As MMA’s old guard lay down their shields and move on to new pastures, the UFC looks set to go through a transitionary period in the coming years. Indeed, with established stars fading, there’s room in the spotlight for emerging talent. Evidence that this is the case came courtesy of UFC 256. In the wake of Yoel Romero’s surprise departure from the organization, three battle-worn warriors showed their scars on December 12 at the Apex in Las Vegas.
Kevin Holland secures win number 5️⃣ of 2020! 🤯
✅ May 16 Anthony Hernandez
✅ Aug. 8 Joaquin Buckley
✅ Sept. 19 Darren Stewart
✅ Oct. 31 Charlie Ontiveros
✅ Dec. 12 Jacare SouzaTake a bow, @Trailblaze2top 👏#UFC256 pic.twitter.com/2cCMfJsysf
— UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) December 13, 2020
First to fall was Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza. The Brazilian has long been a force in the middleweight division and, lest we forget, one of the best grapplers on the planet. However, in his recent bout against Kevin Holland, Jacare was knocked out on the ground. Despite being where he’s most comfortable, Souza was on the end of a sweet right from Holland. What made the knockout even more impressive was the fact Holland did it from a seated position.
One Strike Changes the Tide
The strike was not only unexpected but a wake up call to the middleweight division. Whether or not Holland is the new sheriff in town isn’t clear just yet. However, what we do know is that the next generation is coming through. More evidence of the old making way for the new at UFC 256 came courtesy of Ciryl Gane. Some might say that Junior dos Santos has been shot for a few years. However, with the right conditioning and his crisp boxing, he can be a problem for any heavyweight.
Gane knew this going in but, when it came to the crunch, it didn’t matter. The Frenchman picked apart JDS and put on a display that said as much about his potential as Santos’ future. Gane operated on the outside and played an elusive game. However, not even he could have predicted that a jab would have stunned dos Santos. The follow-up elbow was clinical and, ultimately, brought the fight and, possibly, dos Santos’s career to an end.
Gane Becomes the UFC’s Hot Heavyweight Prospect
Dana White is already lauding the prospects of Gane, as are the experts in MMA betting odds. For those versed in the art of moneyline bets, over/under bets and how contenders like 888sport stack up, Gane is a hot tip. Of course, even the MMA tipsters acknowledge that “one destructive punch to the liver” can change a fight. But everyone in the game also understands the importance of skill. In his fight against Gane, JDS really only had one shot to win. That wouldn’t have been the case five years ago. However, today, the 36-year-old is a worn-down fighter and unable to execute the same skills as Gane.
Image: Pixabay
That’s why Gane was the favourite going into the match and, subsequently, someone MMA experts are tipping for big things. More to the point, it’s another changing of the guard. The final example of MMA’s epistemic shift occurred in the Ferguson vs. Oliveira slugfest. Tony Ferguson was on the cusp of becoming a UFC champion at one point. Unfortunately, through a combination of events beyond his control, injuries and a general unwillingness to play ball, it looks like he’s missed his chance. His fight against Charles Oliveira was the first sign that years of absorbing punishment are catching up with him.
Old Warriors Bow Down to Emerging Prospects
Although he gave a good account of himself and survived the fight, he was never competitive. Oliveira looked masterful throughout and, while he may not necessarily be the next generation, his victory showed that Ferguson isn’t top-tier anymore. Dana White wasn’t too hot on El Cucuy’s chances of fighting for the title any time soon. This means the door is open for new contenders to fill Ferguson’s spot at the top of the lightweight division. Of course, McGregor is always hovering in the background. But if you look through the Fight Matrix lightweight rankings, names such as Dan Hooker, Diego Ferreira and Oliveira are all coming through.
It’s not just in the lightweight division where new names are rising up. Across the board, established names are hanging up their gloves (both physically and metaphorically). By the end of 2021, the UFC rankings will look very different from what they do now. In fact, the roster as a whole will look very different. Dana White has said that sweeping cuts are coming. Whether that’s a financial decision or a desire to keep the organization fresh, we don’t know. What we do know is that MMA is going through a period of change and, in the next few years, we’ll see new stars shining bright.