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Breaking Down The Sad State Of Each UFC Division

The UFC is currently going through a ‘unique’ period. New owners WME-IMG are now well into their first year of business after purchasing the UFC for a record setting $4.2 billion last year and the world’s largest mixed martial arts promotion has experienced a somewhat slow and lackluster start to 2017. Not only have there

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The UFC is currently going through a ‘unique’ period.

New owners WME-IMG are now well into their first year of business after purchasing the UFC for a record setting $4.2 billion last year and the world’s largest mixed martial arts promotion has experienced a somewhat slow and lackluster start to 2017.

Not only have there been a lack of big fights, but some weight classes have also been going through a period of turmoil whether that be due to a lack of contenders or deserving contenders being passed up to book ‘money fights’. Some divisions, on the other hand, are alive and well and experiencing a period of excitement.

With that being said, let’s break down the state of each UFC division:

Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Women’s Strawweight

Joanna Jedrzejczyk has established herself as a legitimate champion at 115-pounds, defending her title four consecutive times. She will look to make the fifth defense of her title in the co-main event of UFC 211 on May 13, 2017 when she takes on Jessica Andrade.

“Joanna Champion” has indeed brought excitement to the division, but a 115-pound title fight likely won’t headline a pay-per-view event anytime soon and that is also due in part to the lack of depth in the fledgling division. Jedrzejczyk has already beaten No. 1-ranked Claudia Gadelha twice as well as No. 2-ranked Karolina Kowalkiewicz.

If she gets by the No. 3-ranked Andrade next month, No. 4-ranked Rose Namajunas will likely serve as the next title challenge, but outside of “Thug” Rose, the division is lacking legitimate contenders.

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Championship Fails: The Five Worst UFC Title Fights Of All-Time

Earlier this month (March 4, 2017), Tyron Woodley and Stephen Thompson did battle for a second time at UFC 209 in a rematch of their UFC 205 bout last November. Once again, Woodley defended his 170-pound title, but the bout fell far short of the expectations it was given based on the entertaining nature of

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Earlier this month (March 4, 2017), Tyron Woodley and Stephen Thompson did battle for a second time at UFC 209 in a rematch of their UFC 205 bout last November.

Once again, Woodley defended his 170-pound title, but the bout fell far short of the expectations it was given based on the entertaining nature of the first “Fight of the Night”-winning scrap between the two.

At times, this happens in mixed martial arts (MMA).

While title fights typically consist of two of the best fighters in the world at a given weight, the fights don’t always end up being entertaining, and on some occasions, they end up being quite boring and lackluster.

With that being said, let’s take a look at Woodley vs. Thompson II and five of the worst title fights in UFC history:

Ken Shamrock vs. Dan Severn II

UFC legends Shamrock and Severn met in a rematch at UFC 9 on May 17, 1996 in a bout that most fight fans consider to be one of the worst fights of all-time period, let alone one of the worst title fights of all-time.

With Shamrock’s UFC Superfight championship on the line, but bout produced embarrassingly little action. Shamrock took the center of the octagon, while Severn appeared to be content circling around on the outside. Each man seemed to be waiting for the other to engage, which resulted in a supremely lackluster bout, and one that fans found as nothing more than boring.

When speaking of this fight, it must be noted that there were major rule changes put in place just prior to the contest, specifically a rule prohibiting the use of a closed fist, which is simply mind-blowing to even consider nowadays.

Perhaps this is why the fight turned out to be what it was, but either way, it remains one of the more prominent match-ups on our list of worst UFC title fights.

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Five Fighters Who Could’ve Retired But Chose To Fight On

Mixed martial arts is a very unforgiving game. We have seen the fight game treat its legends and older fighters with nothing but brutality time and time again. As a fighter gets older, his skills and physical attributes obviously begin to diminish, which is why pundits and fight fans typically advise fighters against fighting past

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Mixed martial arts is a very unforgiving game. We have seen the fight game treat its legends and older fighters with nothing but brutality time and time again.

As a fighter gets older, his skills and physical attributes obviously begin to diminish, which is why pundits and fight fans typically advise fighters against fighting past their respective primes. However, it is oddly difficult for a fighter to hang up his gloves. Often times, fighting is more to a fighter than simply a career and a sport, as it represents a part of them, and a part that is often hard to let go of.

With that being said, let’s take a closer look at five fights who could’ve reasonably retired, but chose to fight on:

Georges St. Pierre

Late last week, it was announced that longtime former UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre, the best 170 pounder to ever grace the Octagon and a man many consider to be one of the best fighters of al-time period, had signed a new deal with the promotion, making his long awaited return official.

“Rush” hasn’t competed since 2013 when he scored a highly controversial decision victory over Johny Hendricks. He vacated his title soon thereafter and went into a semi-retirement as it was viewed as at the time. Just 32 years of age when he vacated his title, St. Pierre did what many before him had failed to do: leave the fight game on top. The Canadian was a winner of 12 straight when he stepped away from the sport.

While St. Pierre may still be in strong fighting shape at 35-years-old, there’s simply no reason for him to return to action. Outside of the cage, GSP, who is one of the biggest pay-per-view draws in UFC history, is financially well-off, and inside of the cage, he has nothing left to prove.

His comeback fight will certainly be massive, but very few would argue with the fact that St. Pierre could have reasonably stayed retired.

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GOAT? Anderson Silva’s Five Greatest UFC Knockouts

Legendary former longtime UFC middleweight champion Anderson “The Spider” Silva will return to action in the co-main event of this weekend’s (Sat., Feb. 11, 2017) UFC 208 from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, where he’s set to take on No. 8-ranked Derek Brunson. Silva’s historic reign as 185-pound champion lasted nearly seven years

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Silva’s historic reign as 185-pound champion lasted nearly seven years from 2006-2013 and consisted of a record setting 10 consecutive title defenses. He also started his Octagon career with an incredible run of 16 straight victories. His accomplishments will forever speak for themselves, but “The Spider” has recently fallen on rough times, as he hasn’t officially won a bout since 2012. He’s also lost four of his last five fights.

With the 41-year-old looking to get back to his winning ways, there is no better time to reflect on his iconic career and on the wins that led many to label him as the best fighter of all-time.

Let’s take a look at Silva’s five best UFC knockouts:

Anderson Silva vs. Rich Franklin – UFC 64

In just his second UFC fight, Silva was given a shot at the middleweight title, taking on Rich “Ace” Franklin at UFC 64 on Oct. 24, 2006.

Franklin is known as a durable and skilled veteran, but he proved to be no match for Silva on that fall night in Las Vegas, Nevada. “The Spider’s” brutal Muay Thai was on full display in this fight, as he stunned “Ace” with a vicious knee just minutes into the opening round. He then followed that with a left head kick and another knee before Franklin fell to the mat and left the referee with no choice but to call off the fight.

Not only does this finish rank as one of Silva’s best inside the Octagon, but it was also this finish that marked the beginning of the best title run in promotional history.

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Five Fighters Who Desperately Need To Win At UFC 208

UFC 208 may not be the most anticipated pay-per-view (PPV) card in recent memory, but it certainly serves as a pivotal one for some of the fighters competing on it. The event, which takes place this Saturday night (Feb. 11, 2017) from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, is set to be headlined by

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UFC 208 may not be the most anticipated pay-per-view (PPV) card in recent memory, but it certainly serves as a pivotal one for some of the fighters competing on it.

The event, which takes place this Saturday night (Feb. 11, 2017) from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, is set to be headlined by an inaugural women’s featherweight title match between former bantamweight champion Holly Holm and decorated Muay Thai fighter Germaine de Randamie. The co-main event will play host to a middleweight bout between No. 7-ranked former longtime divisional kingpin Anderson Silva and No. 8-ranked Derek Brunson. That isn’t all, however, as there are some other important fights scattered across the card as well.

With that being said, let’s take a look at five fighters in desperate need of a win at UFC 208:

Photo: Kamil Krzaczynski for USA TODAY Sports

Holly Holm

Former multi-time boxing world champion Holly “The Preacher’s Daughter” Holm has made quite a name for herself in the sport of mixed martial arts, most notably for being the woman to dethrone former longtime 135-pound queen Ronda Rousey with a brutal stoppage victory at Nov. 2015’s UFC 193 from Australia.

Since that shocking win, however, Holm has dropped back-to-back bouts, surrendering the title via fifth-round submission to Miesha Tate at March 2016’s UFC 196 and dropping a decision to No. 1-ranked bantamweight Valentina Shevchenko last July.

While de Randamie is an accomplished Muay Thai fighter, she hasn’t quite gained that same recognition within the sport of mixed martial arts yet, although her skills speak for themselves. Holm is undoubtedly facing a tough test, and another loss could prove detrimental to her career.

Not only would it mark her third straight inside the Octagon, but it may lead many to label her a one-hit wonder.

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Five Biggest Takeaways From UFC on FOX 23

UFC on FOX 23 took place last night (Jan. 28, 2017) from the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado and it ended up producing an exciting night of fights. The main event featured a pivotal bantamweight bout between Valentina Shevchenko and Julianna Pena, while the co-main event played host to a welterweight bout between Donald “Cowboy”

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UFC on FOX 23 took place last night (Jan. 28, 2017) from the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado and it ended up producing an exciting night of fights.

The main event featured a pivotal bantamweight bout between Valentina Shevchenko and Julianna Pena, while the co-main event played host to a welterweight bout between Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone and Jorge Masvidal.

Earlier this week, I wrote on how I expected this card to hold major implications, and it certainly exceeded expectations.

Let’s take a look at the five biggest takeaways from UFC on FOX 23:

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