Ranking the UFC’s most exciting weight classes
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There’s so much going on in the UFC right now, with great fights being made. We’ve also seen some of the best fight cards in recent memory. This piece will feature the top three best, most exciting divisions to watch in the UFC right now.
#3. Women’s Featherweight (Honorable Mention)
The women’s 145-pound division isn’t quite yet what it needs to be. Since the UFC first opened the division, there has been an evident lack of talent to help establish it. UFC basically had to rely on booking Cyborg title fights to keep it alive. And most of the competition she was fighting were true 135ers who came from Invicta FC. They were not many true featherweights signed. They would come over to UFC and fight Cyborg at 145-pounds, lose the fight and then move back down to bantamweight. So, the division would seem like it was gaining momentum, but it really wasn’t. Even Holly Holm moved up to featherweight and then moved back down after two unsuccessful runs at the title.
BUT this division has been really picking up lately. Cyborg dropped the belt to Nunes, who is also moving back down to 135-pounds. It seems some days she doesn’t intend to fight at featherweight so that pretty much opens up the playing field for some of these new prospects if that’s true. UFC has recently signed Invicta Featherweight Champion Felicia Spencer to the promotion. They also have Macy Chiasson, TUF 28 champion who competed at 145-pounds. She could be a big piece for the women’s 145 division going forward. UFC has also signed TUF competitor Bea Malecki and that could be another piece to the puzzle. Also, there is always Cat Zingano, who has recently moved up to the 145 division and had a fight.
We’ll see what happens though. I have faith in the women’s featherweight division this year. I think the UFC will find a way to form a legitimate division, with or without Cris Cyborg. Let’s see!
#2. Men’s Lightweight Division (On-hold)
The UFC’s lightweight division is very popular and has a ton of great talent. But there is just way too much politics in this division, in my opinion. I mean, guys just always pick and choose who they want to fight and when. Top contenders taking lots of time off, getting suspended from the sport, dealing with legal issues, mental health issues, etc. It’s just unfortunate.
This division literally has some of the most exciting talent to watch in all of the UFC. But the division just isn’t active enough lately. Especially with a couple guys moving up to welterweight, too. Anthony Pettis and Kevin Lee just recently moved up to fight at 170 so that puts another damper on this great division. Khabib Nurmagomedov is suspended and not fighting ’til September, allegedly. We’ll see what happens with that. Tony Ferguson has been out due to some personal issues and that’s just fine, I hope the best for Ferguson. It’s tough when 155-pound top contenders are sidelined for the time being. The division needs Tony. McGregor is off doing other things and continuously lobbying for a Khabib rematch which will likely not happen.
Luckily, we just recently got to see Justin Gaethje and Edson Barboza fight. That was short-lived but it did move the division along.
You also have Al Iaquinta fighting Donald Cerrone next month and that should be good.
Lastly, we were very lucky to have Max Holloway move up to 155 to fight Dustin Poirier for the interim lightweight title at UFC 236.
#1. Men’s Welterweight Division
The UFC’s welterweight division is just excellent. I mean, you have Kamaru Usman as the new champion. And I’m a huge Tyron Woodley fan, but that’s okay because it does break up the division a bit to allow for new fights to be made. Especially for Tyron.
So you have Usman as champion, a fight with him and Colby Covington is most definitely in the works so we will see that soon. You have Woodley fighting Robbie Lawler again which is confusing, but I’m going to watch it. Great fight. Leon Edwards is in the mix too, we might see a fight with him and Darren Till, maybe later this year. Well see what happens. You also have Kevin Lee, who just moved up to 170 to fight Rafael Dos Anjos. Another great fight. Showtime Pettis just moved up and finished Wonderboy inside two rounds, total game-changer for the division.
Last but definitely not least, you have Santiago Ponzinnibio waiting for a fight and he’s very exciting to watch.
At the same time, you have a couple new names entering the top 15, such as Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos and Rocco Martin. I’m sure they will be taking some fights in the top 15 soon and that will be great.
Overall, the UFC’s welterweight division is extremely active and pretty much everybody has a fight booked. No long lay-offs, no politics, no complaining, just great fights being made continuously and solid contenders entering the top 15. Easily my personal favorite division in the UFC right now.
And I’m sure the division will have even more to offer as the year goes on.
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