UFC Featherweight division has entered its prime

In the midst of TRT, heavyweight, and twitter drama, it is the UFC’s little guys that creep their way to the top.

Since the WEC merger in October of 2010, the featherweights and bantamweights have been rapidly solidifying their presence in the octagon, as it was anything but slow and steady as the wildly exciting fighters quickly got in the swing of things. The featherweight division has been a breeding ground for some of the world’s most vicious strikers, grapplers and well-rounded scrappers. And now, with or without Frankie Edgar, the 145-pound weight class is stacked, positively foreshadowing the future of UFC’s lighter weight fighters.

It takes a truly proven champion for a division to be as popular and talented as the featherweight class is. Jose Aldo has time and time again been considered at the top of MMA’s pound for pound list, as he is a critical component in the success of the UFC’s featherweights. He is like a Georges St. Pierre, or Anderson Silva in that every time the doubt or suspicion of Aldo (21-1) being overrated arises, he somehow proves his talent and solidifies all the hype. His knockout of Chad “Money” Mendes was a perfect reminder that Mr. Aldo is one of the world’s best. Having Aldo not only provides guaranteed fireworks in title fights, but it makes the division that much more competitive, as the young 145 pound fighters see what lies ahead, and sharpen themselves in preparation to slay the beast.

The competition is always fierce in the UFC and the fighters know how important each and every fight is. The featherweight talent pool is now dangerously deep and there are a number of participating factors. Season 14’s Ultimate Fighter cast recently made a monster splash with all eight featherweight participants now on the UFC’s roster. Diego Brandao (19-7) was impressive the entire season, and performed when it counted when he grabbed the title of Ultimate Fighter, two bonuses, and some nice coin for his mom.

While the new live format of the Ultimate Fighter grabs the MMA spotlight, TUF: Brazil in one episode has given the U.S. talent a run for its money. Even with high expectations of explosive Brazilian talent to jumpstart the first purely international version of the show, the fighters still delivered. There were wild striking battles, relentless wrestling and grappling on display, and a number crazy finishes that made the entry fights a promising indicator for the upcoming season. Regardless of the show’s winner, TUF: Brazil will ultimately supplement the UFC’s featherweight division even more.

With the young talent mainly originating from the ‘TUF-route’ to the big show, there are still a number of other featherweights that have been making their title runs for some time. Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier (12-1) has proven himself as a top striker and grappler in the division. One of the most crucial components to Poirier’s success is his toughness, and he continues to prove himself worthy of a title shot. Also in the mix there is Eric “New Breed” Koch (13-1) who recently took down TUF 12 winner Jonathan Brookins (14-4), chalking up his second win in the UFC. Ross “The Real Deal” Pearson (15-5) who, coming of a razor thin decision loss to undefeated lightweight Edson Barbosa (10-0), jumped right back in the win column by beating Junior Assuncao.

The featherweights constantly wowed fans and UFC brass, as the young division began its lighting quick development, and it isn’t slowing down. The newcomers from TUF 14, current TUF: Brazil participants, and the rest of the division continues to bring the featherweight division atop the UFC. If the division’s success is any indicator of the potential of the new 125-pound weight class, the flyweights are looking at a bright future.

Welterweight tournament could be huge for Strikeforce

Tarec Saffeidine lands a head kick against Nate Moore

Strikeforce is set to have a 170 pound champ by Summer, as a big opportunity for the promotion lies within its grasp.

Ever since the UFC gained one of its biggest marketing machines and talking points in the last few years after grabbing him from Scott Coker’s promotion, the absence of Nick Diaz has actually made the Strikeforce welterweight division quite exciting. There is no longer a juggernaut that reigns atop the division, and although Diaz moved on to the UFC, the competition in Strikeforce has not taken a day off.

Tyron Woodley, Tarec Saffeidine, Bobby Voelker, Roger Bowling, Jason High, and Kazuo Misaki are all contenders on winning streaks shooting for the vacant Strikeforce welterweight belt. As these fighters await their new opponents, the question of how will the promotion will name a champ must be asked.  Although there are rumors of Tyron Woodley facing newcomer Nate Marquardt for the belt, it doesn’t seem like that is what will revitalize the energy that this division once had.

Tarec Saffeidine recently took down Tyler Stinson with a three round split decision victory, and has one fight on his mind.

“I think they are still trying to figure out who Tyron will fight for the belt. I heard Scott Coker tell me there would be a champ at 170 before this summer,” Saffeidine said. “We all want to know who is going to fight next for the belt, and hopefully I get my rematch with Tyron for the belt.”

The next Strikeforce card is coming up in San Jose on May 19, and the welterweights could very possibly be getting the call for that event.

Tournaments are one special thing that has kept Strikeforce original in the shadow of the UFC, but with the current heavyweight grand prix dragging on since Feb. 2011, people seemed to have lost significant interest. Creating a tournament for the welterweight belt, and setting dates for each round of the tournament while keeping injury replacements ready to jump in could potentially be a crucial boost for the promotion. Not only is there a group of hungry 170 pounders all thinking about the belt, but also now a new big name with Nate Marquardt recently being allowed back into Zuffa, and signing with Strikeforce.

Injuries in MMA happen, and there is little that can be done to avoid them and the destruction they often inflict on fight cards. But if a tournament was created with eight welterweight participants (along with two alternates ready to step in for an injured fighter) all competing for the belt, Strikeforce could be making big strides. There would be three rounds of the tournament taking place at three consecutive Strikeforce events. This would keep the energy of the tournament fresh and prevent it from going stale like the heavyweight grand prix has. Fighting this often will be a new pace for the fighters in Strikeforce, but for Tarec Saffeidine, this is something he wants. 

“I would love to fight more,” Saffeidine said. “I fought three months ago and I don’t know when my next fight is. I am just looking to get more fights per year.”

When a tournament is held and the winner isn't crowned with the belt because of odd tournament rules (i.e.: Bellator), the fans feel almost cheated out of a new champion, as does the winner of the tournament. This welterweight tournament would be built around crowning a new Strikeforce champion so the fans will get the excitement of the brackets in MMA while also witnessing a new title holder take reign. 

With the Rousey-Tate war grabbing the spotlight of the MMA world for a number of weeks, Strikeforce must build off the colossal momentum. Creating a tournament for the welterweight belt would be a perfectly timed change of pace, and will make the best out of a division with no champion. 

Aiming to change the fight before the fight

He’s sitting with his head in his palms without daring to look at the clock. It’s 200 degrees Fahrenheit, and despite his team right outside the door, he feels as alone and helpless as ever. Only three pounds to go for the fighter who has gut his body clean of any and all fluids, and repeating in his head is, “how bad do I want it?”

Wrestlers and fighters alike have consciously made the choice to put their bodies through abuse, that much is clear. The grueling practices, the endless conditioning sessions, and the hand-to-hand combat where the athletes leave everything on the mat in pursuit of victory are all components in the lives of fighters. You could say they have the hardest job in the world, but that may still be an injustice.

Yet one of the most difficult things that fighters have on their plate is making weight before a fight. The week leading up to a bout is where the mental toughness of the athletes is put to its ultimate test, and some would say is harder than the fight itself.

Sweet Sweat, a product looking to help the fighters with their unsung troubles endured before a fight. Albolene (a mix of mineral oil, petrolatum paraffin, ceresin and beta-carotene) is a popular weight cutting cream that fighters and wrestlers have used for years, but it poses certain problems with dehydrating and closing pores. Sweet sweat has developed a formula that opens pores, enhancing and accelerating the sweating process during exercise. It is activated by the body’s elevated heart rate, and the effectiveness of the product is directly correlated to how vigorous the activity is. Made of all natural (and pronounceable) ingredients, this cream was made exactly for cutting weight (unlike Albolene that was originally developed for removing makeup).

As long as the weight cutting game is still around, meaning same-day weigh ins are not implemented in the UFC, fighters will always have their own methods. Sweet Sweat, while currently selling their product to hundreds of fighters in big organizations (Bellator, Strikeforce, and UFC), and sponsoring just a handful of them, their goal is to become a official UFC product. They ideally would like for fighters to be supplied Sweet Sweat by the UFC, along with the other included supplies, before cutting weight. 

Companies everywhere constantly try ot become the next biggest thing, yet all too often, products are released that just blend in with the rest. The science and idea behind Sweet Sweat has the fighters in mind, and aims to make what they do, just a little bit easier.