagen now finds himself without a title shot after a solid 3 fight win streak. The champion, Sean O’ Malley, will instead be fighting Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera, who was already beaten by Sandhagen just eight months prior.
Islam Makhachev is one of the most promising champions in the promotion on a title defence basis. He has a win over former champion Charles Oliveira, and fans believe he matches up well against many of lightweight’s contenders such as Justin Gaethje and Mateusz Gamrot. By all means, he should be trying his best to rack up title defences and cement his legacy at 155lbs, but the biggest wins of his career are both to Alexander “The Great” Volkanovski, who is an incredible fighter without a doubt, but competes largely at featherweight, meaning that lightweight contenders have been waiting in the wings for nearly a whole year now.
Volk’s initial challenge for the lightweight title was largely justified, as he had racked up a respectable five title defences in his own division, and was looking for a new challenge. Makhachev, on the other hand, found himself calling out Leon Edwards for a shot at the welterweight belt, with two title defences that has left the lightweight division stagnant. The worst part is that Makhachev isn’t the only culprit.
Leon Edwards will defend his UFC title against Colby Covington on December 16th. Should he get past Covington, Leon will set his eyes on the winner of Sean Strickland vs Dricus Du Plessis for the middleweight title. The list just goes on and on, almost like a chain reaction. The idea of being a ‘champ-champ’ has largely lost its value now that it seems to be the priority over title defences for many champions, but the greatest that MMA has to offer (Georges St. Pierre, Anderson Silva etc.) largely built their legacy from a lengthy title reign contained in one weight class.
It seems like now more than ever, status and legacy are drifting apart as terms. Fighters are chasing the status, but without legacy, that could very well ring hollow.
Some Considerations
At the end of the day, if there’s a way to make more money in an easier way, then it’s a no brainer. Fighters are putting their health on the line every time they train and compete, so I really don’t blame them for doing what works best in terms of financially securing their family, especially when other avenues may seem unreachable.
However, I do think we could be seeing a switch, much like boxing, where the number of belts may rank higher in priority than the defences of said belts, and the household names get repeat title shots because that’s where the money is to be made (see Haney vs Lomachenko).
Ultimately, this piece is more food for thought than any real worry for the sport. I will watch the unfolding events with eager eyes, and I hope you do too.
