Buy, Sell or Hold: Taking a Look at All 10 UFC Divisions
It's a simple concept, really.
Start by pretending the UFC's 10 weight classes are investable commodities because, really, that's exactly what they are. Next, try to determine which one will give you the most bang for your buck.
Anybody who has been around MMA longer than a little while knows this market can be an unpredictable and cruel muse. Some divisions—like lightweight, for example—revel in perpetual boom times. Others—like heavyweight—often feel like more of a bust.
If nothing else, fans invest time and attention—not to mention actual money—each time they turn on a UFC event, read a story online or check out a list of rankings. Knowing which fighters to buy in on and which to call for a hard pass can be a valuable skill.
Here, Bleacher Report MMA writers break down the future prospects of each UFC division. They'll tell you which weight classes to avoid, which to approach with caution and which are worth taking out a second mortgage just to get a piece of the action.
Strawweight
1 of 10
Analysis
Strawweight is the newest division in the UFC, and it is still a work in progress. One hundred fifteen pounds has always been the most talent-rich division for the women, but we have yet to see it truly develop under the UFC's watch.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk (pictured) leads this division, but there is a lack of depth of contenders—in part due to the beatings she laid on Carla Esparza and Jessica Penne. However, the silver lining is the depth of young contenders who are making their way up the ladder. Paige VanZant, Maryna Moroz and Tecia Torres are all waiting for their shot at glory. If the UFC commits to giving these athletes a platform, it could turn into one of the deepest weight classes in the organization.
Buy, Sell or Hold
Having a dynamic, charismatic champion makes me want to buy. Jedrzejczyk is simply phenomenal, and Claudia Gadelha is a great foil for her. Even still, I'm going to put a hold on the strawweights until I see some commitment from the UFC.
The organization has yet to show a real commitment to the women in this sport. The total amount of fights and the placement on cards is almost always questionable. If the UFC buys in 100 percent, then I will buy the 115-pound division all day long. This has always been a great division, and it has the potential to grow exponentially under the UFC's watch.
Next Title Fight
No official date has been set, but it seems obvious that Jedrzejczyk will defend her title against Gadelha later this year. Both champion and challenger are recovering from hand injuries that have us waiting for the specifics of when they'll meet and where.
When they do, it'll be a highly anticipated rematch, considering how close their three-round title eliminator was last year. Gadelha held her own with Jedrzejczyk on the feet but was dropped with a stunning uppercut. Going five rounds should add some extra intrigue to the battle. It's a great fight and could possibly be the rivalry that this division needs.
-- Nathan McCarter
Flyweight
2 of 10
Analysis
The 125-pound division is not exactly thick like London fog. Nevertheless, things may be looking up. John Dodson is back from his injury layoff and looked good enough in a win over Zach Makovsky. His speed and power just might be the key to overcoming champion Demetrious Johnson (pictured).
Johnson seems to be turning a corner. Oh, he’s still the same dominant fighter who is unbeaten as a flyweight, but he appears to have learned something from Conor McGregor’s recent rise. He's become a little more loquacious in interviews lately. That’s a good thing.
Buy, Sell or Hold
Let’s put a hold on the flyweights for now. While the top may be getting a little more interesting, it gets murky once it hits the middle. Jussier Formiga is getting his feet underneath him, but he's not yet a bona fide contender. Ditto Henry Cejudo. Ian McCall is inconsistent. John Lineker is a bantamweight now. Joseph Benavidez has already lost to Johnson twice. And it only goes down from there.
Still, you can go a long way when your champion is one of the five best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. Exactly how far? That remains to be seen.
Next Title Fight
Johnson rematches Dodson at UFC 191 on September 5. Dodson is not shy about calling Johnson boring or proclaiming his own superiority. It’ll be interesting to see how Johnson answers these charges as this fight gets closer.
-- Scott Harris
Women's Bantamweight
3 of 10
Analysis
The women's bantamweight division is in a major transitional period right now. Pioneers such as Julie Kedzie and Shayna Baszler are gone, while stalwarts like Sarah Kaufman and Alexis Davis are sliding into the middle of the pack. In their place, superior athletes and stronger all-around talents are finding their way to the top.
This regime change hasn't been especially quick, of course. Ronda Rousey (pictured) claimed the top spot at 135 pounds in 2012 and has yet to find an equal, technically or physically. Still, the division is making progress on the whole.
Buy, Sell or Hold
It's easy to feel bearish about the women's bantamweight division when the Bethe Correias of the world are getting title shots. That said, the right call here is to buy. While the talent pool is still painfully shallow, the chaff is steadily finding its way out of the UFC, and the wheat has been getting better by the year.
Not only that, but the women's bantamweight title picture is deceptively strong in the long term. Holly Holm remains one of the most exciting up-and-coming fighters in the UFC, and Julianna Pena could become a force once she starts getting active work. More recently, Amanda Nunes established herself as a player and could wind up getting a title shot in the near future.
Next Title Fight
Despite two previous losses to the champ, Miesha Tate is most likely next in line for a shot at UFC gold. On paper, it makes sense, given her four-fight winning streak and strong recent performances against Sara McMann and Jessica Eye. In reality, however, it is likely to be yet another dominant win for Rousey.
There is a big wild card in play, however, with rumors swirling that the UFC is making calls about a potential superfight involving Rousey and Invicta FC champion Cris "Cyborg" Justino, according to multiple sources including ESPN.com. While it's too early to get excited about the long-awaited bout, make no mistake that if the stars have indeed aligned, the UFC will cast Tate aside without a second thought.
-- Steven Rondina
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Men's Bantamweight
4 of 10
Analysis
In the absence of Dominick Cruz, T.J. Dillashaw (pictured) has established himself as one of the more exciting champs in the UFC. He has done so, of course, by modeling his style after Cruz, which makes his dominance all the more interesting.
He solved Renan Barao and then sent him packing in the rematch. Few expect anyone in the division outside of Cruz to give him much trouble.
Aside from Dillashaw and Cruz, there is Raphael Assuncao, who can't stay healthy long enough to get the title shot he deserves. There's Barao, who is now on the outside looking in so long as Dillashaw is the champ. Others—such a Bryan Caraway and Aljamain Sterling—are making their move toward the top. But make no mistake about it, this is Dillashaw's division until Cruz comes back.
Buy, Sell or Hold
As long as Cruz is able to safely make it back to the Octagon without one or both of his knees exploding into a cloud of mummy dust, we have to buy this division. The UFC has some big fights in the coffers (Aldo vs. McGregor, Rousey vs. Tate 3, Rousey vs. Cyborg), but few of them have the technical appeal of seeing Dillashaw face the former champion and the man who created the style he's used to such great success.
Next Title Fight
In a perfect world, it's Dillashaw vs. Cruz. But (knock on wood) we aren't sure if Cruz will make it to the Octagon at all, much less in time for Dillashaw's next defense. If Cruz can't make it, then it's time to go down the rankings and find someone who is healthy enough to face Dillashaw.
-- Jeremy Botter
Featherweight
5 of 10
Analysis
Once nearly the exclusive domain of dominant champion Jose Aldo, the featherweight division unexpectedly grew into perhaps the UFC’s most compelling weight classes during the last few years.
Credit the arrival of new interim champ Conor McGregor (pictured) for part of that fresh excitement. For the rest of featherweight’s improved prospects, credit a suddenly robust crop of contenders.
That group includes longtime 145-pound stalwarts like Chad Mendes, Ricardo Lamas and Cub Swanson, as well as lightweight expatriates such as Frankie Edgar, Charles Oliveira and Jeremy Stephens.
Buy, Sell or Hold
Buy! Buy! Buy! Include 145 pounds in your portfolio of blue-chip stocks. It is suddenly one of MMA’s safest investments, largely because of two factors.
First, there is its proximity to the talent-rich lightweight division. The competition is so thick at 155 pounds that guys like Edgar, Oliveira and Stephens (not to mention other refugees like Clay Guida and Nik Lentz) will constantly look to jump-start stagnant careers by cutting a bit more weight.
Just this month, Myles Jury and Diego Sanchez both announced plans to drop to featherweight. Look for that trend to continue.
Second, there just aren’t a ton of other options for male professional athletes who compete at 145 pounds. The NFL, NBA and even MLB aren’t exactly beating down the door with opportunities for the little guys. That leaves fighting. Or plumbing. You make the call.
Next Title Fight
So long as both can stay healthy, Aldo and McGregor will finally settle their contentious blood feud at UFC 194 in December. That fight hopes to break promotional pay-per-view records—and possibly somebody’s face too.
Even when that marquee event is over, featherweight will continue to be a hot commodity. Now that it’s finally on its feet and running, it’s not going anywhere.
-- Chad Dundas
Lightweight
6 of 10
Analysis
Lightweight is far and away the best division in MMA. There is so much talent at this weight that no one organization can harbor it all. It's quite remarkable.
That is not to say it is without its problems. The 155-pound title scene has been riddled with problems for years following Frankie Edgar's upset of BJ Penn. Edgar was mired in rematches due to judges' decisions, and Benson Henderson's reign saw its share of contentious scorecards as well.
It looked like things would settle down with Anthony Pettis, but injuries kept pushing back his title defenses. And just when Rafael dos Anjos wins the gold, he takes time off.
Even the contenders struggle to stay healthy. Khabib Nurmagomedov moved up the rankings, but he, too, has been sidelined for quite some time.
There is almost no bad matchup to be made at 155 pounds but also not many premier fights to be had for the title. That is a bit of an issue for such a fun division.
Buy, Sell or Hold
There is no way you could not buy lightweight. It is the deepest division in all of MMA. There are fighters who are not ranked in the official UFC rankings who could beat anyone in the top five. In just the past few weeks, we have been treated to Paul Felder vs. Edson Barboza and Beneil Dariush vs. Michael Johnson. This division is so talent-rich that it is ridiculous.
Even in light of its problems at the top end of the division, the only answer is to buy. It's too good.
Next Title Fight
Rafael dos Anjos vs. Donald Cerrone (pictured) will headline UFC on Fox 17 on December 19. There is a little heat between the two, and it should make a phenomenal main event for one of the UFC's free network television broadcasts. One can only hope that the winner of that fight comes out unscathed and we start to see some normalcy for the 155-pound title picture.
-- Nathan McCarter
Welterweight
7 of 10
Analysis
Seeing as how this division just hosted the fight of the decade, I’d say things are doing OK. When Robbie Lawler (pictured) finished Rory MacDonald at UFC 189 in a stirring, instantly iconic battle, he established himself as maybe the scariest fighter in the game.
But there are plenty of other electric talents on the 170-pound roster, from Carlos Condit to Matt Brown to Gunnar Nelson to Stephen Thompson. This weight class has breadth and depth.
But, Sell or Hold
Buy this one every day and twice on Sunday. It’s hard to think of many fights between top-15 welterweights that wouldn’t make for darn good viewing.
Next Title Fight
Lawler meets a competitor every bit as fearsome (and even spinnier) when he faces Condit November 15 at UFC 193. The New Mexico-based challenger returned from a knee injury this year and nabbed a quick comeback victory over Thiago Alves in May.
It was a bit of a surprise to see him get No. 1 contender honors ahead of higher-ranked fighters like Johny Hendricks and Tyron Woodley (who both beat him during 2013 and 2014, respectively), but it will be a heck of a scrap. There's just not a lot to complain about at welterweight right now.
-- Scott Harris
Middleweight
8 of 10
Analysis
The middleweight division, quite simply, is better than ever. While it was once the no-man's land between Georges St-Pierre's welterweight division and the super-stacked light heavyweight division, it has grown into one of the greatest talent hotbeds in the UFC.
Sure, it doesn't have the oceanic depth of the lightweight division. And sure, it doesn't have any major star power outside of a few aging Brazilian former champions. What it does have, though, is one of the strongest top 10s in MMA, commanded by an underrated champion in Chris Weidman (pictured).
Buy, Sell or Hold
Hold. The middleweight division is excellent these days, but that can be a double-edged sword. Fact is, this weight class may have already peaked. Over the last 18 months, Yoel Romero, Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza and Luke Rockhold have established themselves as legitimate title contenders. Not only that, but veterans such as Michael Bisping and Gegard Mousasi have shown that they still have what it takes to contend with the top dogs of today.
But smart money says there may be little room left for improvement at 185 pounds. The hottest prospects of yesteryear have all realized their potential, and the up-and-comers of today are still coming down the pipeline. Things have hit a plateau. An amazingly, awesomely high plateau.
Next Title Fight
Chris Weidman's next foe will be Luke Rockhold. Those two meet at UFC 194 in December. On the undercard of that same event, Souza and Romero fight in what we all expect to be a title eliminator. So, at least for the moment, this division still has a few more smash hits to dish out.
-- Steven Rondina
Light Heavyweight
9 of 10
Analysis
This is one of the strangest divisions in the UFC, thanks mostly to the prolonged and perhaps permanent absence of former champion Jon Jones. It's now ruled by Daniel Cormier (pictured), but it is difficult to forget the shellacking Jones handed Cormier in January.
Still, the UFC must work with the hand it is dealt, and Cormier has handled his role as champion admirably, even in the face of a fanbase that is not fully invested in the idea of anyone but Jones as champion.
But the light heavyweight division is no longer the UFC's marquee place for superstars. It is aging, though not as quickly as the UFC's geriatric heavyweight division.
Buy, Sell, or Hold
Sell, and quickly. Until Jones comes back, this is a division on the decline, no matter how fantastic Cormier's performances might be. And I do expect Cormier to look good against anyone the UFC puts him up against, in particular Alexander Gustafsson. Cormier is a terrible style matchup for the Swede, but the same can be said for the rest of the division not named Jones.
Next Title Fight
Cormier defends the championship against Gustafsson in the main event of UFC 192 in Houston on October 3. After that, we'll hope that Jones can sort out his legal troubles and return. Because barring that happening quickly, it's hard to imagine anyone getting excited for any other light heavyweight contender currently on the horizon.
-- Jeremy Botter
Heavyweight
10 of 10
Analysis
The heavyweights are the most-maligned weight class in the entire promotion; they are criticized harshly on social media for both their plodding bouts and the relative scarcity of top talent. I understand that perspective—after all, when the big men are bad, they are really bad.
But with the bad comes the good. And when the heavyweights are good, well, they are transcendent. Look no further than the one-round classic at UFC 187 between Travis Browne and Andrei Arlovski for an example of what I mean.
With the heavyweights, there are three ways a fight can go—glorious knockout, abysmal slog or glorious knockout after an abysmal slog. There is very little middle ground. It's a weight class of extremes. Either you can live with that, or you can't.
Buy, Sell, or Hold
Buy. While new champion Fabricio Werdum is a downgrade from Cain Velasquez, at least at the box office, the division may soon have a major wild card inserted in its midst. The greatest heavyweight of all time, Fedor Emelianenko, is reportedly negotiating with UFC brass, according to Bloody Elbow's Karim Zidan. That signing could breathe life into a weight class in desperate need of a new face—or in this case an old face who's been gone long enough to feel new again.
Next Title Fight
The 38-year-old Werdum needs some time off. As a fellow old-timer, I fully understand. After that, he's set for a rematch with Velasquez, so we can finally settle the debate over whether it was Werdum's improved skills or the altitude in Mexico City that did in "Cardio Cain" the first time around.
-- Jonathan Snowden
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