The “Cursed” Heavyweight Division in the UFC
By JM “Shade” Daguio
The UFC heavyweight division just had its new champion; Ohio’s own Stipe Miocic.After a crazy night in Brazil where then-contender Stipe Miocic took the heavyweight title from Fabricio Werdum with a vicious step-back right hook that face-planted Werdum shocked so many, not of the result but of the manner. The heavyweight division is back to its old crazy ways.In the history of the UFC heavyweight title, no champion had ever defended the title more than twice and it didn’t look like it was going to change that night.
The title has exchanged hands 19 times, only 3 fighters defended the title twice, Tim Sylvia, Cain Velasquez, Brock Lesnar. The division is littered with one punch artist that literally no one can hold on to the belt for so long. Lesnar had the athleticism and size, he was able to hold on to the title but only for as long as where his physical gifts take him, he was eventually exposed by Cain Velasquez due to the latters skill and all-around game. Despite the fact he was proclaimed to be the “one” to clean out the division, Cain Velasquez lost to Junior Dos Santos who was also touted to defend it numerous times and yet loses to a grinding Velasquez in their rematch. Velasquez’s second stint as champ was a little brighter and yet he can only muster 2 title defenses and eventually losing to Werdum, and we all know what happen when it was Werdum’s turn.
Aside from the division’s “curse”, the division also suffers a shortage of young bloods, the top 10 of the division are all in their mid to late 30’s including the champion at 33, which means anybody can beat anybody on a given night.
The question right now is will Miocic break the curse or is he just a temporary holder of the title? The fact is leaning towards the latter, Miocic is an athletic and skillful fighter but he has also lost to other heavyweights, after he captured the title his former conquerors gained relevancy in the division again which is good news, however Miocic may also have been able to reach his learning curve and might be on a resurgent campaign in which we will see him carry the belt longer than expected.
The next clear challenger would probably be Alistair Overeem who is on a 4-fight winning streak, Overeem would be a stylistic challenge for Miocic since he will never expect Overeem to bum-rush like Werdum did, Overeem would be less exposed and might pose to be the better striker.
The title picture is a little bit shaky yet exciting. The heavyweight division may yet to be the most exciting division but it’s shaping up to be if the shock and the astonishment will be staple in the division’s plate.
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