Ever since the departure of former women's featherweight Champion, Germaine De Randamie (7-3), my eyes were clearly open to how quickly things can change inside the UFC...
ALSO KNOWN AS
For her role in not wanting to fight Cris Cyborg (17-1), who is NOW the current women's featherweight Champion, for reasons of her own didn't take too lightly.
the timeframe she got her belt taken? EHHHHHHH when I look at Champions like Michael "The Count" Bisping (31-7) or even the "Notorious" Conor McGregor (21-3), ya it's a little fucked up, but hey...
When you are the Champion you have to be down to fight everybody though.
On the other hand, I am not going to talk about that right now because I'm going to grab the remote and fucking REWIND to the time the UFC decided to have a women's featherweight division in the first place.
AN ACTUAL PHOTO OF ME IN THE PROCESS AS WE WAIT:
So now that we are back on track, just below is that lovely interview Uncle Dana did during the promotion of Nuñes vs Rousey at the media scrum back in December of last year for UFC 207.
He said that this division was created for Cris Cyborg and the plans that were originally going to happen didn't. You could hear the non-comments on Cyborg vs Rousey (again) however, Holm and GDR are great match-ups for the current Champion.
Personally, Dana didn't seem too fond of that matchup...
...TO BE QUITE CLEAR.
But also at the same time did he ever though?
At that moment the "it is what it is because I don't really fucking care" attitude was forming which is rather typical.
The plan wasn't for Cyborg to get a belt (and an easy pass in my eyes) like Rousey but to actually fight for it. In a way, as the plans changed the wheels were still turning and it seemed like White couldn't look back.
My thing is there was so much room for UFC to recruit new fighters for the 145 division straight from Invicta FC for a start! This is before Megan Anderson (8-2) got offered to finally defend her title for the first time (even though that didn't happen BUT STILL) and even before Amber Leibrock (2-1) merged over and got sought out by Bellator.
And let me tell you, Bellator is SWOOPING fighters like:
While UFC doesn't seem to care?
They seem to have a leg up because they can now because they already had a women's featherweight division in place since fucking August 2014, yet when they see an opportunity they don't waste any time.
MAYBE THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE...
It's no secret that Bellator has been doing this forever since their merge with Viacom. So why should it be any different than the UFC?
FUCKING CARE MORE THOUGH 'CAUSE LIIIIIIKE...
With the new owners of the UFC, my mindset was that grind mode of creating changes as new doors opened for these fighters.
YOU KNOW, A NATURAL FUCKING HUSTLER MAYBE?!
I'm sure there are some people that could argue with me on that, but...
"THE EFFORT PUT FORWARD IS NOT IN THE DIRECTION WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE"
Now I'm over here like, "What kind of false hope for the women's 145 are we dealing with if there are still no fighters to fill that?"
BECAUSE REALLY WHAT I MEAN IS...
Don't get me wrong...
I want nothing more and have been advocating since the news has gone out about this for UFC to start putting their mouths to work.
But when you start looking at the facts, is it a little too late?
When you look at the rankings of the women's featherweight division from Bellator to UFC, it is clear that Bellator has more top-ranked 145 lb women fighters than the ones inside of the UFC.
People talk about the UFC being the Superbowl of Combat Sports and if you make it there oh baby, you have made it. However, is that idea tainted now with a lack of support for the fighters?
No Full Healthcare
No Paid Training
No Contract Negotiation
No Cross Promotion
No Laughter
Can Only Wear Pink On Wednesdays
I SAID HOT DAMN
And let me touch upon that cross-promotion for a second...
Bellator allows their fighters to fucking box. It's encouraged and says so in their contract. If that doesn't abridge the fucking gap moment for the UFC I really don't know what is. Especially around this crucial time of Floyd "Money" Mayweather (49-0) vs the "Notorious" Conor McGregor (21-3) happening this week.
If it can be for ONE fighter it can be for ALL...
I REPEAT
Now if we are talking about right now with Cyborg being the current women's Champion, she technically becomes a free agent in October.
Scott Coker, the President of Bellator, already said he will be in touch with her around when that time comes. He knows how to bring fighters over to his side and give them what they want aside from the UFC.
Cyborg would be able to branch out in the world of Combat Sports without feeling so heavy and tied down.
If there is technically nothing but 2 title fights for the division and nothing else, what hope is there to grasp on?
That maaaaaaybe if we stay we can get lucky.
What if UFC offers her a so-so contract then she leaves to accept a better one in Bellator. As a fan, it's hard to get upset because, in the end, she is doing something that makes her happen.
Yet, does she even have a choice?
For the recent fighters that got recruited into leaving the UFC like Ryan "Darth" Bader (23-6), Rory "Red King" MacDonald (19-4), Roy "Big Country" Nelson (22-14), Gegard "The Dreamcatcher" Mousasi (46-6) I mean the list continues...
SOOOOOO why wouldn't someone like Cyborg merge over if the contract is right?
Makes you wonder who will get there first...
But in the end (DOES IT EVEN MATTER)?
*RUNS AND CRIES*
ANYWAYS...
But really, even though the certain drama is squashed in the end Cyborg deserves the best and she at least deserves to be with a federation that can put time and effort into a division.
As for the year almost being over it will be interesting to see what is going to happen with all of this.
If it was all up to me the UFC should put as much care and push into the women's featherweight division as they do for their new women's flyweight that was announced AFTER mind you.
Because let's keep it aaaaaall the way 100%...
I don't think it will be a good look to strip a Champion willing to fight, who has been undefeated for 12 years, and who is avidly looking for fighters her DAMN self and get the boot. Especially if #CyborgNation gets involved, Cyborg has stated her fans speak up, and I'm fucking one of them.
UFC better get this together because ain't nobody got the time.
NOT TODAY SATAN... NOT TODAY.