Divisions where UFC does not have the absolute edge

[LindyBrah]

Just about everyone relevant was a regional guy once.

Yes but most of these guys are another Jamie Pickett instead of Lando Vannata. No one wants to see 29-28 snoozefests on the undercard.

 

[ripsta619]

DJ got out grappled

Cejudo got outstruck and did nothing with the takedowns.

 

[mraa1]

Lol. Davis couldn’t beat Bader nor AJ. He’s a scrub but hey talk to the other all mma except ufc dumbfucks if you need consoling

Anyone who says Davis is a scrub can't be taken seriously. Dude is already past it and yet had 2 close fights, arguably winning the 1st, with Nemkov who is by far the most well-rounded LHW in the world right now

 

[Hellowhosthat]

Doesn't really change the fact that the UFC has always done mental gymnastics to downplay global top talent rather than shelling out real money to sign them. And that they will sign far worse fighters from LFA and the likes on a consistent basis but once one or two of them out of the dozens and dozens do well enough to fight for a belt he and fans will go "SEE SEE SEE good fighters do come from these places!" I think the UFC not signing much top talent and people acting as though top talent cannot come from regional promotions are separate things. Most regional scenes top talent they sign is obviously far worse than guys like Patchy Mix or Magomedrasul Gasanov, but they can't pick those guys up for 10k/10k.

You know I agree with that brother but ideally they'd pick guys up from both, but we've all seen guys in LFA and thought "that guy is the real deal" even then.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

Yes but most of these guys are another Jamie Pickett instead of Lando Vannata. No one wants to see 29-28 snoozefests on the undercard.

Realistically whatever level of talent you have you're going to get 29-28 snoozefests at times.

Part of me thinks that even if the UFC did have the best 50 fighters in every division people would just start thinking that the fighters from 41-50 were shit anyway.

In the case of Lando he probably isn't a top 50 featherweight anyway.

 

[LindyBrah]

Realistically whatever level of talent you have you're going to get 29-28 snoozefests at times.

Part of me thinks that even if the UFC did have the best 50 fighters in every division people would just start thinking that the fighters from 41-50 were shit anyway.

In the case of Lando he probably isn't a top 50 featherweight anyway.

I was speaking about his early lightweight run where almost every fight garnered him a bonus, going as far to almost finish a prime Tony on short notice. Roster needs to be trimmed.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

I was speaking about his early lightweight run where almost every fight garnered him a bonus, going as far to almost finish a prime Tony on short notice. Roster needs to be trimmed.

I agree, but I'd probably argue Lando should be part of the trimming at this point

 

[LindyBrah]

I agree, but I'd probably argue Lando should be part of the trimming at this point

Him and Erick Silva got plenty of time. They’re young.

 

[PhotographyRaptor]

He lost (barely) to Bader, who also happens to be a stronger wrestler than anyone in the UFC LHW division. Rumble was also a strong wrestler and couldn’t stop Davis with his absolute bombs.
But hey, you seem like an intelligent and articulate person, tell me, who are the strong wrestlers in the UFC LHW division? Which of them have shown strong counter wrestling?

Almost every single lhw has enough counter wrestling to handle these two dingleberries. The entire top five dominates these nerds and so do maybe Spann and Krylov. Google the rankings

 

[PhotographyRaptor]

LHW? No, at least 3 of Bellator's LHWs could be champ in this current UFC era.

One potentially. The others not so much. Google the rankings

 

[LetThemBleed]

Eblen, Mousasi, Nemkov, and Soldier of God are championship material in UFC 185 and 205.

You think Yoel's a threat to the title today or do you mean the prime version? Same question for Mousasi. Neither are a title threat at 185 or 205 today. As for Eblen he actually matches up well with Pereira stylistically but I don't see how he beats the Reaper and think Adensanya would also make it interesting. Nemkov would be the most interesting one to bring over, him and Jiri fighting again would be a helluva scrap.

 

[LindyBrah]

You think Yoel's a threat to the title today or do you mean the prime version? Same question for Mousasi. Neither are a title threat at 185 or 205 today. As for Eblen he actually matches up well with Pereira stylistically but I don't see how he beats the Reaper and think Adensanya would also make it interesting. Nemkov would be the most interesting one to bring over, him and Jiri fighting again would be a helluva scrap.

Soldier of God has been alive since 1897 and you think he’s not a threat? See ya soon boi

 

[stinkynecklace]

One potentially. The others not so much. Google the rankings

Not that you ever provide an intelligent response, but this one is especially dumb. Google the rankings? Which rankings? And whichever ones you choose, does this mean that someone lower in the rankings is incapable of beating someone higher in the rankings? You are not a smart person. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you’re a teenager.
Word of advice, to avoid looking like a fool don’t commit to an opinion without at least exploring information that counters it. If you believe that the UFC top 10 have counter wrestling solid enough to stop Bellator’s strong wrestlers, provide evidence through available footage. Your counter arguments consist of “no they couldn’t!” and “those guys suck!”

 

[stinkynecklace]

Style wise, several current UFC champs are currently beatable by champions from smaller orgs.
HW - Francis is officially a free agent and he holds a recent victory over one of the guys fighting for the belt. If Jones wins, an argument can be made that he is the best. If Gane wins, the number one HW is not in the UFC.
LHW - Nemkov is the most well rounded fighter in this division. He is an elite striker with top notch counter wrestling. Striker vs striker would mean a fight with any of the UFC’s top 10 would be close. The UFC has no strong wrestlers in this division, giving Bellator the advantage. Davis, Bader and Anderson have the skill set to beat everyone in the UFC LHW division.
MW - Love Periera, but in his first UFC appearance he looked vulnerable in grappling exchanges with a brawler. Eblen has the skill set to defeat him in the same way he beat Mousasi.
WW - I think Usman is the top WW right now, but champ for champ I would take Amosov or Storley over Edwards. Wrestling heavy attacks would make for uneventful decision victories for the Bellator champs.
LW - I think Islam rules this division
FW - it’s hard not to say Volk is the greatest FW right now, but betting against Pitbull is never a safe bet. Technically sound, ko power, speed, high fight iq, great counter wrestling and a solid submission game.
BW - Sterling seems like a pretty beatable champ. I don’t see dominant champ material in or out of the UFC at this point. Maybe he will prove me wrong.
FLW - I’d still pick DJ to beat anyone in this division. He doesn’t look like he’s lost a step.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

Style wise, several current UFC champs are currently beatable by champions from smaller orgs.
HW - Francis is officially a free agent and he holds a recent victory over one of the guys fighting for the belt. If Jones wins, an argument can be made that he is the best. If Gane wins, the number one HW is not in the UFC.
LHW - Nemkov is the most well rounded fighter in this division. He is an elite striker with top notch counter wrestling. Striker vs striker would mean a fight with any of the UFC’s top 10 would be close. The UFC has no strong wrestlers in this division, giving Bellator the advantage. Davis, Bader and Anderson have the skill set to beat everyone in the UFC LHW division.
MW - Love Periera, but in his first UFC appearance he looked vulnerable in grappling exchanges with a brawler. Eblen has the skill set to defeat him in the same way he beat Mousasi.
WW - I think Usman is the top WW right now, but champ for champ I would take Amosov or Storley over Edwards. Wrestling heavy attacks would make for uneventful decision victories for the Bellator champs.
LW - I think Islam rules this division
FW - it’s hard not to say Volk is the greatest FW right now, but betting against Pitbull is never a safe bet. Technically sound, ko power, speed, high fight iq, great counter wrestling and a solid submission game.
BW - Sterling seems like a pretty beatable champ. I don’t see dominant champ material in or out of the UFC at this point. Maybe he will prove me wrong.
FLW - I’d still pick DJ to beat anyone in this division. He doesn’t look like he’s lost a step.

I'd say DJ looked like he'd lost a step to me in the Wada fight for example. He's still really fucking good, but he first became champion a decade ago.

 

[SJP_SevenLaker]

Malykhin is a savage. Dude is a force to be reckoned with and a problem for any HW.

What he did to Ridder was terrifying.

 

[DestinedAussie]

Great points. But I think you solve the riddle in your last sentence. The lighter, newer weight classes just need to have their big starts to catalyze the divisions non-hardcore fan hype. Moreno is helping and could become something, And with Aljo, his fighting skill/excitements isn't why he's not more popular, his actions and (bad) charisma that rubs people the wrong way is. That personality wouldn't be wildly popular at any weight.

P.S.
"for whatever reason don't attract eyeballs like 2 cans of lard fighting at HW"

I actually kind disagree about Aljo. His garnered more attention than anyone in that weight class for a long time. Yes lots of people are watching cause they want to see him lose, but they are watching. It kinda feels with Conor more people hate him than love him here but he still sells like hotcakes.

Moreno v Fig has happened so many times in a short period it has really killed that division IMO. I think it has stunted Moreno growing popularity.

I don't know what the UFC has to do to sell them because the popularity of fighters in this forum rarely is the same as reality, which makes a lot of UFC decisions really hard to digest at times.

 

[Qays Stetkevich]

I actually kind disagree about Aljo. His garnered more attention than anyone in that weight class for a long time. Yes lots of people are watching cause they want to see him lose, but they are watching. It kinda feels with Conor more people hate him than love him here but he still sells like hotcakes.

Moreno v Fig has happened so many times in a short period it has really killed that division IMO. I think it has stunted Moreno growing popularity.

I don't know what the UFC has to do to sell them because the popularity of fighters in this forum rarely is the same as reality, which makes a lot of UFC decisions really hard to digest at times.

My man, great points again. And doubly (lol quadruply) true about FIg and Moreno.

 

[stinkynecklace]

What he did to Ridder was terrifying.

He made Ridder look like a scrub. Guy is a beast.

 

[stinkynecklace]

I'd say DJ looked like he'd lost a step to me in the Wada fight for example. He's still really fucking good, but he first became champion a decade ago.

How do you think he would do against Figgy or Moreno?