UFC 313 saw Magomed Ankalaev become the new light heavyweight champion by defeating Alex Pereira, while Jon Jones faces uncertainty regarding his next fight, and Jalin Turner unexpectedly retired after a loss, marking a surprising turn of events in the MMA world.
UFC 313 is now history, and with it, we welcome a new champion for the first time this year. Magomed Ankalaev clinched UFC gold after a unanimous decision over Alex Pereira in their highly anticipated showdown.
The victory shook not only the light heavyweight division but also sent waves up to heavyweight. So, what’s next on this rollercoaster ride, and how did the lightweights fare last Saturday? Let’s dive into your questions for the week.
Jon Jones finds himself at a crossroads. Many doubted he’d take the Tom Aspinall fight, but could he drag things out until November, leaving Aspinall idle during his prime?
Saturday’s revelations might have hit Jon Jones hardest. Had Pereira emerged victorious, a super fight with Jon was likely on the cards. Now, Jones faces a choice: fight Aspinall or retire. We all know what he’s likely to do.
I suspect Jones will engage in prolonged negotiations, demanding a hefty sum while hoping the UFC craves a mega-fight to boost broadcast rights talks. However, I doubt they’ll meet his price. By summer, I expect Aspinall to defend against Ciryl Gane as Jones hangs up his gloves.
Notably, it’s crazy that Ilia Topuria and Alex Pereira, frontrunners for Fighter of the Year 2024, are no longer champions before Q1 ends. If you’d bet against this earlier, you’d have been laughed at.
MMA’s unpredictability is its charm—one must always bring their ‘A’ game or risk losing the title. Defending a belt repeatedly is the toughest challenge in MMA. The greatest fighters are those who manage multiple defenses over years.
Who poses the biggest threat to ‘Big Ank Time’ at 205 besides ‘Poatan’? I’d lean towards Jan Blachowicz due to their past close encounter. Yet, Blachowicz has aged since then, so Jiri Prochazka seems a more formidable challenger.
Prochazka’s record speaks volumes; he’s only lost to Pereira in a decade and doesn’t face a stylistic mismatch with Ankalaev like Pereira did. Prochazka could dethrone the new champ given his speed and athleticism.
In lightweight discussions, who among the new crop holds the highest potential? Bahamondes, Ruffy, Alvarez, Rebecki—it’s hard to say if they’re future champs but they’re undeniably entertaining.
Lightweight remains MMA’s crown jewel division. Shoutout to UFC 313’s lightweights: Gaethje added another feather to his cap, Bahamondes proved his mettle, and Ruffy delivered a Knockout of the Year contender.
Predicting future stars? Usman Nurmagomedov tops my list despite recent controversies; he’s young and talented. Paul Hughes also deserves attention in this next-gen cohort.
Restricting choices to UFC fighters? Bahamondes stands out with his size and versatility; he’s still learning but possesses great potential. The current elite lightweights—Gaethje, Poirier, Oliveira, Chandler—are once-in-a-lifetime talents who’ve held their ground remarkably well.
What surprised me most at UFC 313? Jalin Turner’s unexpected retirement post-defeat by Bahamondes was shocking.
Turner had promise despite recent struggles; however, it seems his heart wasn’t in it anymore—a respectable decision nonetheless but surprising indeed.
If Turner retires for good? He’ll be remembered as a "What If" fighter—immense potential yet untapped due to possible mental hurdles preventing elite status.
Still had an impressive streak post-Frevola loss; happy trails Tarantula!
Thanks for reading! Got burning questions about combat sports? Send them my way @JedKMeshew, and I’ll answer my favorites! Whether topical or offbeat—they’re welcome. See y’all next week!