When people consider which of the UFC’s 10 divisions are the weakest, attention usually turns to one of four candidates. Flyweight, heavyweight, and both women’s weight classes.
The flyweights are led by Demetrious Johnson, a champion so dominant that he calls into question the talent of those beneath him.
The women’s bantamweights face the same problem, Ronda Rousey’s brilliance suggesting to many that her weight class is filled with mediocre competition.
Neither assumption is entirely true. The development of both divisions has seen a number of excellent fighters and exciting prospects emerge. They do however, both remain relatively new enterprises for the UFC and continue to establish themselves.
Even younger in terms of UFC lifespan are the strawweights. The UFC did not promote a 115 pound fight until the middle of 2014. As such, with a win over inaugural champion Carla Esparza under her belt, many are already pushing Joanna Jedrzejczyk as the fighter to expose a perceived lack of world class talent in the division.
At the other end of the spectrum are the heavyweights. The open-weight tournaments of the UFC’s early years mean that the big guys have been here since day one back in 1993. The division is seen as old, both in terms of its longevity within the sport, and the age of its fighters. The talent pool is shallow with few emerging prospects, and the fighters are considered to lack the technical skill of those in the divisions below them.
While some of the points used to discredit the four divisions that have been mentioned are fair, there is another weight class that seems to slip under the radar and find itself excluded from the debate. The state of the 205 pound division is as unhealthy as any other in the UFC.
Currently sitting without a champion following the suspension of Jon Jones, the average age of the current UFC top 10 is 33. Only one of those fighters, Alexander Gustafsson, is under 30. There are few emerging prospects at 205 pounds to replace them.
To go with the removal of Jones at the top of the division, Phil Davis left for Bellator. In doing so he left behind him a top ten gap that now has Quinton “Rampage” Jackson filling it.
We don’t know at this time when Jon Jones will be back, while there have been outlandish suggestions that he might not come back at all. With that in mind, here is a look at some of the main contenders at light-heavyweight, as well as those who might breathe some new life into a division in turmoil.
#1 – ANTHONY JOHNSON
At 31-years-old, riding a 9 fight win streak, Johnson is little more than one week away from the biggest opportunity of his career. His title fight with Daniel Cormier at UFC 187 sees the two best, active, 205 pound fighters in the company clashing for the UFC Light-Heavyweight Championship.
Without the brutal weight cut that he previously endured to make the welterweight limit back in 2011, Johnson has become a devastating offensive fighter. He has beaten Andrei Arlovski at heavyweight, spent fifteen minutes destroying Phil Davis’ soul in April of last year, and taken less than three minutes combined to dispatch Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Alexander Gustafsson.
Should he beat Cormier on May 23rd, he will be an incredibly difficult champion to dislodge. The eventual return of Jon Jones would provide the most serious threat, and a lucrative payday for all concerned.
Most Notable Win: Alexander Gustafsson – UFC on Fox: Gustafsson vs Johnson, 2015
Most Telling Defeat: Josh Koscheck – UFC 106, 2009
End of 2016 Prediction: Next in line to challenge the winner of Jones vs Cormier II.
#2 – ALEXANDER GUSTAFSSON
Sweden’s finest mixed martial artist pushed Jon Jones closer than any other fighter when they met in September of 2013. So much so that had Gustafsson not lost to Anthony Johnson in January of this year, he would have moved back to the top of the heap as the number one contender for the light-heavyweight title.
That defeat, in his home nation, extended Gustafsson’s path back to a title shot. It should also be noted that while he was the first fighter to really hang with Jones in a title fight, his only top ten win came against a faded Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in December of 2012.
Gustafsson was set to face Glover Teixeira in June but pulled out of the fight after injuring his back. At 28 years old, practically a spring chicken at 205 pounds, Gustafsson has time on his side to work his way back into contention.
Most Notable Win: Mauricio Rua – UFC on Fox: Henderson vs Diaz, 2012
Most Telling Defeat: Phil Davis – UFC 112, 2010
End of 2016 Prediction: Top 5 ranked, despite losing rematch with Johnson.
#3 – DANIEL CORMIER
When Cormier and Anthony Johnson step into the cage on May 23rd the prize for both is the same, yet the representation is different. At 36-years-old this is not just a chance for Cormier to redeem himself after failing in his first attempt at winning the light-heavyweight title. It is also likely his last shot at the belt. Many believe he will lose to Johnson, myself not included, and in doing so fail to ever achieve his dream of becoming a UFC champion.
The loss in his last title shot, against Jon Jones at UFC 182, is the only defeat of his career. Cormier holds big wins at both heavyweight and light-heavyweight, and has proven that he has the gas tank to go for twenty five minutes at the top level.
Should the former olympic wrestler win on May 23rd, he may end up with another shot at redemption down the line. If he is still holding the belt by the time Jon Jones returns a rematch is a certainty.
Most Notable Win: Josh Barnett – Strikeforce: Barnett vs Cormier, 2012
Most Telling Defeat: Jon Jones – UFC 182, 2015
End of 2016 Prediction: Preparing for a title defense against Jon Jones.
#4 – RASHAD EVANS
The former light-heavyweight champion has not fought since a first round win over Chael Sonnen in November of 2013. Proposed bouts with Daniel Cormier and Glover Teixeira were called off due to injury.
Evans remains one of the most talented fighters at 205 pounds, but has made it clear that he will not return until he is 100% healthy. If he can do that, he remains a legitimate threat to everyone currently active within the division.
Most Notable Win: Chuck Liddell – UFC 88, 2008
Most Telling Defeat: Lyoto Machida – UFC 98, 2009
End of 2016 Prediction: In semi-retirement, fighting (and beating) fighters who have no route back to the title.
#5 – RYAN BADER
If there was any other fighter in the company who might have been slotted in to face Anthony Johnson after Jon Jones’ suspension, it was Bader. He was originally set to face Cormier and it appeared to be a pick between the two once the title shot became available. Of course, Cormier is a bigger name who has already been one half of an 800k drawing pay-per-view so it’s easy to see why he got the nod.
Bader is on a four fight win streak which has included top ten wins over Ovince Saint Preux and Phil Davis. The problem for Bader is that his fights against genuine next-level competition have all ended in defeat. We may well see him wait for the winner of Johnson vs Cormier at this point.
Most Notable Win: Ovince Saint Preux – UFC Fight Night: Bader vs Saint Preux, 2014
Most Telling Defeat: Lyoto Machida – UFC on Fox: Shogun vs Vera, 2012
End of 2016 Prediction: Hanging around the top ten after unsuccessful challenge for the belt.
#6 – GLOVER TEIXEIRA
Five rounds with Jon Jones for the light-heavyweight title may have been enough to transform the 35-year-old Brazilian from wrecking machine into spent force. Prior to that title fight he had dismantled five previous opponents and had some hailing him as the fighter to end Jon Jones’ reign as champion. Jones, as he has so often done, dominated Glover and held onto his belt.
Glover returned against Phil Davis in October of last year and looked nothing like the fighter we had seen before the Jones fight, losing a unanimous decision in Rio de Janeiro. Since then proposed bouts against Rashad Evans and Alexander Gustafsson have been called off. His next octagon performance will be telling.
Most Notable Win: Ryan Bader – UFC Fight Night: Teixeira vs Bader, 2013
Most Telling Defeat: Phil Davis – UFC 179, 2014
End of 2016 Prediction: Preparing for his first fight in Bellator.
#7 – OVINCE SAINT PREUX
The former Strikeforce light-heavyweight is now coming into his own as a genuine top ten threat. His UFC record stands at 6-1 following back to back first round finishes of Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Patrick Cummins. He is an unorthodox, risk-taking striker and while his detractors will often point out the holes in his technique, those opportunistic finishes of Rua and Cummins show that he is a wild card threat for anyone at 205 pounds.
His sole defeat came to Ryan Bader, which should keep him out of the title picture for the time being, but Saint Preux is only a couple of notable wins away from contention and has time on his side to earn a shot at the belt.
Most Notable Win: Mauricio Rua – UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs Saint Preux, 2014
Most Telling Defeat: Ryan Bader – UFC Fight Night: Bader vs Saint Preux, 2014
End of 2016 Prediction: Looking to avenge loss to Bader and earn title shot.
#8 – JIMI MANUWA
Injury could not have struck Britain’s number-one light heavyweight at a worse time. Ahead of his bout with Jan Blachowicz in April, he tore his meniscus, MCL and ACL and was told he should not fight. He did manage to make it to the cage, but his performance was understandably tentative despite getting the decision win. He is now on the sidelines getting that knee repaired before a return, he hopes, later this year.
With the suspension of Jon Jones and injury to Alexander Gustafsson, Manuwa would have been a great fit for one of the big top ten fights available. Ryan Bader and Glover Teixeira were both left without opponents, and either would have given Manuwa the chance to pick up by far the biggest win of his career to date.
Most Notable Win: Kyle Kingsbury – UFC on Fuel TV: Struve vs Miocic – 2012
Most Telling Defeat: Alexander Gustafssson – UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs Manuwa, 2014
End of 2016 Prediction: Looking to rebound after coming up short against top 10 competition.
#9 – Mauricio “Shogun” Rua
Despite being just 33 years of age, Shogun looks to be a spent force at 205 pounds. It is not just that he has lost four of his last five fights, but the manner of those defeats that is of particular concern.
His only wins since 2011 are against Brandon Vera and James Te Huna, and his win over the former was anything but comfortable. It would be hard to back Rua against anyone who sits above him in the current rankings. His current coaching role on The Ultimate Fighter Brazil may be his best use at this time.
Most Notable Win: Lyoto Machida – UFC 113, 2010
Most Telling Defeat: Dan Henderson – UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs Henderson II, 2014
End of 2016 Prediction: Considering future after being urged by Dana White to retire.
#10 – Quinton “Rampage” Jackson
Jackson made his return to the UFC with a win over Fabio Maldonado in April in a fight that almost didn’t happen. Jackson isn’t out of the woods yet either, his legal battle with Bellator Fighting Championships is still ongoing.
Assuming he does get to stick around and fight, Jackson has said publicly that he isn’t going after the title and just wants to face entertaining opposition. That being said, don’t be surprised if the UFC end up pushing him into the contender slot against whoever holds the belt should his current four fight win streak extend to six. Rampage remains one of the most notable and compelling characters in the division even if that is no longer matched by his in-cage performances.
Most Notable Win: Dan Henderson – UFC 75, 2007
Most Telling Defeat: Rashad Evans – UFC 114, 2010
End of 2016 Prediction: Back coaching on the Ultimate Fighter.
THE BEST OF THE REST
Outside of the top ten it is hard to find fighters in the UFC that could put a run together and force their way into the reckoning. Patrick Cummins showed that he is still a work in progress when he was knocked out by Ovince Saint Preux last time out, and is already 34-years-old.
Gian Villante might be putting on exciting fights, but did more in wins against Sean O’Connell and Corey Anderson to suggest he isn’t a contender, than instill confidence that he could beat top ten opposition.
Corey Anderson himself remains a prospect, but one with a lot of work to do to become a serious contender. The 25-year-old Ultimate Fighter winner has time to improve but the defeat to Villante, in a fight he could so easily have won, puts into perspective where he is at right now.
Don’t be surprised either to see former champion Lyoto Machida return to the division following his crushing defeat to Luke Rockhold. His path to another title shot at 185 pounds is packed with roadblocks, but with Jon Jones out of the picture for the time being Machida may find renewed success at light-heavyweight.
Brendan Schaub has gone one step further, confirming that he will be competing in the light-heavyweight division. While it is an interesting move for a fighter who weighed 244lbs last time out against Travis Browne, Schaub will not be expected to make waves in the division. The natural advantages in speed and movement that helped him at heavyweight will be lost at 205 pounds.
Our best chance of finding a new top ten threat may come on June 20 at UFC Fight Night: Jedrzejczyk vs Penne. We will see two prospects fight for the chance to continue a run towards the top ten when Nikita Krylov faces Marcos “Pezao”. Krylov rebounded from a defeat to Ovince Saint Preux with back to back first round finishes of Cody Donovan and Stanislav Nedkov. Meanwhile Pezao has gone 2-0 in the UFC, beating Richardson Moreira and Igor Pokrajac, also finishing both in the first round.
Beyond that the UFC are in a tough spot looking for new 205 pound stars. Bellator has turned light-heavyweight into one of its marquee divisions, and there is hardly an abundance of talent in the free agent pool to tap into. It could be some time before we see a resurgence in what is historically the most significant division the UFC has promoted.
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