The statistics don’t paint a pretty picture of the UFC’s light heavyweight division.
On Saturday night, Magomed Ankalaev stopped Bogdan Guskov to return to the win column in what was a dull main event in Abu Dhabi.
The Russian showed that he’s both still levels ahead of other contenders in the division and unlikely to receive the promotion’s backing.
With Ankalaev himself calling the matchup a “tuneup”, the division that he recently sat at the top of is in need of energy and movement that simply doesn’t exist right now.
- LATEST NEWS: Bogdan Guskov seemingly suggests Magomed Ankalaev rematch in first post after criticized main event
After returning to winning ways at UFC Abu Dhabi, what’s next for Magomed Ankalaev? 🤔
The Dagestani former champion finished Bogdan Guskov in a lackluster main event 😴
Magomed Ankalaev embodies the UFC’s light heavyweight division during this stagnant period
Aside from him returning to the win column, very little changed at light heavyweight as a result of Magomed Ankalaev’s win on Saturday night.
The majority of the light heavyweight division has experienced the same kind of small but relatively insignificant updates for some time now in the grand scheme of things.
Before UFC Abu Dhabi took place, MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn read out several stats regarding the landscape at 205 pounds on ‘The Bohnfire‘.
While the division has certainly seen a sizable turnover in talent, there simply isn’t enough movement and significant matchups to make things more interesting.
The following UFC Stats from Michael Carroll track the division dating back to January, 2024 and exclude this past Saturday’s event.
- 64 fighters have fought in UFC light heavyweight bouts in this timeframe
- 38 of those fighters remain in the division (others have been released or moved divisions)
- 17 of the 38 are currently coming off wins
- Of those 38, 18 of them are currently booked
- Only five of the 18 that are currently booked are ranked (Ankalaev, Bogdan Guskov, and Dustin Jacoby all fought in Abu Dhabi)
Carlos Ulberg being champion does create fresh matchups once he’s back, but it’s clear to see from these stats why many would rank it as one of the promotion’s least compelling divisions right now.
Ankalaev going out and stopping Bogdan Guskov in one-sided fashion, as many expected him to, wouldn’t have changed that.
However, the way the fight played out is just another example of light heavyweight currently feeling like it’s lacking movement and significance outside of a small handful of matchups per year.
- LATEST NEWS: Khabib Nurmagomedov pointed out one mistake ‘John Pork’ made in phone call after UFC Abu Dhabi win
Will Magomed Ankalaev ever hold UFC gold again? 👑
The UFC Abu Dhabi headliner was light heavyweight champion for just 7 months 😳
Light heavyweight isn’t without several positives despite being in a rough position
As has been previously mentioned, that doesn’t mean that the light heavyweight division is all bad.
You’re always guaranteed to get a few fun fights per year when a division has fighters like Jiri Prochazka and Khalil Rountree Jr. in it.
Adding names into the top 15 mix like Paulo Costa, Robert Whittaker and the surging Navajo Stirling, who returns next weekend, will help give the top end of the division more depth.
Rising potential stars for the future like Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev are there, they just need more time.
However, all of these names stand out so much because of how much of the division feels like it’s stagnant.
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