It might always have loads of talent but what we just saw from 2015-2024 was special compared to other UFC divisions. Even two of the three greatest FW’s of all time came up and participated. Some of the current highly ranked WW’s as well were also competing in it for a time.
Division just had an overabundance of remarkable talent participating.
Only 17 fighters have ever won 10 or more “OTN” awards in UFC history. 13 of those 17 fighters fought in the 2015-2024 LW division at some point in that decade.
And all of a sudden, LW is sort of boring compared to what it has been for most of the past decade.
Oh well, you knew the division needed to take a rest for a bit I guess… you can’t instantly replace what we just saw with Khabib, Makhachev, Charles, Max, Tony, Gaethje, Dustin, Conor, RDA, Nate etc… in that division.
The division was bound to hit a slump sooner or later. Notice there is no group like Khabib, Tony, Conor, Gaethje, Dustin, Charles etc… all climbing the ranks headed towards great fights in 2025 and 2026.
The UFC should sign Usman from PFL/Bellator
I’ve assumed he will make the jump once Makhachev is done with LW. Usman is still young and as a main training partner of Makhachev, it makes sense to have gone to Bellator. Not sure how many fights he has left on his Bellator deal but I’m sure he makes the jump when he is done with that.
“Yes, he’s got a ligament injury, and he’s getting consultation from different doctors, and we’ll see what they say he has to do,” Mendez told Helen Yee. “But yeah, he’s not going to be able to train for a fight till probably late (November-December), or maybe January.
“It depends on what the UFC and him and can come up with, but he’s definitely not going to be able to fight in October like people are hoping.”
Although the event and date will have to change, Mendez is confident that Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) will remain as challenger, especially after Belal Muhammad won the welterweight title from Leon Edwards this past Saturday at UFC 304.
“I would think it would be the Arman rematch because I don’t see anything else in the horizon, being that Belal won the welterweight title,” Mendes said. “I seriously, seriously doubt that they would want to fight each other, so I think that changes the dynamic of going-for-two-belts situations.
“I think Arman was on point as far as the next opponent, anyway. That’s the fight I would want to happen, anyway.”