In the aftermath of the most anticipated UFC heavyweight championship fight of all-time, we are left with a grim-reality. The adrenaline and excitement quickly fades into the revelation that we are now left without a legit title contender. At a time when we are blessed with the greatest heavyweight champion ever, in Stipe Miocic, the flow of worthy challengers has come to a trickle. The truth is, Francis Ngannou is still the man with the best shot of defeating Miocic. Remember, before last night, none of Miocic’s championship fights had gone past the 1st round.
Fabricio Werdum is probably the next man up, but does he deserve a chance to win back the belt which he relinquished to Stipe Miocic at UFC 198? Since losing the belt, Werdum has beat Travis Browne by decision, dropped a majority decision to Overeem, and beat a last-minute fill-in, Walt Harris, by submission. In his most recent bout, Werdum turned in a decent performance — nothing more, nothing less — to beat Marcin Tybura by unanimous decision, after 5 mostly uneventful rounds.
Has he done enough to earn the title shot? I’d say no — however, in the barren-landscape of the UFC’s heavyweight division, he is the likely #1 contender. Regardless, it seems that this next year will be a turning-point for the division — a changing of the guards, per say. Veterans such as Werdum, Overeem, and Hunt seem to be on the way out. Derrick Lewis, Marcin Tybura, Alexander Volkov, and Curtis Blaydes are all on the brink of earning a title-shot. We also have a group of promising fighters who debuted last year — Marcelo Golm, Tai Tuivasa, and Junior Albini — all prospects to keep an eye on. Also, don’t forget about Junior Dos Santos, who is still only 33-years-old. Let’s explore some of the interesting questions which surround the aging heavyweight division:
Continue reading here: The State of the UFC's Heavyweight Division
Fabricio Werdum is probably the next man up, but does he deserve a chance to win back the belt which he relinquished to Stipe Miocic at UFC 198? Since losing the belt, Werdum has beat Travis Browne by decision, dropped a majority decision to Overeem, and beat a last-minute fill-in, Walt Harris, by submission. In his most recent bout, Werdum turned in a decent performance — nothing more, nothing less — to beat Marcin Tybura by unanimous decision, after 5 mostly uneventful rounds.
Has he done enough to earn the title shot? I’d say no — however, in the barren-landscape of the UFC’s heavyweight division, he is the likely #1 contender. Regardless, it seems that this next year will be a turning-point for the division — a changing of the guards, per say. Veterans such as Werdum, Overeem, and Hunt seem to be on the way out. Derrick Lewis, Marcin Tybura, Alexander Volkov, and Curtis Blaydes are all on the brink of earning a title-shot. We also have a group of promising fighters who debuted last year — Marcelo Golm, Tai Tuivasa, and Junior Albini — all prospects to keep an eye on. Also, don’t forget about Junior Dos Santos, who is still only 33-years-old. Let’s explore some of the interesting questions which surround the aging heavyweight division:
Continue reading here: The State of the UFC's Heavyweight Division
