As the year draws to a close, it offers us a great opportunity to take a look at the state of the UFC’s roster, and what we can expect in the upcoming months.
Today, we’re going to be looking at the UFC Heavyweight division.
In previous years, the heavyweight division has been set at a slow, anchored pace. Due in part to previous champion Cain Velasquez’s penchant of getting injured, the UFC’s big men division has perhaps lost some of it’s previous glamour.
Throughout the second half of 2015 though, the cogs at heavyweight are beginning to turn. A momentum has begun to be found in the division, and as we head into 2016, an array of contenders are beginning to line up, giving a fresh face to the UFC’s Heavyweight world.
At the peak of the division is champion Fabrício Werdum. At 38, it would be fair to think the mans best days are behind him, but with every fight, the Brazilian seems better and sharper than the one before.
In June of this year, Werdum turned in what could have been his finest career performance, forcing then-champion Cain Velasquez to submit via a guillotine choke. Much was made of the outside factors in that fight, such Velasquez’s decision to not train at altitude for a bout taking place at Mexico City, some 7,000ft above sea level.
Poor training environment aside, Werdum’s victory should be appreciated, as well as his position in heavyweight history. With a résumé boasting wins over names such as Velasquez, Alistair Overeem and Fedor Emelianenko, Werdum could be one of the best heavyweights ever to grace the sport.
Still, the voices of dissent remain, and the new champion will have his opportunity to prove that victory over the tenacious Velasquez wasn’t a fluke. The two rematch in the main event of UFC 196, February 6th.
The odds have Cain as favourite, with the betting line currently showing at Cain Velasquez -145 to Fabrício Werdum at +125.
The man who awaits the winner of that fight is still an unknown entity, but there are no few options for said position.
Alistair Overeem recently staked his claim for the shot, beating perennial title contender Junior Dos Santos with a thunderous left hook. For the two men, the fight signified a turning of fortunes, with Overeem putting three wins together for the first time since 2011, and for Dos Santos, a worrying sign that his chin is not what it once was.
That bout was the last on Overeem’s contract with the UFC, and the Dutchman announced his intentions to test MMA’s free market. The business decision could work in the kickboxer’s favour, as a title shot would be a shrewd (and reasonable) request during negotiations with the UFC.
Not that Alistair is the only viable contender.
Andrei Arlovksi, a veteran in Mixed Martial Arts, has won four straight since his return to the UFC last year. Most recently achieving victories over Frank Mir and Travis Brown, it looked as if Arlovski could be the recipient of a title shot, before he was paired against fellow UFC Heavyweight top fiver, Stipe Miocic.
Miocic was previously seen handily beating Mark Hunt in May, showing a gruelling ground game and cardio that took the Samoan out of his depth.
Miocic and Arlovski are set to meet next week at UFC 195, January 2nd. Should the victor come away with an impressive performance, it’s more than likely they’ll be set to face the champion, whomever it is, later in the year.
Usually, that would be the end of the UFC Heavyweight division’s depth, but 2016 shows more promise. Past Miocic, Arlovski and Overeem, there are still big names in the discussion, particularly Ben Rothwell.
Rothwell has been on a tear of publicity, with a win over Matt Mitrione giving way to repeated demands for a big name on social media. And, with his new-found outgoing persona (quirky though it may be), Rothwell had his requests rewarded, and has been paired up with former UFC Heavyweight champion Josh Barnett.
A victory for either man could propel them to being one win away from the next chance at the heavyweight belt.
Predictions for 2016: Whomever wins out of Cain Velasquez and Fabrício Werdum will go on to defeat all challengers and still be Heavyweight champion at the end of the year.
