The second heaviest division in the UFC keeps getting thinner.
Daniel Cormier and Anthony Johnson will throw down for the light heavyweight title for the second time in UFC 201’s main event. Not always, but usually a card headlined by a title fight will have a few more fights in that weight class with the hope that a new contender might emerge. The only other 205 lb fight on that card is Pat Cumins vs Jan Blachowicz.
No offence to either fighter, they’re both great martial artists, but few fans would feel comfortable throwing them into the Octagon against either of the headliners.
With Jon Jones’ suspension almost up, he’s likely to get the next title shot. After that you’re looking at Alexander Gustafsson, who’s 2-3 in his last five appearances, and maybe Glover Texeira or Jimi Manuwa for the next crack at the belt. All three of those fighters were brutally knocked out by Johnson. If he beats DC and Jones, the promotion are going to run into problems. Especially considering top five fighter Ryan Bader’s move to Bellator has been all but confirmed.
The best way to combat a lack of contenders is to build up prospects, but the 205 lb division is being bled dry of young stars.
First it was Misha Cirkunov who was released from the promotion. The Canadian is undefeated in the UFC, with all of those victories coming by way of finish. His eight-fight win-streak caught the eye of the next title challenger ‘Rumble,’ and he looked poised to challenge for a belt before the year’s end.
However, UFC president Dana White confirmed earlier this month that contract negotiations had stalled and the promotion was ready to let him go.
It has since been confirmed that another top prospect, 24-year-old Nikita Krylov (21-5, 6-3 UFC) has also left the UFC. The Ukrainian entered the promotion as a 21-year-old heavyweight and went 1-1 before dropping down. After losing his light heavyweight debut to Ovince Saint Preux, he went on a five-fight winning streak which was ended by Cirkunov at UFC 206. All six of his UFC wins have come inside the distance.
Aside from the newly-introduced women’s featherweight division, the other weight class that can rival light heavyweight for most shallow is flyweight. That division’s getting thinner too.
It has been confirmed that 26-year-old contender Kyoji Horiguchi’s contract will not be getting renewed. The Japanese fighter has been pegged by many to be a future champion in the division and his only loss in eight UFC appearances has been to Demetrious Johnson for the belt. He follows the route of the man he beat in Belfast, Ali Baguatinov, who has also entered free agency after his contract was not renewed.
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