BY COLIN BISH, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
A month ago, Sean Strickland defeated Israel Adesanya to become the UFC Middleweight champion. Despite Strickland’s incredible performance, the UFC isn’t interested in finding him new challengers.
After UFC 293, UFC president Dana White was asked about a potential rematch between Strickland and Adesanya. White said, “I think you do the rematch.”
While White clarified his comments, explaining how multiple big fights will occur in the coming months that can determine the Middleweight division’s future, his statements expose a glaring problem.
The UFC has been piggybacking off Adesanya’s market prowess and fame, leading to less exposure for other worthy Middleweight challengers.
In the UFC, popular champions who lose dominantly never get an immediate rematch. Adesanya has had a remarkable run in the Middleweight division, but it’s time other contenders get their shine.
White announced that former Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman will fight fourth-ranked Welterweight Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294. The winner will face Strickland for the title.
I’m not taking away from what Usman and Chimaev have accomplished. Usman is one of the best Welterweights ever, and Chimaev has crushed everyone he’s faced in the UFC. But this will be their first Middleweight fight; Why should they get title shots over other contenders?
One guy that comes to mind is fourth-ranked Middleweight Jared Cannonier. Cannonier has a 7-2 record at Middleweight with wins over tough opponents like Marvin Vettori, Anderson Silva and even current champion Strickland.
However, Cannonier has an upcoming fight, so a championship is on hold.
This leaves one guy who’s been incredibly dominant in the UFC: second-ranked Middleweight Dricus Du Plessis.
Du Plessis is a fighter with a weird but effective style, able to grapple with high-level wrestlers and strike with the best.
His most recent fight showcased his abilities, as he finished former Middleweight champion Robert Whittaker. This earned him a chance to challenge Adesanya in a championship grudge match, but Du Plessis declined the fight due to an injury.
Since then, other contenders have leapfrogged Du Plessis to gain title opportunities. But if you beat a former champion, especially one like Whittaker, you should be fighting for a title.
My issue is White’s desire to give Adesanya an immediate rematch. It shows he wants to make the most profitable fight rather than give opportunities to fighters who earned their opportunities.
I also understand he wanted an Adesanya-Du Plessis fight because of the rivalry, but sometimes life doesn’t go as expected. You reward people for their accomplishments. Yet, despite Du Plessis’ UFC achievements in just three years, White would instead give the fight to the big names with no Middleweight contributions.
I get it; it’s a business, and White is the promoter. He’s undeniably a great promoter. But considering the trajectory of the Middleweight division, he should be giving the title shot to someone who’s been consistently winning at 185, not guys who have had no accomplishments at the weight class.
bischcj22@bonaventure.edu
