UFC 152: The Official Start of the UFC Flyweight Division
In ten short days the UFC will be crowning it’s very first flyweight champion. Joseph Benavidez will face off against Demetrious Johnson at UFC 152 in Toronto’s Air Canada Centre. Even with the addition of the flyweight division, most probably don’t know who most of these fighters are. Many of them had to fight in higher weight classes, or they had to fight in the lower organizations just to fight at this weight.
Both Benavidez and Demetrious fought at 135 lbs. (bantamweight) or higher. When the largest organization comes calling, you don’t say no just because they don’t have your weight class. You sign the dotted line and fight at a higher class. Many of these fighters did very well, Demetrious had a title shot just before moving down and Benavidez previously fought the a WEC title.
Other guys like Ian McCall fought in organizations like Tachi Palace and had called him the best flyweight in the world. After two close defeats to Johnson, McCall will have to wait to get his first crack at the flyweight belt.
The division as a whole is weak, not because they don’t have good fighters, they actually have some of the best, but because they just don’t have the numbers. With currently only roughly 15 or so fighters under contract with the UFC, we may be seeing some of the same fights for a while. Don’t despair though this is one of the most exciting divisions with up and comers like Chris Cariaso, John Dodson, Louis Gaudinot and Ulysses Gomez waiting for their chance at the champion so no matter who is fighting, it will be spectacular.
So stay tuned for next weeks first ever UFC flyweight title match between Johnson and Benavidez, and plenty more from this division in the future.
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