After a multiple month layoff, I'm bringing back a feature that I started earlier this year where I combine a division's published rankings from UFC.com, Fight Matrix, Sherdog, and MMA Weekly. I then use those combined rankings to determine who should get the next title shot and which two fighters should face off in a #1 contender's match for the next shot based on the following rules:
- The next title contender would be the highest ranked fighter that:
- Won two fights in a row.
- Won three fights since his last loss in a title fight or against the current champion unless he's a former champion that successfully defended the belt.
- Won five fights in a row if his number of losses against the current champion is two greater than his number of wins.
- The next #1 contender match would be between the next two highest ranked fighters that:
- Won his last fight.
- Won two fights since his last loss in a title fight or against the current champion unless he's a former champion that successfully defended the belt.
- Won four fights in a row if his number of losses against the current champion is two greater than his number of wins.
I then pair up the remaining fighters from the top ten (sometimes going beyond) based on their last outcome in an attempt to set things up so that when all of the matches play out, there's at least a couple of good candidates for the next #1 contender's match.
After going through my theorical matchups, I take a look at the fights the UFC has already set up and give my take on what should happen with the unmatched fighters. Finally, I give my overall thoughts on the division.
In the spring, I was working my way "up" the weight classes. With this reboot, I'm going to start with heavyweight and work down since I didn't make it all the way through last time.
Combined Rankings
| UFC | Fight Matrix | Sherdog | MMA Weekly | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Last Update: | 10/11/2013 | 10/13/2013 | 09/23/2013 | 09/24/2013 | |||||||||
| 1. | Renan Barao | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| 2. | Urijah Faber | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||
| 3. | Michael McDonald | 3 | 3 | (5) | 3 | 3 | |||||||
| 4. | Raphael Assuncao | 4 | 4 | (6) | 5 | 4 | (5) | ||||||
| 5. | Eddie Wineland | 5 | 5 | (9) | 4 | 5 | (6) | ||||||
| 6. | Brad Pickett | 6 | 6 | 6 | (7) | ||||||||
| 7. | Takeya Mizugaki | 10 | 6 | (11) | T9 | (OC) | 8 | (9) | |||||
| 8. | TJ Dillashaw | 8 | 8 | (9) | 7 | (8) | |||||||
| 9. | Scott Jorgensen | 7 | 7 | ||||||||||
| 10. | Wilson Reis | 7 | (12) | ||||||||||
| Bryan Caraway | 8 | (13) | |||||||||||
| Iuri Alcantara | 10 | (17) | T9 | (OC) | |||||||||
| Mike Easton | 9 | ||||||||||||
| George Roop | 9 | (14) | |||||||||||
| Erik Perez | 9 | (10) | |||||||||||
A little bit of a precursor first. Dominick Cruz is the UFC Bantamweight Champion but hasn't fought in over two years. Only the UFC still ranks him (as #0 as the rules require). I have left him off of the UFC's list since that's the only one he's on. Since it looks like he's on his way back early next year, the next title shot will be considered to be against him.
Matches I'd Make
Obviously the next title shot has to go to the interim champion: Renan Barao. Barao has done quite the good job defending the interim belt defeating three of the top five fighters. The #1 contenders match will be set up between Urijah Faber (hard to believe that he's already won enough to be back in the picture) and Raphael Assuncao. Then I'd match up Michael McDonald and Takeya Mizugaki and get one of the two back into the title picture. I'd also match up Wilson Reis with Bryan Caraway and hopefully get one of those two into more of the top tens. As for those coming off of losses, Eddie Wineland and Brad Pickett just recently fought, so I'd match up Wineland with TJ Dillashaw and Pickett with Scott Jorgensen and get two of those guys back on track. Just outside the top ten, I'd match up Iuri Alcantara and Mike Easton.
Matches the UFC has Made
Cruz vs Barao has been mentioned but nothing as officially been set up yet. Faber is set to take on McDonald in Sacramento in December. Mizugaki will be welcoming Nam Phan to bantonweight at Fight Night 33. Jorgensen is moving down to flyweight and will be taking on Ian McCall on the December Sacramento card.
Matches I'd Add to the UFC's
Since it'll still be a bit before Cruz fights and since Assuncao just fought, I'd save him for the winner of Faber/McDonald. I'd keep my Reis/Caraway and Wineland/Dillashaw matchups. As for Pickett, I'd give him Alcantara.
The return of Cruz will be long overdue for the division. Thankfully Barao has kept busy as champion - perhaps too busy as he's beaten many of the top guys. It'll be interesting to see if new challengers emerge or if we see a number of rematches for the title in the upcoming years.
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