The Fighter Takes the Stage Again
The UFC spotlight volition fall on its heavyweights over the next ii weeks, as four fighters from the division volition headline the promotion'due south next two events.
On Saturday, England'due south Tom Aspinall (11-2) will accept on Alexander Volkov (34-9) in the main event of UFC Fight Dark in London (one p.g. ET on ESPN+). The following week, Curtis Blaydes (15-3) volition come across Chris Daukaus (12-four) in Columbus. All four are ranked within the division'south top eleven.
It's an interesting fourth dimension at heavyweight for a multitude of reasons. Current champion Francis Ngannou'southward time to come remains in the air, as he'due south due for a new UFC contract but is scheduled for major knee surgery and is in the midst of a contract dispute. Sometime light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is expected to make his heavyweight debut at some signal in 2022 too -- a motility he'southward teased for the better part of a decade.
As the partition takes centre stage, let'south take this opportunity to dig into the most pressing questions at heavyweight.
What is the latest on Ngannou and his relationship with the UFC?
Nothing has really changed since Ngannou fought out his contract in January. Now keep in mind, "fought out his contract" is a relative phrase every bit he'due south even so under a champion'southward clause. But Ngannou's interpretation of his contract is that he'll be a free agent at the end of the year, and he's already said he won't fight nether this electric current contract over again -- so, practically speaking, he's done with the UFC unless he signs a new deal.
Ngannou has been in Africa as of belatedly, celebrating his most recent title defense over Ciryl Gane. He is scheduled for knee surgery this calendar week back in the U.Southward., and won't fight until 2023 regardless of contract status. He'southward fabricated it very clear he wants to box Tyson Fury side by side.
All of the problems surrounding Ngannou's UFC contract negotiations are even so present, but the ane thing everyone has working for them at present is time. There is no rush to get a deal washed. Ngannou isn't fighting again this year anyhow, so there is less of a sense of urgency. That could make it easier to go something washed.
Is Jon Jones, heavyweight champion, a possibility this yr?
Of course it'due south a possibility. The UFC hasn't said much in terms of plans for the heavyweight division, because those plans start with Ngannou. But regardless of whether Ngannou stays with the UFC or ultimately parts means, an interim championship fight feels likely at this moment. Once again, Ngannou isn't fighting once more in 2022 either way due to the knee surgery. It's hard to envision a scenario in which the UFC lets all of 2022 laissez passer without a heavyweight title fight on the books.
I believe Jones wants to fight this year after taking all of 2022 off. And I believe his first advent at heavyweight will be with a title on the line, and rightly and so -- Jones is the most dominant calorie-free heavyweight champion in UFC history, and he has a strong case to make as the greatest MMA fighter of all time. As of right now, the most likely scenario is Jones vs. Stipe Miocic at some bespeak in 2022 for an interim championship. Or, if things go south with Ngannou's contract negotiations, Jones-Miocic for the undisputed belt.
Which of the four heavyweights in the next two weeks volition be a title contender soonest?
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Flashback: Tom Aspinall'due south terminal win in the UFC
Plough back the clock to Tom Aspinall's nigh recent UFC win, a TKO victory over Sergey Spivak at UFC Fight Dark in September of 2021.
Aspinall. Backside the scenes -- and publicly, likewise -- there are a lot of people who are high on Aspinall.
He checks a lot of boxes at heavyweight. He's quick. He'due south young. He's smart. He'southward well-rounded. He's a breath of fresh air in this partition, frankly. The heavyweight segmentation is always, always, always in need of new talent and Aspinall is right up there with Gane in terms of exciting new blood. The UFC obviously believes in him, relying on him to headline this carte in London -- the promotion'southward commencement event in England since 2019.
Blaydes can be a problem for anyone with his wrestling, simply in terms of ceiling -- both in marketability and competitiveness -- Aspinall is that guy correct now at heavyweight.
Are former contenders Miocic, Gane and Derrick Lewis now relegated to gatekeepers?
No. As just mentioned, there is a stiff possibility Miocic'southward next fight will be for a UFC championship against Jones. Now, if he loses that fight, he might be looking at gatekeeper condition.
Gane is still a baby in MMA, peculiarly when information technology comes to the typical historic period of a top heavyweight. We're less than three months removed from him beingness an interim champion, and he nearly beat Ngannou to become the undisputed champion. Gane could hands still exist the future of the heavyweight partition. I'd say his chances of condign a UFC gnaw before his career is over are quite loftier.
As far as Lewis, he'south pretty far away from another title shot at this point, but I wouldn't say that dream is over. As popular equally he is, and equally consequent as he is ... he could still go a UFC title shot in the future. Time is not on his side, simply he just knocked out Chris Daukaus four months ago, and he was beating Tai Tuivasa in February before he got clipped in an exchange. He'due south not in gatekeeper condition yet.
Who is the UFC's heavyweight champion this time next year?
Man. I've gone back and forth on the likelihood of Ngannou re-signing with the UFC. I idea it would definitely happen, then I was pretty sure it wouldn't happen, at present I'grand back to thinking it volition happen -- but I'thousand not strongly confident either mode.
At the end of the day, Ngannou re-signing with the UFC makes sense for all parties. Ngannou wants to be with the UFC, if the contract is right. The UFC wants to be in business organization with Ngannou as well. Why on world would it not? The UFC wants to be the home of the best fighters in the globe, and Ngannou is 1 of the best fighters in the earth.
As of today, I'll say Ngannou is the UFC'southward heavyweight champion this time next year, with a make new UFC contract. Merely nosotros will see how negotiations play out.
Source: https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/33495291/as-ufc-heavyweights-take-center-stage-next-year-look-division
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