UFC 2017: The Year of Inactivity?

[Guld]

2017 has almost come to an end, and it had some great MMA bouts and moments. However, It seemed like I was constantly going "Man, when is xxxxx fighting again?".

I did a bit of research, and it wasn't just my imagination. The following Top 10 fighters (according to Sherdog Rankings) only fought once (or less) during 2017...


HEAVYWEIGHT
Miocic: Last fought May 2017. Scheduled for Jan 2018
Cain: Last fought July 2016. Nothing scheduled.
JDS: Last fought May 2017. Nothing scheduled.
Rothwell: Last fought April 2016. Nothing scheduled.
Barnett: Last fought Sept 2016. Nothing scheduled.

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT
Gustafsson: Last fought May 2017. Nothing scheduled.
Latifi: Last fought Sept 2017. Scheduled for Jan 2018.

MIDDLEWEIGHT
GSP: Last fought Nov 2017. Nothing scheduled.
Rockhold: Last fought Sept 2017. Scheduled for Feb 2018.
Romero: Last fought July 2017. Nothing scheduled.

LIGHTWEIGHT
McGregor: Last fought Nov 2016. Nothing scheduled.
Ferguson: Last fought Oct 2017. Nothing scheduled.
Khabib: Last fought Nov 2016. Scheduled for Dec 2017.
Chiesa: Last fought Jun 2017. Nothing scheduled.

FEATHERWEIGHT
Edgar: Last fought May 2017. Nothing scheduled.
Korean Zombie: Last fought Feb 2017. Nothing scheduled.
DooHooChoi: Last fought Dec 2016. Scheduled for Jan 2018.

BANTAMWEIGHT
Dillishaw: Last fought Nov 2017. Nothing scheduled.
Garbrandt: Last fought Nov 2017. Nothing scheduled.
Cruz: Last fought Dec 2016. Nothing scheduled.
Caraway: Last fought May 2016. Nothing scheduled.
Almeida: Last fought July 2017. Scheduled for Jan 2018.

FLYWEIGHT
Benavidez: Last fought Dec 2016. Nothing scheduled.


** NOTE: Magny, Barboza, Jimmie Rivera, and Lineker almost made the list as well, but they have bouts scheduled for Dec. 30th **

I realize that there are a variety or reasons that some of these fighters were inactive. I just find it discouraging. I enjoy watching most of these fighters, and it really is a shame that watching them compete is becoming such a rare occasion.

I hope 2018 breaks this trend.
Cheers!

 

[Jin Akutsu]

A direct result of Reebok + Fighter pay.

 

[Guld]

A direct result of Reebok + Fighter pay.

Very plausible. It's definitely not helping things.
I think the elephant in the room is USADA as well.

 

[KingBeef]

Pretty sure Big Ben and Barnett popped for roids. Cain wins the undisputed championship of inactivity.

 

[RiseAboveHat]

USADA hit a lot of those guys. Plus injuries. All the other ones are just butt hurt about pay

 

[giusti825]

At MW and LW, there is a clear cut reason for this.

Top guys aren't going to want to fight eachother if there isn't a title shot on the horizon.

The MW belt that GSP vacated hadn't had a top MW contender fight for it since Dec 2015......thats 2 years where no top MW got a crack at the title.

LW isn't far off. Its been over 400 days since Mcgregor won the belt with no fight scheduled.

Whitaker really does deserve fighter of the year for the risks he took getting his belt, with absolutely no hope of a 'champion' being willing to fight him.....

 

[Frozen Sea]

 

[007]

Pretty sure Big Ben and Barnett popped for roids. Cain wins the undisputed championship of inactivity.

And Cain is hurt.
Stipe had contract issues.
Gus is hurt
Cruz is hurt
Benavidez is hurt
Korean Zombie Military issues
Caraway Tate took his soul away