Why are divisions getting shallower?

[KB Warrior]

Both Heavy and Light Heavy are pretty much bone dry when it comes to potential new title contenders. All the women’s divisions don’t seem to have much going on. Mighty Mouse has nobody to fight at flyweight. Aren’t divisions supposed to get deeper as time goes on?

 

[SeaLevelMizugaki]

On the other side, LW, WW and MW have become deeper.

 

[Deleted member 501827]

Because UFC is dying

 

[GoldenAzazel]

On the other side, LW, WW and MW have become deeper.

Bantamweight is pretty stacked too.

 

[MEAN357]

USADA

 

[Reach4theSky]

All the women’s divisions don’t seem to have much going on.

Have they ever?

 

[21 Savage]

Have they ever?

will they ever

 

[Reach4theSky]

will they ever

 

[DRMZ]

They’re not becoming shallower numerically, there are still loads of fighters at LHW and HW, but the level is shite because you can’t be a shredded high performance athelete at 240+lbs without performance enhancing substances.

The existing competitors are flabbier and sloppier, the new comers are flabby and sloppy.

 

[Andre Xiong]

The money is still garbage , only a small percentage make a decent living then even a smaller percent make a good living

 

[Mike Hagger]

Minus a few brief moments at LHW, the talent base has always lacked it HW/LHW.

Boxing also struggles to maintain a depth of fighters at the heavier divisions, with notable times there have been exceptions. So I don't think it's related to the UFCs demise, there's likely several factors namely there's just less big people that are athletic to begin with, who are interested in fighting sports.

 

[Filthy Phil]

Well. When you think about it, HW and LHW have never been very stacked.

Look back and think about the times when it was stacked. There wasn't a ton of competitors, but a reasonable amount of elite fighters at the top.

Take the LHW division in 2014/2015 for example - a ton of great fighters at the top, but the skill level drops A LOT outside of the top 5.

 

[KB Warrior]

Well. When you think about it, HW and LHW have never been very stacked.

Look back and think about the times when it was stacked. There wasn't a ton of competitors, but a reasonable amount of elite fighters at the top.

Take the LHW division in 2014/2015 for example - a ton of great fighters at the top, but the skill level drops A LOT outside of the top 5.

Ya but I have seen talk of Shogun fighting for the title in 2018. That is pretty telling how bad things have gotten.

 

[Filthy Phil]

Ya but I have seen talk of Shogun fighting for the title in 2018. That is pretty telling how bad things have gotten.

Absolutely.

Jones got suspended, Rumble retired, Bader and Davis went to Bellator, and the rest are getting old.

Shit's bad. HW seems to be getting a bit better though.

 

[maxi diablo]

MMA has lost it's novelty. Only the hardcores who used to train will forever watch.

 

[MadDogMahoney]

Global warming.

 

[MadDogMahoney]

Both Heavy and Light Heavy are pretty much bone dry when it comes to potential new title contenders. All the women’s divisions don’t seem to have much going on. Mighty Mouse has nobody to fight at flyweight. Aren’t divisions supposed to get deeper as time goes on?

This is my opinion. HW and LHW have been shallow for some time, due to generally taking more punishment and bigger athletes going to other sports where they can get paid. Arguably the most stacked WMMA division, Atomweight, isn't even in the UFC. WFW sucks, everyone knows it. The new WFLW division is taking some contenders from other divisions. SW is fine imo, WBW is kinda meh. FLW is shallow yes, but not as bad as HW and LHW, and I think there are some guys with potential possibly outside the top 10 atm.

Imo HW and LHW will get better with time, as long as the UFC provides incentive.

 

[wilKO]

USADA obviously. People aren't that big naturally. So when you enforce strict drug testing guess what? Guys get smaller.

 

[Street Fighter 2]

C level

 

[elwoood11]

Global warming.