Is Yan the first UFC champ without a top 5 win in the division?

[GangGangGang]

Cant recall anyone else in UFC history to win the title without beating any of the top 5 in the division. Dont get me wrong, the guy is a stud but it seems like he was gifted his title shot not having to face a top guy like Aljo or Sandhagen. His best wins are against #6 Aldo and #7 Rivera. What are your thoughts?

 

[Juicy Jon]

 

[GangGangGang]

View attachment 821767

He beat the champ Randy..

 

[fortheo]

It kind of does seem that way. No hate on the guy though. He beat who they put in front of him.

 

[Sausage_Carius]

Pretty sure Weili was like 7 or 6 when there was rat fuckery with the rankings and overnight she got moved up a rank to make it look more palatable to give her a title shot.

This is immediately after nobody else wanted to fight her or were supposed to be on break like Joanna who Dana himself sent on break just a few months after her loss to Valentina. She was supposed to be off for an entire year minimum. Same time period Dana wanted to book JJ vs whats her name who now I forget cause she hasn't fought in years at this point. Interesting how she is coming back around the same time JJ is.

The rankings are complete bullshit. If they weren't Dana wouldn't be able to delist fighters overnight during a contract negotiation like he has done multiple times.

Same reason why you see fighters of both genders end up with the same ranking for weeks/months. They are using the rankings as another pressure tool to get their favorites favorable fights.

 

[FuriousG]

Wasn't Alvarez McGregor's first fight at LW too?

 

[Juicy Jon]

He beat the champ Randy..

Ahh I misread your question, thought you asked to get the title shot. And upon research Herring was top 5 UFC at the time and 12 overall at HW so wrong anyways
Apologies<45>

 

[Dreyga_King of Sherbums]

Pretty sure Weili was like 7 or 6 when there was rat fuckery with the rankings and overnight she got moved up a rank to make it look more palatable to give her a title shot.

Weili was number 6 but.....

1) Rose was taking time off and not fighting anyone
2) Joanna has gone on record that she TURNED DOWN the Weili fight; Decided to fight Waterson instead
3) Nina Nunes was pregnant and unable to fight
4) Tatiana Surez was injured and couldn't fight
5) Claudia was booked to fight Randa Markos

 

[fortheo]

Pretty sure Weili was like 7 or 6 when there was rat fuckery with the rankings and overnight she got moved up a rank to make it look more palatable to give her a title shot.

This is immediately after nobody else wanted to fight her or were supposed to be on break like Joanna who Dana himself sent on break just a few months after her loss to Valentina. She was supposed to be off for an entire year minimum. Same time period Dana wanted to book JJ vs whats her name who now I forget cause she hasn't fought in years at this point. Interesting how she is coming back around the same time JJ is.

The rankings are complete bullshit. If they weren't Dana wouldn't be able to delist fighters overnight during a contract negotiation like he has done multiple times.

Same reason why you see fighters of both genders end up with the same ranking for weeks/months. They are using the rankings as another pressure tool to get their favorites favorable fights.

Weili clearly beat the belt holder (so a top five girl) to get her belt, so she doesn't really belong in this thread.

 

[GangGangGang]

Wasn't Alvarez McGregor's first fight at LW too?

But he beat the undisputed champ.. Yan and Aldo were ranked #3 and #6.

 

[warriorfan808]

How many top 5 guys did Matt Serra beat? I mean, he got his shot for winning the Ultimate Fighter, but I don’t think any of those guys were ranked.

 

[GOATshroom]

How many top 5 guys did Matt Serra beat? I mean, he got his shot for winning the Ultimate Fighter, but I don’t think any of those guys were ranked.

Serra KO'd the champ

Yan fought for a vacant belt against the #6 guy after being gifted an undeserved title shot

 

[Lavitz]

As Max would say it is

Spoiler

Spoiler

Spoiler

Spoiler

Spoiler

Spoiler

Spoiler

Spoiler

Spoiler

Spoiler

Spoiler

Spoiler

Spoiler

Spoiler

What it is

 

[jeff7b9]

GSP @ MW

Spoiler: Before you get butthurt

You could argue either way with Bisping, but at the time the division included Yoel, Whittaker, Jacare, Kelvin, Mousasi, Weidman, Rockhold who had a first round finish over Mike and an arguably better resume, Vitor who had a KO1 over Bisping

 

[GangGangGang]

GSP @ MW

Spoiler: Before you get butthurt

You could argue either way with Bisping, but at the time the division included Yoel, Whittaker, Jacare, Kelvin, Rockhold who had a first round finish over Mike,

So I guess Bisping didnt have a first round finish over Rockhold?

 

[jeff7b9]

So I guess Bisping didnt have a first round finish over Rockhold?

That’s not the question, and no GSP didn’t have a first round finish over ANYONE at MW.

 

[ArtemV]

He will beat Sterling though, so all is good.

 

[GangGangGang]

That’s not the question, and no GSP didn’t have a first round finish over ANYONE at MW.

No, I think you missed the question since I made the thread. GSP beat the undisputed champ in Bisping to win the title.

 

[Sausage_Carius]

Weili clearly beat the belt holder (so a top five girl) to get her belt, so she doesn't really belong in this thread.

Then do a better job writing up a thread?

The rankings are 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, C

Maybe y'all need to take some night math courses.

 

[fortheo]

GSP @ MW

Spoiler: Before you get butthurt

You could argue either way with Bisping, but at the time the division included Yoel, Whittaker, Jacare, Kelvin, Mousasi, Weidman, Rockhold who had a first round finish over Mike and an arguably better resume, Vitor who had a KO1 over Bisping

Bisping was the reigning belt holder who took the lineal belt by knocking out bisping. Obviously that was a top 5 win for GSP. So as a champ, he beat a top 5 guy to get his belt. He doesn't belong in this thread.