UFC 146 is set to begin in a matter of hours, and the event is set to shake up the heavyweight rankings across the MMA world. The card features current champion Junior dos Santos and former champs Frank Mir and Cain Velasquez as well.
A former Ultimate Fighter winner and the tallest competitor in the promotion will also take the stage when Roy Nelson and Stefan Struve step into the Octagon.
It’s a star-studded affair that will likely garner a lot of eyes due to the nature of heavyweight fights. It’s no secret that fans love to watch two guys who seem bigger than life go at it. If you were to ask your grandfather or even your dad, they would likely tell you stories of heavyweight legends who made them sit in awe as they performed in the ring.
It’s clear the days of the heavyweights dominating the scene in boxing are next to dead due to a number of factors. Whether you attribute it to a lack of character or a boring “jab and grab” style that’s ruled the division for years, the fact remains that now more than ever, America needs the heavyweight division.
Can UFC 146 be that event to finally get back fans that haven’t been seen since Mike Tyson captivated audiences in past decades?
With more eyes than ever watching the UFC due to the deal with Fox, it certainly is an opportune time to help resurrect the prestigious heavyweight division in combat sports.
In an effort to get “the other side’s” perspective, I spoke to B/R MMA and Boxing writer Nedu Obi about his feelings on what UFC 146 can achieve.
“I would say the future of the heavyweight division rests on a Tyson/Mayweather persona coming through the ranks, both in and outside the ring,” Obi said.
That may be an issue with dos Santos’ good guy personality, and Mir seems to have toned it down a bit on his signature trash talking. A lack of star power is something Obi believes one man can solve.
”If Jon Jones makes the jump to heavyweight, things could look bright. Until then, it’s going to look much the same way as boxing,” Obi said.
UFC 146 promises to be an action-packed card as very few heavyweight fights make it through the scheduled rounds, a fact Obi believes could help bring back the glory days of the heavyweight division.
“Bottom line is, fireworks are needed,” Obi said.
Dos Santos and Mir should provide plenty of those, as the fight could literally be over at any moment due to a JDS punch or a Mir submission attempt.
Even through all the shakeups en route to getting to this point, the card is still shaping up to be one of the most explosive in UFC history.
And regardless of your opinion on boxing vs. MMA, it’s definitely nice to see the big boys take center stage and begin to turn the tide of negativity in the heavyweight division in combat sports.
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