Did the UFC Get These 7 Title Shots Right?

For the UFC, picking title contenders has never been especially scientific. With the right blend of winning streaks, scheduling, hype and luck, all on the roster could find themselves contending for UFC gold.

So naturally, when the UFC pulls the trigger on a fight like Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm or Daniel Cormier vs. Alexander Gustafsson, the second-guessing will be frequent and intense. 

With a slew of title fights coming up over the next few months, it's worth taking a look at them and asking one simple question: Did they get these title fights right? Here are the answers.

Flyweight: Demetrious Johnson vs. John Dodson

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Fight: Demetrious Johnson vs. John Dodson 2
Event: UFC 191

Argument For:

• John Dodson has a solid three-fight winning streak.
• Dodson has a notable win over bantamweight champ TJ Dillashaw.
• Dodson was the last man to make Demetrious Johnson seem beatable.

Argument Against:

• Dodson has only fought three times since his first loss to Johnson in January 2013.
• Dodson is coming off of a major knee injury.
• Dodson looked rusty in his last fight.

Did They Get it Right?

The flyweight division has a contender problem. Johnson's dominance, the relatively shallow talent pool and lazy, thoughtless matchmaking has resulted in numerous uninteresting title fights.

That aside, yes, this title bout is the best option available. Johnson vs. Dodson 2 has long been an interesting fight, but spotty booking and injuries have kept it from happening. Ideally, Dodson should have another fight to make sure he doesn't pull an Anthony Pettis on fans, but the lack of other options forces the two flyweights together.

Light Heavyweight: Daniel Cormier vs. Alexander Gustafsson

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Fight: Daniel Cormier vs. Alexander Gustafsson
Event: UFC 192

Argument For:

• Alexander Gustafsson is the best 205-pound fighter available for a title fight.
• This could set up the long-awaited Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson 2.

Argument Against:

• Gustafsson is coming off of a brutal first-round KO loss to Anthony Johnson.
• There is a serviceable alternative in Ryan Bader.

Did They Get it Right?

It's somewhat odd that Gustafsson's top-contender status got such a negative response, honestly. Few would disagree that he is the best available fighter at 205 pounds, and fewer would argue that Ryan Bader, the one many believe is more deserving of the shot, has a better chance of taking the title from Daniel Cormier.

From both a competitive and promotional standpoint, yes, Gustafsson is the best choice to contend for the title. It stinks for Bader, of course, but the top-10 staple has seemed largely content in being passed over and remains anonymous to all but hardcore fans.

Women's Bantamweight: Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm

Jason Silva-USA TODAY Sports

Fight: Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm
Event: UFC 193

Argument For:

• Holly Holm is a unique new challenge for Ronda Rousey.
• Holm is undefeated in MMA.
• Holm is an accomplished boxer.

Argument Against:

• Holm has yet to score a big win in UFC.
• Holm is relatively inexperienced.
• Holm is not Cris "Cyborg" Justino.

Did They Get it Right?

No. Of course not.

While Holm has accomplished a great deal in a short time and is most certainly better than her two fights in the UFC would suggest, any opponent other than Justino will be something of a disappointment. That's not fair, of course, but that is the reality for Rousey right now.

Middleweight: Chris Weidman vs. Luke Rockhold

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Fight: Chris Weidman vs. Luke Rockhold
Event: UFC 194

Argument For:

• Luke Rockhold has four impressive wins in a row. 
• Rockhold owns a win over fellow contender Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza.

Argument Against:

• Rockhold's KO loss to Vitor Belfort still lingers.
• Jacare Souza and Yoel Romero have longer winning streaks. 

Did They Get it Right?

The middleweight division is great right now. Three different fighters all own strong claims to a title shot, a situation never seen before at 185 pounds.

When it comes to who has the strongest claim, yes, the UFC made the right choice with Rockhold. While Romero and Souza have been impressive, Rockhold's dominant wins over formidable competition and simmering rivalry with the champ make him the most compelling opponent competitively, stylistically and promotionally.

Featherweight: Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor

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Fight: Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor
Event: UFC 194

Argument For:

• This is the biggest fight the UFC can make right now.
• Both men hold titles.
• Conor McGregor has a strong list of names on his resume.

Argument Against:

• I mean...Frankie Edgar is still there, I guess?

Did They Get it Right?

Yes. Duh.

While some sourpuss might have been able to make the case that Frankie Edgar deserved another crack at Jose Aldo a few months ago, that discussion stopped the second McGregor defeated Chad Mendes at UFC 189. McGregor is the guy. The fact that he has a belt of his own is just gravy.

Lightweight: Rafael dos Anjos vs. Donald Cerrone

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Fight: Rafael dos Anjos vs. Donald Cerrone 2
Event: UFC on Fox 17

Argument For:

• Donald Cerrone is riding an eight-fight winning streak.
• There is no must-see alternative right now.

Argument Against:

• Cerrone owns a previous loss to Rafael dos Anjos.

Did They Get it Right?

The UFC's lightweight division is deep in talent but short on contenders these days. While there are literally dozens of interesting opponents for the champ, not one sticks out in terms of his marketability or resume...save Cerrone. Cowboy is the on-paper top contender and has the highest marketability ceiling in the lightweight division. Yes, yes, 1,000 times yes.

Heavyweight: Fabricio Werdum vs. Cain Velasquez

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Fight: Fabricio Werdum vs. Cain Velasquez 2
Event: Unknown

Argument For:

• Cain Velasquez arguably deserves a rematch.
• Velasquez is the backbone to the UFC's push into Mexico.

Argument Against:

• Werdum beat Velasquez fairly convincingly just a few months ago.
• Velasquez is incredibly injury-prone.
• There are strong alternatives.

Did They Get it Right?

The UFC must feel incredibly bullish on its chances in Mexico and must feel like it can't progress far without Velasquez as champion. That would literally be the only reason to justify an immediate rematch for the title.

While Velasquez was an utterly dominant champion at one point, his reigns will be best remembered for the numerous prolonged injury layoffs. It's truly perplexing that the UFC would be so willing to let its heavyweight belt sit on a physical therapist's chair for all of 2016. That doesn't even speak to how many other options exist for a heavyweight title fight, including Junior dos Santos, Andrei Arlovski and Alistair Overeem. Obviously, it's a big no on this one.