Issue 160
November 2017
Who are the most exciting draws in the each of MMA’s weight divisions? These are the great entertainers…
SHOGUN - LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT
He might be a shadow of the young man who dominated the 205lb field in Pride, but Mauricio Rua still only knows one way to fight: throw bombs.
He’s not averse to a scramble for submissions, either. He might be 15 years into his career, but he’s still lighting up main cards with fights of the night.
PATRICIO PITBULL - FEATHERWEIGHT
The new contender for MMA’s best division is full of maniacs.
Alongside cover star Cub Swanson, there are Korean psychos Chan Sung Jung and Doo Ho Choi, the relentless Frankie Edgar and new champ, Max Holloway to name a few. But the 145lb pick is Bellator’s Brazilian terrier, who only knows how to fight like a wild man.
JUSTIN GAETHJE - LIGHTWEIGHT
There is an embarrassment of riches at 155lb: Tony Ferguson, Nate Diaz, Conor McGregor, Michael Chandler, Edson Barboza… We could go on.
All offensive maestros, but for pure, unadulterated bloodthirsty thrills, we have to shoot for the man nicknamed ‘The Highlight’ – and self-proclaimed ‘most violent man in the division’.
JOHN LINEKER - BANTAMWEIGHT
Can you look past a man whose strategy is to close the distance and throw punches as hard as he can? We didn’t think so.
In a world where punching power is supposed to decrease in the lower weight classes, this Brazilian has shown otherworldly slugging strength. Possibly the pound-for-pound biggest hitter in the game.
CAIN VELASQUEZ - HEAVYWEIGHT
Dana White calls this guy ‘The Terminator’, because he always comes forward and doesn’t stop until he destroys his opponent.
Injuries have put the brakes on his championship career over the last few years, but they haven’t stopped him bringing a serious ruckus to the Octagon when he’s healthy enough to step in there.
BRANDON MORENO - FLYWEIGHT
How could the UFC consider closing a weight class where every fight plays out at warp speed?
Chief entertainer at 125lb right now is this new kid on the block. He’s been an underdog most of the time in the UFC, but has pulled off spectacular upsets by stopping his toughest opponents so far.
YOEL ROMERO - MIDDLEWEIGHT
The most dangerous man in the world in the third round. The ‘Soldier of God’ is never out of it, and has five stoppages in the final frame of fights.
He might be controversial and dance a fine line around what’s considered legal in the cage, but heavens above, his fights are never boring.
ROBBIE LAWLER - WELTERWEIGHT
There are a few men who can match the ‘Ruthless’ philosophy to go out on their shield, and no one can match the former champion for offensive aggression. Three to five rounds in the cage with this guy changes people’s lives for the worse, though they’ll probably leave $50,000 better off.
CRIS CYBORG - FEATHERWEIGHT
No one can stand up to the assault delivered by the most frightening opponent in MMA.
There’s no fighter more powerful in the women’s game, and the new UFC 145lb champ ruthlessly uses her gifts to annihilate anyone who dares to oppose her in the cage.
AMANDA NUNES - BANTAWEIGHT
The queen of the women’s MMA jungle knows only one way to fight: throw early, throw often, and throw so hard that few opponents are able to stay standing when she’s done. Only one of the UFC fights the ‘Lioness’ has been involved in has gone the distance. Fireworks guaranteed.
JESSICA ANDRADE - STRAWEIGHT
From the same school of Brazilian brawling as the legendary Wanderlei Silva, no one can touch this young lady for action among the UFC’s smallest competitors.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk may strike with more frequency and with greater effect, but no one comes out harder than ‘Pile Driver’.
ANGELA LEE - ATOMWEIGHT
Small, but perfectly formed for punishment. ONE Championship’s star attraction is ‘Unstoppable’ by name and nature.
Her fights are nothing short of frenzied, thanks to her unrelenting attack at 100mph and a not-quite-watertight defense. She’s only 21 too, so there’s a lot more excitement to come from this Singaporean pocket rocket.
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