Mailbag: Is the UFC bad now? What champions could make it better?

This previous Saturday, UFC Vegas 107 went down. It was a completely forgettable card, proper up till the primary occasion fell aside simply moments earlier than they have been set to do the walks. It was simply the newest in a 2025 that has been underwhelming for the world’s main promotion. Are issues unhealthy now? Let’s talk about.

Is the UFC unhealthy now?

Is UFC Vegas 107 really the worst card in latest reminiscence or are we being too harsh on the occasion?

After I acquired this query, I assumed I’d must dive deep to determine it out. However then I took a take a look at it and realized, no, that is simple. UFC Vegas 107 isn’t the worst card in latest reminiscence as a result of it’s not even the worst card this 12 months. In actual fact, it won’t be High 3.

UFC Vegas 101 kicked the 12 months off within the precise reverse of favor. 14 fights with solely three ranked fighters on the cardboard in whole. For those who can inform me one battle apart from the primary occasion, I’ll be impressed (the primary occasion was Mackenzie Dern vs. Amanda Ribas 2).

A month later, UFC Vegas 102 then lowered the bar even additional, with solely two ranked fighters competing on it. I’m keen to wager you may’t even title the primary occasion off the highest of your head. However this card did not less than have the decency to solely be 12 fights.

Then we’ve UFC Vegas 103 (are you sensing a theme creating?) with the Manel Kape vs. Asu Almabayev battle and … nothing else. No less than this time the primary occasion was alleged to be the unbelievable Kape vs. Brandon Royval matchup, so perhaps we are able to lower the UFC some slack there.

Then there’s UFC Vegas 104 and the Marvin Vettori vs. Roman Dolidze 2 battle that nobody wanted and everybody needs didn’t occur, however the remainder of that card ended up being form of enjoyable not less than.

No, the worst card of the 12 months, and maybe the worst card in a few years, occurred just some weeks in the past at UFC Vegas 105. Lerone Murphy vs. Josh Emmett was a traditional Lerone Murphy battle, that means it was 25 minutes of unwatchable. And the remainder of the cardboard had seven selections in 11 fights. There’s virtually nothing redeeming or memorable about that card, making it undeniably higher than the tomfoolery that happened this previous weekend.

All that is to say that that is what occurs once you don’t must strive. Competitors breeds creativity and a greater product. Monopolies are horrible for customers and that’s what we’ve right here. The UFC’s dominant market share means they don’t must make an effort, they usually aren’t actually even pretending any extra.

UFC 316 — not nice, Bob!

“Is Lipski-da Silva vs. Cong doubtlessly the largest banger on UFC 316?”

All that carries proper on over to this weekend. I feel most followers have come to grips with the concept APEX playing cards are going to be unhealthy, however the hope is that the UFC will not less than strive with regard to pay-per-views. I current UFC 316 because the counter to that notion.

The principle occasion is a fast rematch of a reasonably boring affair, with little cause to assume something occurs otherwise. Positive, Sean O’Malley may do higher, you by no means know, however the extra possible consequence is a carbon copy of the forgettable first battle just a few months in the past.

The co-main occasion this weekend is an excellent and essential battle, but it surely’s additionally exhausting to be enthusiastic about any girls’s bantamweight matchup now. The division is on life help and it’s exhausting to think about it holding on for an excessive amount of longer, even when Kayla Harrison makes good and wins the title.

And the remainder of the cardboard is, meh? I’m excited in regards to the debut of Patchy Combine, who I feel the UFC desperately wants proper now, however past that, there’s not a lot to hold your hat on. Bruno Silva vs. Joshua Van is a strong scrap however that’s about it.

So, to reply your questions, perhaps. I think the Vicent Luque vs. Kevin Holland battle goes to be violent for nevertheless lengthy it lasts, however given the underwhelming matchups and stylistic preferences of most of the high fighters on the cardboard, there’s an excellent probability that Ariane da Silva vs. Wang Cong is essentially the most enjoyable scrap of the night.

Be constructive

Of the 4 within the co-main/principal, who has the least to lose at UFC 316?

For those who’re making an attempt to be constructive about UFC 316, that is the case: there are actual and really large issues at stake within the high two fights on Saturday. Merab vs. O’Malley 2 could also be a travesty of matchmaking, but it surely’s extremely significant.

If Merab loses, his burgeoning case because the bantamweight GOAT (outrageous at this level) takes an enormous hit, particularly as a result of, let’s be severe, the UFC isn’t working a trilogy proper again. If O’Malley upsets Merab, the UFC goes to bury “The Machine” and possibly ebook O’Malley in a rematch with Kris Moutinho subsequent.

Conversely, if O’Malley loses, effectively, shit. What does he do subsequent? I assume he might attempt to bump as much as 145, however I don’t love his probabilities there, so now he’s one other Wealthy Franklin, simply extra well-liked? That’s by no means an excellent place to be.

Within the co-main occasion, if Kayla Harrison loses, that is the second time the superfight with Amanda Nunes falls by means of for her, and, extra importantly, it kills the entire function of her UFC profession. Kayla came visiting to the UFC to win this title, and if she loses to Peña, which may simply be the tip of her profession.

In distinction, Peña is a two-time champion (I can’t consider that’s true), which suggests if she retires tomorrow, she’s nonetheless in all probability going into the Corridor of Fame. That’s fairly the accomplishment contemplating I’m nonetheless undecided she’s any good. And heck, girls’s bantamweight is so skinny, Peña can in all probability dangle round and get one other shot on the belt, perhaps even win it. So I assume I’ll go together with Julianna Peña.

How will we repair the UFC?

Quick ahead one 12 months, in an ideal world, who’re your 11 UFC champions?

Be as reasonable or unrealistic as you please.

There are various points dealing with the UFC proper now, however the greatest one — from a fan perspective — is the dearth of stars. There merely aren’t many names that make individuals get up and concentrate. This doesn’t damage the UFC’s backside line (yay for monopolies!) but it surely actually hurts informal fan curiosity. So the easiest way to repair it could be to get a bunch of fascinating title holders who might perhaps break by means of. Right here’s my listing:

Heavyweight: Tom Aspinall. In an excellent world he KO’s Jon Jones and turns into a star. Jon gained’t battle him although, so simply making him the Baddest Man on the Planet outright is the subsequent best choice.

205: Alex Pereira. If Alex can get the belt again, a superfight between him and Tom is very large. Additionally, Pereira vs. DDP is fairly sick.

185: Dricus du Plessis. I feel DDP is near crossing over as a star as a result of he’s gotten to beat large names. Beating Chimaev ought to elevate him, and he’s acquired the generic beauty and persona to resonate with a fan base.

170: Islam Makhachev. Jack Della Maddalena is uniquely unhealthy on a microphone. He’ll kill the division as its steward. Islam is the most effective fighter on the planet and has the Khabib legacy. Being WW champ would get him over in a significant means.

155: Ilia Topuria. Clearly.

145: Jean Silva. He’s my boy, and he could make individuals care.

135: Jose Aldo. I don’t care that he’s retired. You mentioned good world, and that is good.

125: Brandon Moreno. Solely two fighters have ever gained a title 3 times in the identical division. Randy Couture did it at heavyweight a billion years in the past, after which Jon Jones did it at gentle heavyweight. Besides considered one of Jon’s was an interim belt he was later stripped of. So this is able to be new floor and fairly cool.

W135: They need to fold this division up after Kayla vs. Amanda Nunes.

W125: Dakota Ditcheva. She’s the one.

115: Mackenzie Dern. It’s time for the Dern hive to stand up.

Relaxation simple, Jordan Breen

Breaks my coronary heart to share the information to the MMA world that Jordan Breen has handed away.

Jordan forgot extra about MMA than most of us will ever bear in mind. One of many smartest souls I ever met. His ardour was really distinctive.

At this time would’ve been his birthday. Will miss you buddy.

That is clearly not a query, however the information broke whereas I used to be penning this and I needed to say just a few issues.

A lot of you studying this may increasingly don’t know who Jordan Breen was. That’s a disgrace. Breen was one of many smartest individuals ever to get entangled in MMA, and a significant cause why I ended up doing this. The person had a ardour for the game rivaled by few and unparalleled data that he handed on freely. He was on the forefront of MMA media again in the dead of night ages of the game and, most significantly, he was an excellent man. His passing is a tragic loss and hit me tougher than I’d have anticipated. He might be missed.

Thanks for studying and because of everybody who despatched in tweets (Xs?)! Do you might have any burning questions on issues not less than considerably associated to fight sports activities? You then’re in luck as a result of you may ship your tweets to me, @JedKMeshew, and I’ll reply all the great ones! It doesn’t matter in the event that they’re topical or insane, simply as long as they’re good. Thanks once more, and see y’all subsequent week.