For a long time, the notion that a UFC champion was unequivocally the best fighter in their weight class was sometimes debated. With strong competitors thriving in promotions like PRIDE, Bellator, and ONE Championship, discussions about true global supremacy were complex. Legends like Fedor Emelianenko outside the octagon or Demetrious Johnson taking his title to ONE were valid points of contention.
However, the current landscape feels different. Today, holding UFC gold is more than just a title; it`s largely seen as the definitive statement of divisional dominance. Walk down the list of weight classes, and in almost every instance, the fighter holding the UFC belt is the consensus number one. The debate isn`t typically about *if* they`re the best, but rather *who* might possibly challenge that status effectively.
Yet, this era of seemingly clear-cut champions doesn`t mean their positions are immune to challenge. While finding an argument for someone *outside* the UFC as the undisputed #1 is harder than ever, looking *within* the promotion reveals several dominant figures who are currently navigating particularly treacherous waters. The real question isn`t whether they *are* the best, but whether they can *stay* the best when faced with imminent, high-stakes threats.
Several champions find themselves on what could be described as “hot seats,” facing opponents widely considered the most dangerous challengers available.
Take the Middleweight division. Champion Dricus du Plessis, having captured the belt in a thrilling contest, is scheduled to face Khamzat Chimaev. Chimaev, a fighter who has carved a path of destruction through multiple weight classes with an aura of near-invincibility, represents a significant stylistic puzzle and a major risk to du Plessis` reign at UFC 319 in August.
In the Women`s Bantamweight category, the picture is equally precarious for the current titleholder, Kayla Harrison. Despite her own formidable record and recent acquisition of the belt, her next likely opponent is none other than the returning “Lioness,” Amanda Nunes. Nunes is widely regarded as the greatest female fighter of all time. A returning legend seeking to reclaim her throne is arguably the stiffest test imaginable, placing Harrison`s newly acquired status immediately under severe threat.
Moving to Welterweight, the situation involves the newly crowned champion Jack Della Maddalena. While his ascension marks a new era, his immediate future involves a planned fight against Islam Makhachev. Makhachev isn`t just a champion in his *own* division (Lightweight); he is the reigning Pound-for-Pound king. A champion from a lower weight class challenging for a title is a rare event, and doing so against the sport`s perceived top fighter elevates Della Maddalena`s first defense into an exceptionally high-risk encounter.
While these stand out as the most immediate, high-stakes challenges to dominant champions, the landscape is ripe for other potential shifts. The Lightweight division, for instance, continues to feature top contenders like Arman Tsarukyan and Charles Oliveira, ensuring that whoever holds the belt there will face a gauntlet. Similarly, Featherweight has seen recent upheaval, and the Bantamweight division remains packed with elite contenders.
The beauty and brutality of MMA lie in its unpredictability. While the current crop of UFC champions might represent an era of unprecedented consensus at the top, the upcoming fight calendar serves as a stark reminder that dominance is fleeting. The second half of the year is poised to test the mettle of several champions, and it would surprise no one if a few of those seemingly secure crowns changed hands. The storm is brewing, and the champions must navigate it successfully to maintain their grip on gold.
Adrian Whitmore