UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Almeida was going fine. Morono won the absolute lay-up he had been given for his endless boot licking he has been doing for Dana White and the UFC. A couple of KOs from two up and commers, one more Irish than the other. Then, the name value, the big draw… Except they forgot they were meant to be the main draw.

Let’s begin with arguably the main offenders. The saddest thing about the Walker/Smith fight is that someone had to win it. Walker darted in and out for about 3 minutes before coming straight down off his toes and proceeded to spend the next 12 minutes stood flat footed in front of an Anthony Smith who refused to throw strikes. Walker at least added to his highlight package of throwing three flashy techniques in a row without hitting a single one. Indeed the quality of the fight can be best summarised by Anthony Smith accidentally ducking a hook kick and looking so surprised he nearly went down anyway.

The true annoyance of this fight however is the fact that these two were in what is essentially a title eliminator depending on the health of Jiri. This fight was so dull it has single-handedly changed my opinion on whether Alex Pereira should stay at middle weight or come up. Watching Walker and Smith mount such ineffectual offense has me, and likely the UFC as well, thinking about the potential matchup between ‘Stone Hands’ and Procházka. 

The only way to make this a helpful inclusion this high on a card is by putting Jamahal Hill up against Walker and immediately precede it with the matchup between the Brazilian and the Pole. That way we can potentially breathe some life into what is arguably the least exciting division in the sport. A pre made number 1 contender fight that can give us a sense of finality considering the tail spin the division has been in since Jon Jones vacated.

Speaking of Jones, the heavyweights. There is no talent in this division. No one watched Almeida dive tackle Rozenstruik round the ankles then progress with free will to a choke and thought, my god he is incredible. Or rather a lot of people did because the heavy weight division is so devoid of talent. The positive response honestly surprised me. Considering the man at the top of the division it is difficult to imagine anyone having success further than beating each other in the middling contender bracket. 

The bookings the UFC are making on the basis of weight class is no longer viable. The volume of talent in the lower weight classes is simply too much to prioritise the two worst divisions in MMA. Ian Garry, whilst far from a complete project is a popular figure and a number of people will have been unaware he was fighting on this card. Whilst more established names were ahead of him on the billing. I doubt that the card performed better than if a figure like Garry were to have led the card. Considering how easily the rankings move around there is no reason you could not move Garry into the 15 slot and have that be a justification for his top billing.

Dana, you know that these guys are not good, you lost Ngannou, and soon you’ll lose any competition for Jones. Do you really think Sergei Pavlovich is going to beat him? Almeida? No of course you don’t otherwise you would not be trying to drag Stipe kicking and screaming back into the Octagon. So lets not headline events with these guys anymore. Put them as the opener or even that featured prelim thing you have been doing. It will bring more eyes to the cards as wholes and will help promote those guys at the top of the card who actually have the talent you market these heavyweights as having.

Sincerely,

A Bantamweight fan.