Does the Middleweight Division seem more Shallow than it used to be?

[pankrat]

Israel, Whittaker, Romero, Costa, Cannonier, Gatelum, Hernanson > the top 7 when Silva was the champ.

Silva was the champ in 2007 and 2013, when you are refering to?

If you put toguether the best MWs during those years would certainly be favoured over current 185lbers

 

[Anewt]

I'm sitting here thinking who could be the next opponent for Bobby Knuckles in the future, but when I go through the list I realize:

1) Chris Weidman moved to LHW
2) Jacare moved up LHW
3) Santos moved up to LHW
4) Rockhold moved up to LHW
5) Bisping retired
6) Machida left the UFC
7) Mousasi left the UFC
8) Nick Diaz is M.I.A
9) Anderson Silva is not getting any younger
10) Not another Whittaker vs Romero rematch
11) Is Tim Boetsch still active?


The MW division seems kinda empty, no?

I look at it a bit differently than you. Imo it's still a stacked division .

1. 2.3 and 4. All chased out of the middleweight division , unable to put together any meaningful wins. Yet all will be highly ranked no in lhw. Hell 2 former mw's have been Jones last opponents.

Those first 4 . Despite having recognizable names. Chris last win 2017. Souza. Last win 2018. Thiago. Last mw win . 2018. Rockhold 2017 . All four terrible at middleweight for close to two years. Or literally haven't fought at mw.

6, 7 and 8. Once again years ago with either left the ufc or haven't fought for even longer.

9. 10, 11.. somehow you have put the only 2 active middleweights here..... Whittaker and Romero as number 10....

The current middleweight era is
1. Israel. - undefeated champion . 18-0. 14 kos.
2. Costa -undefeated challenge. 13-0 . 12 kos
3. Romero. Who destroyed Chris. Your number1
4. Rob Whittaker.
5. Gas who's has defeated Souza and Bisping. 2 in your 10.
6. Cannonier since dropping down . Looks to be a monster.



Considering that top 5 is currently active. It's still a top division imo

 

[NuMe]

Weidman
Rockhold
Jacare
Romero
Bisping
Mousasi
Anderson
Belfort
Machida
Kennedy

That TOP 10 is maybe the strongest ever in any division.

 

[ThunderStruck]

Silva was the champ in 2007 and 2013, when you are refering to?

If you put toguether the best MWs during those years would certainly be favoured over current 185lbers

I strongly disagree.

 

[TobikanJudan94]

Weidman
Rockhold
Jacare
Romero
Bisping
Mousasi
Anderson
Belfort
Machida
Kennedy

That TOP 10 is maybe the strongest ever in any division.

This kind of trolling is seriously unfunny.

 

[pankrat]

I strongly disagree.

You dont think the #1 contender MWs in Anderson' era wouldbe favoured?

Anderson > Adesanya
Franklin was 23-1 when they meet for the belt. Whittaker is better but coming from two wars.
Belfort > Costa
Hendo is like 42 y.o. Yoel
Chael is a tougher matchup than Kelvin.
Griffin at 205 did better than Cannonier. I would favour Wand even postCrocop 2 over him anyways.
Marquardt, Okami or Bisping are as good if not better than Hermansson, Brunson, Hall, Heinich Tavares... current ranked MWs

 

[Dante]

He's going off a couple losses, but don't sleep on David branch

 

[ThunderStruck]

Silva was the champ in 2007 and 2013, when you are refering to?

If you put toguether the best MWs during those years would certainly be favoured over current 185lbers

I strongly disagree.

 

[ThunderStruck]

You dont think the #1 contender MWs in Anderson' era wouldbe favoured?

Anderson > Adesanya
Franklin was 23-1 when they meet for the belt. Whittaker is better but coming from two wars.
Belfort > Costa
Hendo is like 42 y.o. Yoel
Chael is a tougher matchup than Kelvin.
Griffin at 205 did better than Cannonier. I would favour Wand even postCrocop 2 over him anyways.
Marquardt, Okami or Bisping are as good if not better than Hermansson, Brunson, Hall, Heinich Tavares... current ranked MWs

I think that Adesanya would be a very hard matchup for prime Silva. Especially under USADA. Adesanya is still improving as well.
Costa > Belfort
Yoel > Hendo by a giant margin
Kelvin > Chael look how many sub losses Chael has

Thats just my opinion though, no way to prove any of this.

Very hard to compare both eras because back then they could juice at will while the current fighters can't.