The UFC should have more Flyweight Main Events

[HuskySamoan]

Depends on a fight. I'd love to watch 5 rounder between Mokaev vs Albazi or Taira. FLW is just a shallow division, which makes it more insane they let Askarov leave.

Personally, I don't think extra 2 rounds make a fight necessarily better though. It just depends.

Askar Askarov was severely underpaid and wanted in on the ACA 1 Million dollar tournament in his backyard, he wanted to leave the UFC and I think he had issues with inactivity too. Sucks indeed, but there's a real chance he loses in July to Azamat Kerefov. The visa issues from that part of the world are continously a problem.

 

[witt1021]

135 lb and below the fighters bring it. fast paced wars. both of the two divisions top 5 fighters seem to be well rounded and have good chins. it just suck that the UFC ties up divisions with non warranted title shots or the same fighers, fight four times in a row. i still consider demetrious the goat. that dude is just a highlight reel of perfect technique. from how he just switches stances mid combos, to stutter stepping with his falling opponents to perfectly land a flying knee. its just beauty. the UFCs marketing strategy is wierd. how they dont promote fighters hardly at all, nor promote divisions (the lower you go in weight the less those fighters seem to be talked about). they just ride the wave of what division has the best self promoter.

 

[NoSmilez]

Not enough stars at 125.

 

[Rationality]

Cejudo vs Moreno (champ v champ) will headline a PPV within a year.

That would be an insane matchup if Cejudo has a belt.

 

[Rationality]

How could anyone not enjoy watching guys like Moreno and Figueredo(sp?) fight? Absolutely have the top guys in this division headline more cards.

 

[DestinedAussie]

There is no reason why talented fighters like Deiveson Figueiredo, Alexandre Pantoja, Kai Kara-France, Brandon Royval, Muhammd Mokaev, and Manel Kape do headline UFC Fight Nights. Especially considering that many of there fighters are highly ranked and consistently put on great fights.

Treating this divsion with more respect will not only bring moregravitas to FLW title fights but it will less subpar FN main events.

What do you guys think?

I think the main issue is when the UFC tries it doesn't rate and they are too scared now.

Compared to some of the fight night headerliners (especially a few of the weak WMMA ones) there seems to me to be no reason they couldn't be as successful as the current choices.

 

[Iroh]

If they can make it work marketing-wise, sure.

 

[Ares Black]

If the flyweight didn't succeed when Mighty mouse was champ and you had guys like Cejudo, it means people don't really care..

They've had flyweight main events before. The truth of the matter is, people don't care about that weightclass.

One thing that makes MMA exciting is that a fight can end in brutal fashion at any moment. You don't get that feeling when watching flyweights fight.

Flyweight fights end in a finish 46% of the time.

https://www.fightmatrix.com/ufc-records/ufc-fight-outcomes-by-weight-class/

 

[FrankDux]

What is the most watched flyweight fight? And what were the #'s?

 

[Yungrich]

If the flyweight didn't succeed when Mighty mouse was champ and you had guys like Cejudo, it means people don't really care..

They've had flyweight main events before. The truth of the matter is, people don't care about that weightclass.

One thing that makes MMA exciting is that a fight can end in brutal fashion at any moment. You don't get that feeling when watching flyweights fight.

 

[Bobby Boulders]

I get as excited for the heavier weight classes as anyone, but I've long thought the most exciting fights were from 125-145. I enjoy watching 5 round fights where guys aren't completely gassed.

 

[wwkirk]

There is no reason why talented fighters like Deiveson Figueiredo, Alexandre Pantoja, Kai Kara-France, Brandon Royval, Muhammd Mokaev, and Manel Kape do headline UFC Fight Nights. Especially considering that many of there fighters are highly ranked and consistently put on great fights.

Treating this divsion with more respect will not only bring moregravitas to FLW title fights but it will less subpar FN main events.

What do you guys think?

Dana/UFC granting your wish!
Kai Kara France vs. Amir Albazi Elevated to UFC on ESPN 45 Main Event

 

[Wreckless]

A select few exceptions doesn't make the norm, dimwit

 

[Paolo Delutis]

There is no reason why talented fighters like Deiveson Figueiredo, Alexandre Pantoja, Kai Kara-France, Brandon Royval, Muhammd Mokaev, and Manel Kape do headline UFC Fight Nights. Especially considering that many of there fighters are highly ranked and consistently put on great fights.

Treating this divsion with more respect will not only bring moregravitas to FLW title fights but it will less subpar FN main events.

What do you guys think?

I agree...all champions and top fighters from every division should get there chances on or near top billing on cards...its a way to be sport specific when marketing...

How can any casuals learn about these guys when there not shown the same as others..not only that but they sometimes put on fantastic fights and it gets over shadowed by bad card placement...

Talent based sport minded first match making is the absolute best! ...weve had some of the best matches come from this...

more so then any other forced hype job ever

 

[Oris79]

Ain't no one wanna see two 5th graders fighting.

 

[BoxerMaurits]

There is no reason why talented fighters like Deiveson Figueiredo, Alexandre Pantoja, Kai Kara-France, Brandon Royval, Muhammd Mokaev, and Manel Kape do headline UFC Fight Nights. Especially considering that many of there fighters are highly ranked and consistently put on great fights.

Treating this divsion with more respect will not only bring moregravitas to FLW title fights but it will less subpar FN main events.

What do you guys think?

I definitely agree, would give the division some more shine.

iirc Brandon Moreno vs Sergio Pettis was the last non-title fight in the flyweight division that headlined a UFC card.

 

[HaulParris]

I agree. I'll take a Royval or even Schnell main event over another Ish Ish Holly fight or Strickland sparring session.

 

[Ladder Master]

I think 135lb should be the lightest weight class in the UFC.
I am not a fan of watching really small guys fight. Scrap the division.

 

[Qays Stetkevich]

Not really my favorite weight classes were always LW, WW and MW... probably because those guys are the same size as me... 5 ft 11 190ish pounds.. I don't think heavyweights are great athletes lol... Except for the few that are...

Think of it this way... a 5 foot 11 guy could be a great NFL player(not every position), baseball player, Futball player, pretty much any sport other than Basketball... a 5 foot 4 guy can be a great..... gymnast? and anything with weight classes... When they have to put you in your own league with other little guys... it just is less to me.. I don't mean to be mean... I also have rolled with smaller guys and they can be scrappy but.. there is a reason weight classes exist... That said.. fat dudes are fat dudes...

That's a more nuanced take that I'll agree with. BTW, you can be short and a soccer stud (not my sport, but...) and in combat sports I watch for the skill level. That's why I generally didn't like WMMA, and now that it's FINALLY getting a deeper skill pool, am annoyed by people who still unanimously sh!t on it.

LOL, and a side note that I think we can agree on: It's always weird/funny when you're watching an exciting flyweight match and thinking "damn, he's badass (skillwise)"....and then the ref comes in to to declare the victor and he absolutely DWARFS both guys ! lol

 

[Ace70 V2]

Only if it's always Ode Osbourne. That dude is kill or be killed and hilarious no matter what.