The good violence period of the UFC Light-weight division is coming to an in depth.
Dustin Poirier’s retirement is merely the newest instance. These golden years the place any match up of Poirier, Justin Gaethje, Michael Chandler, Dan Hooker, Eddie Alvarez, Charles Oliveira would produce elite fireworks are nonetheless latest historical past, nevertheless it seems quickly placing collectively “Battle of the 12 months” candidates ages you shortly. Plain and easy, these names are gone or on their means out. A pair are nonetheless holding on for one final run at gold, however the odds are very lengthy.
Who will change them as the subsequent era of Light-weight motion heroes?
Final evening (Sat., Aug. 2, 2025) at UFC Vegas 108, a handful of 155-pound up-and-comers put their title ahead. Mateusz Rebecki, Chris Duncan, Esteban Ribovicz, and Elves Brenner all have an inherent ability for violence and bloodshed to go alongside technical talent. Every of these unranked sluggers dream of a championship, however I’m certain additionally they hope to achieve the fortune and fame that comes with being a well known and confirmed motion fighter. Athletes above like Hooker and Chandler by no means captured gold, however they grew to become fan favorites and made a reasonably penny within the course of.
There are many worse fates in fight sports activities.
Each Rebecki vs. Duncan and Ribovicz vs. Brenner had been unbelievable fights. The previous was the extra high-level collision of the 2, a bloody back-and-forth contest that noticed Duncan’s correct counter punching and heavy physique kicks barely edge Rebecki’s relentless strain and broad swinging energy pictures. The latter was extra of a showcase for Ribovicz, whose pace and energy saved him within the driver’s seat till the ultimate couple minutes, when Brenner’s counter punches started to land with some actual stank. All informed, it was half-hour of spectacular combating.
The issue could be very few folks watched UFC Vegas 108, a card headlined by a Flyweight mismatch cobbled collectively on the last-second. Duncan simply scored the perfect win of his UFC profession, his third-straight upset victory. He ought to be a Prime 15 rating or a minimum of ranked match up, however who is aware of if he’ll truly acquire any floor for an unseen win.
Ribovics, in the meantime, gained the 2024 “Battle of the 12 months.” His reward? A visit to the empty warehouse that’s the UFC Apex, the place he placed on one other bloody and bonus-winning scrap versus Nasrat Haqparast that most individuals thought he gained. The UFC put him within the Apex once more final evening. He kinds on Brenner, picks up one other bonus, and no person sees it.
Neither his star nor Duncan’s grew final evening regardless of objectively superior performances and critical injury sustained. The hardcore followers recognize their efforts and can tune in for his or her match ups, however that was already the case previous to UFC Vegas 108!
Lastly, like Ribovics, Mateusz Rebecki placed on one of many absolute best bouts of 2024 in his earlier look, an on the spot basic versus Myktybek Orolbai. It stands to cause that the athletes accountable for the perfect fights of the yr in 2024 will proceed to entertain in 2025. Why is the UFC rewarding unbelievable, must-watch performances with their soulless warehouse that solely exists to meet contracts and extract ESPN cash?
That venue won’t create the subsequent Dustin Poirier or Justin Gaethje.
For full UFC Vegas 108 outcomes and play-by-play, click on right here.
