There’s so much hate in MMA.
In recent days, yet another volley of hate was flung at Jon Jones, this time for his refusal to fight Chael Sonnen. It got me thinking: How well-liked are today’s UFC champs, really?
Being a well-liked champion isn’t easy. They live under surveillance—no mistake goes unnoticed. When a champ makes a public action, it’s bound to be scrutinized by hordes of UFC message boarders. And by God, their fights better not disappoint.
In fact, message boards are a nifty place to feel the pulse of the fan community. Any Sherdogger has a true sense of which fighters are favored and which are hated. It’s especially easy to tell which fighters are hated, since Sherdog is barbed with spiteful words. I guess there’s no thrill in praise.
Herein is a ranking of UFC champs from least hated to most hated. It’s subjective and you may disagree. The rankings are based on my experiences digging through message boards, along with my time in drunken crowds during pay-per-views. If you’ve been to a bar on fight night, you know that uninhibited hate flows as freely as the booze.
Some of the more hated champs also enjoy many fans, but this list doesn’t consider that; haters only.
Check it out and post your rankings below: