Heavyweight Failure: Four Mistakes Made By Booking Werdum Vs. Velasquez II

The UFC heavyweight division is notoriously the most unpredictable landscape in all of mixed martial arts (MMA).

Having never possessed a champion that has defended the title more than twice, the divisional throne is an unforgiving revolving door. Turbulent in nature, the roster is subject to vast shifts in power considering knockout finishes are more abundant when compared any other faction.

In today’s UFC heavyweight division, champion Fabricio Werdum and former kingpin Cain Velasquez reign supreme. Werdum has gone 6-0 since his return to the promotion, while Velasquez has only lost to the Brazilian since 2011.

While both fighters should help produce a worthy reboot at UFC 196 on Feb. 6 for the heavyweight strap, they may not be the best candidates to lead the division moving forward. With bigger opportunities, more intriguing matchups, and rising talent, there are simply other means.

Here are four reasons why the UFC heavyweight class will benefit from moving on from Werdum and Velasquez’s pairing.

The Division Needs Some New Blood:

While certain circumstances arise that ultimate derails up-and-coming title threats, it’s always important for a division to welcome fresh blood into the mix.

The longer these title rematches are dragged out, the longer it will take for new talent to break onto the scene. In this case, guys like Travis Browne and Ben Rothwell are consistently lost in the sauce.

Browne has tasted recent defeat to Andre Arlovski at UFC 187, but he’s one of the most talented fighters north of 205 pounds. And in most cases, dependent on his consistent ability to throw caution to the wind, “Hapa” is the most entertaining draw in the heavyweight division today.

As for Rothwell, his in-cage skills are world-class. But a rather forgettable persona lands him on the wrong side of title consideration more often than he’d like. Despite his inability to channel his inner Conor McGregor and manifest fan intrigue, his well-rounded striking and grappling are good enough to win gold.

If the UFC continues to ride the rematch train in the heavyweight division, contenders on the outskirts will find it even more difficult to earn a shot.

Looking Past Stipe Miocic:

Forget about Werdum’s grappling and Velasquez’s wrestling, Stipe Miocic is arguably the most athletic heavyweight since Brock Lesnar.

And what the Ohioan lacks in behemoth size, he makes up for with technicality, precision, movement, and shot selection. That’s the reason why Miocic has produced a 8-2 clip inside of the Octagon, including a legendary battle opposite Junior dos Santos at UFC on FOX 13 and a recent 54-second knockout of Andrei Arlovski at UFC 195.

People may argue that Miocic’s resume lacks sufficient praise, due in part to facing less-than spectacular opponents like Gabriel Gonzaga and Fabio Maldonado since the beginning of 2014, but the surging heavyweight’s potential is undeniable. His recent strides towards the top of the divisional heap have been simply monumental.

If there was ever a fighter deserving of a title shot that normally would be passed up because of a soft-spoken demeanor, it’s Miocic. And even though he’s been guaranteed the next title shot, isn’t it possible he gets passed up for a trilogy fight if Velasquez wins in close fashion?

Looking Past Alistair Overeem:

The star power that Alistair Overeem possesses is incredible. All over the world the Dutchman is beloved by fans of the sport.

Since his promotional debut back in 2011 against Lesnar at UFC 141, “The Reem” has been groomed for an inevitable run at divisional gold. His momentum has been momentarily slowed with loses to Browne, Rothwell, and Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva, but those defeats were a product of getting caught more than anything.

With a recent knockout of Junior dos Santos at UFC on FOX 17, Overeem seems primed to finally win a UFC title and attempt to become the first fighter in promotional history to defend it three times. Not to mention a slue of stylistic matchups that could be made if he ended up with a championship.

If the UFC rewards his recent success with a new contract, and his evolution at Team Jackson continues, Overeem is the best bet to put an end to the Werdum/Velasquez coalition.

Lack Of Transcendence/Focusing On Two Names:

Each and every division in MMA today is searching for the next Conor McGregor/Ronda Rousey.

Some outfits already possess close seconds, such as UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler, but others are still looking for a breakout star. While elite competitors and long-time title contenders, Werdum and Velasquez are not transcendent names in the sport (unless we’re scaling the sample size down to Brazil and Mexico).

With that said, the heavyweight division really hasn’t had a standout champion since Lesnar. Dos Santos came mighty close, but even he couldn’t last under the heavy-hitting divisional pressure.

At some point, a fighter from within must evolve into this entity. In a division as shallow as the heavyweight roster, it’s going to be difficult to produce such a score. But it is possible, especially considering that an increase in level of competition only makes the rest of the group stronger, like iron striking iron.

However, if the division is unable to move past Werdum and Velasquez by spitting out the next big star, someone like former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones will have to move up and give the division something it has never seen before; consistency.