Rankings Evaluation: Sean Strickland Strikes into the top 10 of the UFC Middleweight Rankings. Did He Hurry High Ample?
It might possibly presumably very neatly be an understatement to snort the UFC has some questionable rankings. It’s likely you’ll per chance presumably presumably quiz rankings to be questionable as they are subjective; on the opposite hand, in this column, I will level out rankings that I mediate are glaring errors. I will additionally analyze necessary circulate in the rankings that I believe.
Editorial Commentary by Peter Parsons
In his first UFC fundamental event, Sean Strickland received his fourth straight middleweight fight this previous Saturday, defeating his very most life like ranked opponent to this level in Uriah Hall. The get keep Stickland into the UFC’s middleweight high 10.
Sean Strickland ranked No. 8 at middleweight
With the victory over the old No. 8 ranked Uriah Hall, Strikland moved up three sports taking Uriah Hall’s No. 8 rating. You most incessantly seek for a fighter exhaust their opponents rating after defeating them. On this case, I in actuality feel Strikland must own moved as a lot as No. 7, forward of Darren Till and in the back of Jack Hermansson.
Since moving as a lot as middleweight in November of 2019, Darren Till has went 1-1 in the 185 pound division. The Englishman Till defeated fresh No. 9 ranked Kelvin Gastelum in his UFC middleweight debut. He misplaced a unanimous resolution to Robert Whitaker in July of 2020. In the period in-between, since Till’s last fight, Strickland has went 4-0 since returning after a two one year layoff because injuries from a motorcycle accident.
Strickland returned in October of 2020 with a unanimous resolution victory over Jack Marshman. He returned lower than a month later with a 2d spherical TKO victory over Brendan Allen who has since received two straight. Strickland defeated tricky Polish fighter and worn ranked contender Krzysztof Jotko by unanimous resolution in Could possibly also which situation him up for the Uriah Hall fight. Stickland received a dominant unanimous resolution over Hall, successful all 5 rounds on two out of three judges scorecards, breaking Hall’s four fight get gallop.
I mediate this is able to per chance presumably also be a case of voting panelists being fleet to offer Strickland Hall’s old rating of No. 8 and not fastidiously comparing him to the warring parties ranked elevated. To me, it’s definite Strickland desires to be ranked forward of Till in response to their middleweight results. It’s additionally definite that Strickland might possibly presumably serene not be ranked elevated than Jack Hermansson.
It become as soon as not too prolonged ago reported that Sean Strickland will fight worn middleweight champ Luke Rockhold at UFC 268 in November.
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Brendan Allen unranked at middleweight
Two Saturday’s ago, Brendan Allen received his 2d fight in a row since losing to Sean Strickland. Allen is now 5-1 in the UFC since making his debut in October of 2019. Allen made a successful UFC debut with a 2d-spherical rear naked choke victory over fresh No. 14 ranked Kevin Holland. He subsequent fought in February of 2020 and scored a foremost spherical TKO over high British prospect Tom Breese. In June of 2020, Allen received a unanimous resolution over beforehand undefeated prospect Kyle Daukaus. Allen suffered his most attention-grabbing UFC loss to Sean Strickland last November. He rebounded at UFC 261 in April with a foremost spherical ankle lock submission over Karl Roberson. On July 24, Allen handed Hawaiian prospect Punahele Soriano his first loss via unanimous resolution.
I mediate Allen desires to be ranked No. 14 forward of Kevin Hollan who he beforehand defeated and No. 15 ranked Andre Muniz.
After losing to Allen in October of 2019, Holland keep collectively a terrific 2020 going 5-0 which tied the UFC describe for the most wins in a calendar one year. Holland’s largest get of his profession become as soon as his final fight of 2020 when he had a highlight proper knockout over Brazilian account Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza. Holland has misplaced his last two, albeit in opposition to high opposition in Derek Brunson and Marvin Vettori, respectively.
No. 15 ranked Muniz is 3-0 in the UFC. The Brazilian made his successful UFC debut in November of 2019 with a unanimous resolution victory over countryman Antonio Arroyo. He returned in September of 2020 with a foremost spherical armbar victory over Bartosz Fabinski. Love Holland, Muniz had his largest victory of his profession over “Jacare” Souza. Muniz broke Souza’s arm with a foremost spherical inverted armbar submission in Could possibly also of this one year.
Each and each Holland and Muniz had their very most life like profile victories over “Jacare” who as soon as become as soon as one in every of the top middleweights on this planet. The Brazilian account become as soon as unranked on the time of both of these fights. The 41-one year-dilapidated “Jacare” has misplaced four in a row and has not received a fight since defeating Chris Weidman in 2018.
In the period in-between, on high of having a submission victory over Kevin Holland in October of 2019, Allen has defeated some high up and coming middleweights. The 25-one year-dilapidated Louisiana native’s most most modern victory over Punahele Soriano might possibly presumably had been his most impressive. Allen, who is identified for his flooring game, showed his neatly-rounded striking expertise on route to a unanimous resolution victory. Soriano become as soon as undefeated and regarded very impressive in his old two UFC fights with two first spherical knockouts.
Subsequent middleweight fight between ranked contenders
The UFC’s middleweight division is calling deep from the top to the bottom of the rankings. The next middleweight fight between ranked contenders is on August 21 when No. 3 ranked Jared Cannonier takes on No. 9 ranked Kelvin Gastelum in the fundamental event of a UFC fight evening on the UFC Apex.
My rankings would glance rather a few than another author or fan who follows the game closely. That is to be anticipated, as rankings are subjective. Rankings desires to be essentially essentially based totally on results and not perceived potential or popularity.
Any other folks mediate rankings form not subject. Rankings form subject. They subject with regards to matchmaking. They subject with regards to contract negotiations.
Let’s abet the rankings conversation going. Finish you compromise or disagree with the above Ranking Evaluation? Explicit your solutions in the feedback below.