I was wondering how the UFC's LHW ranking gonna change after UFC London. Jimi Manuwa was ranked #4 and Blachowicz was ranked #11. But the UFC ranking is very subjective, since done by MMA media, so I checked also fightmatrix and only found Manuwa at #12 and Blachowicz at #25. I know fighmatix is far from ideal, but at least it's a objective ranking system.
So how come Jimi & Jan are so low at fightranking? In the top 10 you got only 6 UFC fighers. #1 Cormier is going up to HW, he turns 39 on Tuesday and he stated multiple times that he will retire after his 40th birthday (12 months away). #2 Jones will soon leave the rankings and who knows how long the USADA ban will last. #3 & #4 you got Bader & Davis, both fighting for Bellator. If you would tell me 2 years ago, that the top 2 fighters fighting at LHW next aren't from the UFC I would have laughed, but now it looks real.
The only fighter I subjectively see being as good as Bader & Davis is Gustafsson. But he fights once a year, had so many injuries, I do barrely feel like he is around at LHW.
In the top 10 you also got #9 Narkun, who is a free agent now, but says he would prefer to stay at KSW and #10 Vassell. Also #10 HW Lawal fights back at LHW against Bader in May.
If you look at the top 50 at LHW it's filled with non UFC fighers unlike any other division. IMO UFC needs to step up the game and starts paying these fighers more or more top fighters will leave LHW for another org.
So how come Jimi & Jan are so low at fightranking? In the top 10 you got only 6 UFC fighers. #1 Cormier is going up to HW, he turns 39 on Tuesday and he stated multiple times that he will retire after his 40th birthday (12 months away). #2 Jones will soon leave the rankings and who knows how long the USADA ban will last. #3 & #4 you got Bader & Davis, both fighting for Bellator. If you would tell me 2 years ago, that the top 2 fighters fighting at LHW next aren't from the UFC I would have laughed, but now it looks real.
The only fighter I subjectively see being as good as Bader & Davis is Gustafsson. But he fights once a year, had so many injuries, I do barrely feel like he is around at LHW.
In the top 10 you also got #9 Narkun, who is a free agent now, but says he would prefer to stay at KSW and #10 Vassell. Also #10 HW Lawal fights back at LHW against Bader in May.
If you look at the top 50 at LHW it's filled with non UFC fighers unlike any other division. IMO UFC needs to step up the game and starts paying these fighers more or more top fighters will leave LHW for another org.
OSP despite his losses still seems like one of the most well-rounded and overall skilled of the rest, which doesn't speak greatly of them.
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