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Brett Okamoto
multiple authors
You’ve got to give it to the former UFC heavyweight title challenger curtis blades. Even in defeat to the newcomer josh hokit (and with a broken nose and orbital bone), he maintained his sense of humor even after UFC 327.
In a social media comment shortly after his three-round barn burner on April 11, Blaydes asked, “Did we save the heavyweights, Chat?” This was an apparent reference to the dismal state of the heavyweight division in recent years, having suffered john jones‘Retirement, Tom AspinallMedical uncertainty and lack of new talent.
To answer Blades’ question, no, that one (albeit entertaining) fight didn’t in itself save the Giants – but maybe it’s a start.
Aspinall’s future remains the division’s biggest question, but he revealed he has resumed “light” training this month. And of course, co-headlining the June 14 event on the White House lawn is an interim heavyweight title fight between these two. alex perera And Cyril Gane. So although there has been ups and downs in weight classes throughout MMA, a sense of direction should be on the horizon.
Here are some other questions that will shape the immediate future of the heavyweight landscape.
What is the cap for Josh Hokit?
This became huge at UFC 327.
Hokit’s WWE promo-style nonsense is equally disappointing. This is not a secret. He’s nervously bartering, and he knows it. This has proven effective during his 3-0 UFC start, but it’s not a guarantee in the long run, Especially if he loses.
The question isn’t whether Hokit can capture fans’ attention. The question is, how much capacity does he have to connect with it? The quality of his wins over the top five heavyweights at Blades – not his shtick – earned him the fight against Hokit derrick lewis In the White House. Yes, they work well together, but if he turns out to be an average talent in the long run, the antics will work against him.
But if he keeps winning, the chances increase slightly. In MMA, a circus act can actually become more entertaining if it starts consuming legitimate opposition. If his ceiling as a fighter reaches championship-level, this personality could make him a star, as unbelievable as that sounds.
how fast can you do gable steveson Became legal?
There’s no question in my mind, Steveson will be really good in MMA. It is impossible to say how long this will take. Because he’s not there yet.
UFC probably needed to sign an Olympic gold medal-winning wrestler (which he did last week) so that he doesn’t risk losing out to another promotion. But I really doubt UFC Desired For signing him early in his MMA career. He made his MMA debut less than a year ago, and in his most recent fight, was a first-round TKO over hugo lezama In February, he still looked unpolished.
As stated, he has been mentored and trained by former UFC two-division champion Jon Jones, and Jones predicted that Steveson would be UFC champion within a year. I don’t see a world in which even Steveson could do that to get The opportunity to fight for the heavyweight belt within a year – let alone defeat someone like Aspinall – but the division is wide open. If Steveson starts winning UFC fights in highlight-reel fashion, things could escalate quickly.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the UFC signs a new fighter to be Steveson’s first opponent in July. Maybe it could find someone on the roster, like Alan Fry, who is 0-1 in the UFC and 6-1 overall, but I can see the promotion looking for someone on the regional scene who has a 1-1 record and can even the playing field for Steveson.
where do Francis Ngannou And will Netflix move beyond May 16?
Nakisa Biederian, CEO of Most Valuable Promotions, told Sports Business Journal this month that if their Ronda Rousey versus gina carano-Headlining MMA debut card to do well on Netflix next month, says company will be “involved in MMA for a long time.”
If that’s the case, it’s probably safe to assume Ngannou will be a part of those long-term plans. Ngannou is fighting Philip Lins in the co-main event, and Nakano told ESPN that he would like to continue fighting for the next five years. He also said that obviously their activity will depend on what opportunities are available.
Then that’s the big question: What kind of opportunities could Netflix bring to Ngannou, assuming he still looks like the best heavyweight on the planet? an mma fight against jake paul This may sound silly, but somehow it is possible. In fact, had Ngannou been interested the two would have boxed last year. He said he would consider the idea after the Lins fight. He also said he would be open to rediscovering a fight with world kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven.
The other factor is whether Netflix can lure a veteran away from the UFC in free agency. A In right terms The interesting idea comes from Aspinall, whose relationship with the UFC has been strained due to CEO Dana White’s comments about Aspinall’s eye injuries and his handling of the company’s heavyweight title after Jones retires in 2025.
The likelihood of Aspinall trying (and succeeding) to get out of his UFC contract is slim, but Aspinall’s recent decision to sign a managerial contract with boxing promoter Eddie Hearn was a clear sign of resistance between him and the UFC. If Aspinol Did Attempting to secure his release, knowing that Ngannou and Netflix had a huge opportunity available, these negotiations would be the biggest story of the year.
