Has "UFC Champion" title lost it's meaningfullness?

[Thuckey]

Over the years MMA has had many changes to its overall feel and status in the mind of us all. Above all, becoming a UFC champion is the absolute elite title in all of mma.

However, during the days of GSP, Silva, even Jones - a champion in the UFC was on the top of the sport, without question or doubt - that man was the greatest in the division and he was untouchable.

These days the belts are being passed off left and right - and to unlikely contenders as well. Nobody would have properly guessed the current state of the title holders today a few years back.

so my question is, has the aura of "UFC x CHAMPION" lost its spunk in a way? Or is it more elusive/elite than ever? What's your opinion?

 

[Degen Gambler]

It never had meaning, nothing in life does.

 

[Benjamin Burton]

the ufc really needs gsp. none of the champs seem truly unstoppable atm (exluding 125 cause its a freakshow)

 

[isac2357]

What? Of course not. The UFC champion is still the best in the world at that division, at that point in time. Doesn't mean it'll always be the most talented or the most technical. Leicester are the current Premier League champions, that doesn't mean they have the best players in the world. Are they not deserving of it though? Of course not. Leicester is the current best team in England, and someone will have to take that title from them to prove otherwise. Same in MMA.

 

[touchedbyjab]

We have the McGregor belt now.. nothing else matters.

 

[Sgt Smith]

Seems much less important than it once did. Fighters want the belt now so they can demand money fights.

 

[Thuckey]

I mean -

Back in the day, anybody with a win over a champ was considered very elite themselves.. a win over GSP, PEnn, Silva etc.

But now, regular UFC fighters contunaly get the belt even though they have a history of being beaten by regular fighters all the time. I think we need more guys like McGregor that come into UFC by storm, get the belt, and hoipefully defend it till their eventually decline.


Belts shouldnt be a hot potato, just going to a journeyman that is on a good run for a few fights. CHAMPION should mean more. Im hoping we are in a transitional phase.

 

[basementdweller]

it lost it's meaningfullness but not exactly for the reasons you pointed in the poll IMO.

when a fighter like bisping gets gifted a title shot and wins, then goes on to defend against 46 year old dan henderson. when conor mcgregor makes 3 fights without defending his belt even once. those are things that hurt the idea of a belt to anyone paying attention.

 

[MuyThaiElbows]

The OGs will always be Fedor, Silva, GSP, Liddell and BJ Penn.

Now a days the stars are Jones, McGregor, Cruz, and Aldo.

 

[Kinniku]

Is Michael Bisping the best MW in the world?

 

[HIMBOB]

Yes because the champ used to fight the best.

Cruz vs Faber
Conor vs nate
Bisping Hendo

As a quest for the best none of those made any sense what so ever.

 

[HIMBOB]

I mean -

Back in the day, anybody with a win over a champ was considered very elite themselves.. a win over GSP, PEnn, Silva etc.

But now, regular UFC fighters contunaly get the belt even though they have a history of being beaten by regular fighters all the time. I think we need more guys like McGregor that come into UFC by storm, get the belt, and hoipefully defend it till their eventually decline.


Belts shouldnt be a hot potato, just going to a journeyman that is on a good run for a few fights. CHAMPION should mean more. Im hoping we are in a transitional phase.

Was mcgregors mention sarcasm?

 

[HIMBOB]

What? Of course not. The UFC champion is still the best in the world at that division, at that point in time. Doesn't mean it'll always be the most talented or the most technical. Leicester are the current Premier League champions, that doesn't mean they have the best players in the world. Are they not deserving of it though? Of course not. Leicester is the current best team in England, and someone will have to take that title from them to prove otherwise. Same in MMA.

But if Leicester only plays against the local under 12s team it would be fair to question their standing.

Leicester won a tournament which granted no favours for popularity.

 

[molest]

If anything is more valuable now, lets be honest your usual wrestle boxer challengers of the past would get slaughtered now.
No more dominance means harder competition and that means more value.

 

[Thuckey]

Was mcgregors mention sarcasm?

Not at all.. he destroyed FWs left and right and finished them then KOd the GOAT in 13 seconds..

Guys like that are Silva-eqsue.. not Michael Bisping or Woodley or even Stipe..idk some guys just have the IT factor and back in the day, all champs had it.

 

[Loko3]

Yes because the champ used to fight the best.

Cruz vs Faber
Conor vs nate
Bisping Hendo

As a quest for the best none of those made any sense what so ever.

There weren't too many options beside the TJ rematch at that time. The queue of contenders has improved since and I suspect will be better by the end of the year.

 

[HIMBOB]

Not at all.. he destroyed FWs left and right and finished them then KOd the GOAT in 13 seconds..

Guys like that are Silva-eqsue.. not Michael Bisping or Woodley or even Stipe..idk some guys just have the IT factor and back in the day, all champs had it.

He had good run and lost his first fight after he got the belt.

 

[Hans Gercmiov]

The champs are the best for the most part.

 

[HIMBOB]

There weren't too many options beside the TJ rematch at that time. The queue of contenders has improved since and I suspect will be better by the end of the year.

Their were plenty of better options.

Faber was 4-3 in his last seven but should have been 3-4 because he was getting killed till he eye gouged Francisco. That sound like it was worth yet another shot?

 

[frederick]

The champs are the best for the most part.

Until their next fight