Hello everyone! Last weekend was significant for MMA. Ian Machado Garry showcased his skills against Carlos Prates at UFC Kansas City (managing to hold on tightly in the final minutes), Anthony Smith likely competed for the last time, and the biggest fight of the year, Eddie Hall vs. Mariusz Pudzianowski, delivered. Let`s talk about it all.
Question: What fight in the UFC, across any division, could be even slightly as entertaining as Mariusz Pudzianowski vs. Eddie Hall?
The fun truth is probably none. Realistically, only a select few. I championed the idea of Hall vs. Pudzianowski after Hall`s prior MMA showing. I have a soft spot for unique “freakshow” fights, and this one was the best in years. Though brief, it met expectations; I haven`t heard complaints from those who paid to watch. It was 30 seconds of delightfully silly chaos, something the sport needs more of.
Sadly, silly chaos isn`t the UFC`s focus. They`re trying to balance being a “legitimate” sport with being clearly non-meritocratic when convenient. While they shouldn`t go full Fight Circus, embracing a bit of unpredictability occasionally could help. Since that`s unlikely, fantasy matchmaking within the UFC is limited. Fights like Tom Aspinall vs. Brandon Moreno or Brandon Royval sound amazing but are highly improbable. However, here are some fun matchups that are actually possible or likely within the current roster.
There are many exciting fighters in the UFC, so I might have missed some potential fun pairings. The point is, you don`t want these unique fights weekly, but scheduling one every few months makes them must-see events. Right now, the UFC lacks many truly must-see events.
Question: Does Garry`s recent fight earn him a title eliminator? A fight between Jack Della Maddalena and Garry would be fun. We need Shavkat vs. Belal Muhammad next (I expect Belal to beat JDM).
The welterweight title picture is incredibly unclear right now. Typically, Garry`s strong performance against Prates would put him one fight away from a title shot. He`s highly ranked, challenged the top contender effectively on short notice, and looked sharp against a rising star. But these aren`t normal times; the division is currently complex. Della Maddalena, arguably the fifth most deserving contender, is fighting Muhammad next simply due to timing. The outcome of that fight could create significant disorder. If JDM wins, Islam Makhachev is almost certain to get the first title shot against him, leaving Shavkat out. If Belal wins, Shavkat could still be sidelined due to circumstances, as much is happening while he`s inactive. Garry is rising and will be a backup fighter, Joaquin Buckley has a chance against Kamaru Usman, and Sean Brady decisively beat Leon Edwards. The 170-pound division is full of contenders.
My best guess is Shavkat still has the inside track for a title shot (assuming Belal wins), meaning Garry will likely face Brady or Buckley in a No. 1 contender fight. However, if Kamaru Usman defeats Buckley, everything changes. The current UFC regime enjoys giving potentially undeserved title shots to former champions (like Sean O`Malley recently).
Question: I like Anthony Smith, seems a good guy, but when did he become a UFC legend?
Perhaps around the time he famously refused to quit against Jon Jones, seemingly sacrificing his title chance and reinforcing the Jones narrative. I respect Anthony Smith greatly. He wasn`t exceptionally gifted and faced early career setbacks, but through sheer determination, he built a solid UFC career and transitioned into media. That`s genuinely admirable and inspiring. However, the broadcast on Saturday went heavily on the praise. If you didn`t follow MMA, you`d think an all-time great was retiring, which isn`t accurate.
We can be honest: Anthony Smith was a good but not great fighter. He benefited significantly from competing when two divisions were weak. Look at his record; who is his best win? A past-prime Alexander Gustafsson? Past-prime Shogun Rua? Past-prime Rashad Evans? Honestly, his win over Volkan Oezdemir is probably his best, which is good, but we aren`t calling Nikita Krylov a potential Hall of Famer. Anthony Smith should be praised for his achievements and a career better than most, but we should temper the excessive tributes.
That said, I do wish the UFC did more send-offs like this. Smith isn`t an all-time (or even one-time) great, but he stuck around, and acknowledging his departure was a nice gesture for a fighter who achieved a lot through effort. Also, credit to Smith himself. His attitude all week and on fight night was excellent. “Lionheart” was fully committed to retirement, gave a younger fighter a chance to move up, and showed no bitterness. He was clearly content with his decision and approached it with the right mindset. Very few fighters possess that level of self-awareness, and it was great to see him so happy during his final walkout.
Question: Do we actually know if Zhang [Mingyang] is good, or is he just a product of a weak light heavyweight division? Or both? I like him but wonder if he`s truly that good. Also, I really want to see Zhang fight Johnny Walker because nobody loses more spectacularly than Johnny Walker.
It`s likely a mix of both factors, but it`s hard to say for sure. The light heavyweight division is currently struggling (“a dumpster fire”), so it doesn`t take immense talent to reach the top 15. We know Zhang hits hard and isn`t foolish, but his true skill level remains to be seen over time. And yes, as I`ve said before, Johnny Walker is one of the sport`s most entertaining fighters to watch lose. Zhang vs. Walker is perfect matchmaking.
Question: What`s more absurd: not having a headliner for UFC 317 (International Fight Week) yet, or letting the Jon Jones situation continue for another year?
Neither is ideal, but the Jon Jones situation is dramatically worse. At least for International Fight Week, we have a likely headliner: Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria, unless Jack Della Maddalena upsets Belal Muhammad, in which case it would likely be Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira for a vacant/interim lightweight title. So, we should know the plan within two weeks.
The Jones situation, however, is genuinely indefensible, and frankly, always has been. The fight with Stipe Miocic was a joke; everyone knew it, but they did it anyway. A champion should defend against the top contender, and an interim champion *is always* the top contender by any logical standard. Jon Jones`s heavyweight title reign is a charade, and every day the UFC allows it continues is disrespectful to Tom Aspinall and the fans. Hopefully, this absurdity ends soon, and Jones either fights Tom or relinquishes the belt so everyone can move forward.
Wesley Dunham