As recent as a year ago, it would have seemed inconceivable for the UFC to put on an all-heavyweight fight card. But, here we are today, readying ourselves for just that very thing.
The promotion’s heavyweight division has enjoyed an influx of talent of late, beginning with a version of The Ultimate Fighter that featured the big boys, and continuing as Strikeforce roster members have begun trickling into the UFC.
Thanks to the star-building reality show that brought in Roy Nelson, Jon Madsen and Brendan Schaub, as well as the Strikeforce acquisitions of Antonio Silva, Shane del Rosario and Fabricio Werdum, the division is as strong as it has ever been.
Add in some talented youngsters like Stipe Miocic and Stefan Struve, and you’ve got a nice looking collection of heavyweights standing in the same stable.
So what is the UFC to do with this newly flourishing division? Well, conventional wisdom tells us that if you’ve got it, flaunt it.
But in spite of the depth and talent characterizing the over-205-pound weight class, there have been naysayers out there who are not too high on the idea of allotting an entire event to showcase it.
The balance of a fight card is usually dependent on the variation of fighter sizes that comprise it. Smaller divisions, like bantamweight and flyweight, often provide an event with fast-paced action, while the heavier groups often supply the powerful knockouts.
While this view tends to oversimplify things a bit, it is not entirely without validity.
In addition to this concern, the all-heavyweight card comes off somewhat gimmicky. There is an aura about the heavyweight class that can be tapped into, but is stacking fight consecutive bouts in a row force-feeding it to fans?
I understand why some people are skeptical about how successful this event will be, but if we look at every fight individually, this card is actually loaded.
Junior Dos Santos versus Frank Mir may not get the juices flowing like Dos Santos-Overeem would have, but it is certainly a main event-worthy contest.
Cain Velasquez is one of the division’s brightest stars and has headlined PPVs before. He will be taking on Antonio Silva who has headlined Strikeforce events in the past.
Stipe Miocic versus Shane del Rosario features two of the sport’s most promising up-and-comers.
Gabriel Gonzaga versus Roy Nelson promises to have some good exchanges and be a competitive fight, while Mark Hunt versus Stefan Struve will depict an intriguing contest of styles between two fan favorites.
And lest we forget, the undercard to this event is utterly stacked with good matchups.
UFC 146 will be the promotion’s announcement that the division is stronger than ever before and will act as a precursor to some exciting things to come.
If this style of card becomes a regular thing, it runs the risk of suffering from overexposure, but if left as a one-shot deal, the all-heavyweight fight card at UFC 146 will be a cleverly symbolic way of letting everyone know that the promotion’s former weak link is primed for big things.
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