Greetings, folks!
The world of MMA was buzzing last week as the UFC, PFL, and Bellator hosted a flurry of events. We witnessed an exhilarating middleweight main event between Jared Cannonier and Marvin Vettori, Sergio Pettis thwarted Patricio Pitbull’s bid for a historic three-division championship, and referee Keith Peterson stumbled in a significant way. Join me as we delve into these events and explore Erin Blanchfield’s journey, along with the UFC’s summer schedule.
Patricio Pitbull
Well, well, well… That didn’t go as planned.
In the realm of MMA, I’m no stranger to being wrong—given the nature of making predictions—yet, I absolutely hit the nail on the head with Pitbull’s venture into the bantamweight division and his clash with Sergio Pettis. Dropping down to a new weight class at the age of 35 is an incredibly daunting task. Besides the grueling weight cut, there’s the challenge of adapting to the nuances of a different weight class. The speed, strategies, and dynamics all change. When a fighter lacks experience in that division, they essentially transform into a different athlete and must learn on the fly.
Throughout his entire career, Pitbull has enjoyed a speed advantage over his opponents… until last Saturday. Pettis glided around the cage as if Pitbull were moving through molasses. It was a brutal realization for Pitbull. Adding insult to injury, the drop in speed didn’t seem to come with an increase in power. Essentially, Pitbull gained nothing from the weight drop; he merely lost one of his advantages. Not an ideal outcome.
The notion of Pitbull ever making it down to 125 pounds was always absurd—a mere attention-grabbing statement. Now the question remains: Will he stay at 135? Jose Aldo faced a challenging debut in the bantamweight division but eventually acclimated and climbed the ranks. Pitbull could follow a similar path. Alternatively, he might return to his original weight class of featherweight and await Sergio Pettis’ attempt to snatch the belt from him. The possible outcomes are numerous, and I’m genuinely intrigued to see which path Pitbull takes.
The 185-Pound Dilemma
I sense this question delves into the perception that the middleweight division is rather lackluster, featuring fighters who fail to captivate the audience. To be honest, there’s some truth to that. Apart from Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker, are there any other middleweights in the UFC who genuinely excite fans? Perhaps Chris Weidman comes to mind, but the division is primarily dominated by these two names, lacking a plethora of other prominent stars. Undoubtedly, middleweight isn’t everyone’s favorite division. Unfortunately, it seems to be the division’s fate.
Comparatively, the heavyweight division is far worse than middleweight, yet the inherent allure of heavyweight fighters elevates their status and garners more attention. Light heavyweight has seen better days, but its past prominence in the sport has earned it a special place in the fans’ hearts. Furthermore, the divisions below 170 pounds have consistently delivered spectacular bouts for an extended period. As a result, middleweight finds itself in a somewhat middle-of-the-road position.
This isn’t to say that middleweight is subpar—it certainly isn’t. However, it lacks the current appeal. Nevertheless, that doesn’t hold much weight because the division possesses a champion who is a star, a beloved former champion, and a solid group of fighters. Having these essential components in place eventually leads to positive outcomes. Take last Saturday
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about MMA events
What were the highlights of the recent MMA events?
The recent MMA events featured exciting moments such as Jared Cannonier vs. Marvin Vettori’s thrilling middleweight main event, Sergio Pettis defeating Patricio Pitbull’s quest for a three-division championship, and a notable referee mistake by Keith Peterson.
Why did Patricio Pitbull’s drop to bantamweight not go well?
Pitbull’s drop to bantamweight proved challenging as it involved a difficult weight cut and adapting to a new weight class. Despite losing his speed advantage, Pitbull may choose to stay at 135 or return to featherweight while awaiting Sergio Pettis’ challenge.
Is the middleweight division lacking star power?
The middleweight division is primarily dominated by Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker, with fewer prominent stars. While it may not be the most captivating division at present, it still boasts a solid roster of fighters and the potential for exciting matchups.
What went wrong with referee Keith Peterson’s decision?
Keith Peterson made a mistake by prematurely stopping a fight due to a guillotine choke, which could have continued without causing serious harm. Although it was an error, refereeing is a challenging task, and Peterson owned up to it immediately.
What are the prospects for Erin Blanchfield in bantamweight?
Erin Blanchfield’s desire to compete in bantamweight is fueled by impatience, as she anticipates a prolonged wait for a flyweight title shot. However, moving up to bantamweight may not be the best decision as the division lacks depth, and she should wait for her opportunity at flyweight.
Why does the UFC summer schedule feature fewer stacked cards?
The UFC’s summer schedule has seen a shift in recent years, with fewer high-end fight cards. This change is attributed to the promotion’s focus on delivering a higher quantity of events rather than prioritizing quality, as per their broadcast deal with ESPN.
More about MMA events
- “Pitbull vs. Pettis: A Disappointing Outcome” – Source
- “Middleweight Division Analysis” – Source
- “Keith Peterson’s Refereeing Controversy” – Source
- “Erin Blanchfield’s Flyweight Journey” – Source
- “UFC Summer Schedule: Quantity vs. Quality” – Source
5 comments
i get why erin wants to go up to bantamweight, she’s impatient to get a title shot. but she should wait her turn at flyweight, she’s so talented there!
the ufc summer schedule isn’t what it used to be, not as many stacked cards. it’s all about quantity over quality now, which sucks. i miss the old days of epic summer events!
middlweight division needs sum big stars, adesanya and whittaker r gud but who else is there? we need more excitmnt in that division!
keith peterson messed up big time! he should’ve given that choke a chance, no need to stop it so soon. mistakes happen, but he needs to do bettr next time.
pitbull waz in troubl from the start, weight cutz r no joke! pettis dancd around him like he waz stuck in mud. sad to c him lose his speed advntage. hope he sticks to 135 or goes back to featherweight.