5 stylistic nightmares for newly crowned UFC champions
The UFC has crowned four new champions in 2024. While some are gearing up for their first title defenses, others are still on victory laps, enjoying the fruits of their title-winning labors. Unfortunately, there's always a challenger awaiting a UFC champion's return to the octagon.
Sometimes, those challengers pose significant stylistic challenges to reigning titleholders. This is the case for most champions, be they new or long-reigning. With how often titles have been swapped this year, it should come as no surprise that the playing field in MMA has grown more competitive.
Most fighters will be challenging opponents. However, some are the most difficult puzzles for the promotion's newly minted champions. So, who are they?
#5. UFC women's flyweight champion, Valentina Shevchenko
Valentina Shevchenko is the new UFC women's flyweight champion. Despite technically being a 'new champion,' she is an MMA veteran who had a previous dominant reign at 125 pounds. However, her second reign seems destined to be short, especially given her limitations as a fighter.
'Bullet' is a fast, low-volume counterpuncher who relies on low kicks to draw out her opponent's strikes for her to counter with a spinning back-kick or duck under for a body lock and inside trip. She relies tremendously on her physicality and speed. This does not bode well for her future bout with Manon Fiorot.
Fiorot isn't a highlight reel machine, but she's incredibly fast, very strong, an exceptional defensive wrestler with a 93% takedown defense, and has a lightning-quick sidekick that serves as a counter for low kicks, catching her opponent when their foot is off the mat.
Against Fiorot, Shevchenko will struggle to land low kicks, won't have the speed advantage, and won't be able to bully her in the clinch. Moreover, her poor habit of attempting head-and-arm throws only to give up back control may come back to bite her given how often Fiorot counters them.
#4. UFC women's bantamweight champion, Raquel Pennington
There is nothing outwardly remarkable about anything Raquel Pennington does. She recently captured the vacant 135-pound belt and is set to defend it against ex-champion Julianna Peña. However, her most difficult stylistic matchup is undoubtedly Kayla Harrison.
Pennington is a serviceable fighter with an impressive workout and an irreparable habit of entering the clinch, even when there is no need. Doing so against Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo and one of the most impressive physical specimens at women's bantamweight.
It is an almost certain way for Pennington to end up tossed over her head and on the mat, where she'll be at a disproportionate advantage against a far superior grappler. Can she curb her obsession with the clinch with a proper game plan? Perhaps. But until she shows that, Harrison likely has her number.
#3. UFC featherweight champion, Ilia Topuria
The truth of the matter is that Ilia Topuria may very well reign over the featherweight division for quite some time. He's powerful, fast, well-rounded, and one of the most technical boxers on the roster. He doesn't have many holes in his game, but he does have chinks.
Topuria drops his rear hand every time he commits to a lead hook. Furthermore, his gas tank, while decent, waned against Josh Emmett. These are two gaps that only Max Holloway can exploit. 'Blessed' is one of the finest boxers in the promotion, with an eye for defensive openings in his foe's striking.
Furthermore, his ufc-fighter-good-cardio-and-5-opposite" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-is-sponsored="false">cardio is bottomless. If anyone can force Topuria to work at a rate that his gas tank can't sustain, it's Holloway. He also refuses to take a backstep, which will challenge the Spaniard's vaunted pressure game. That is also to say nothing of his granite chin, that may force Topuria into overcomitting to his strikes.
#2. UFC welterweight champion, Belal Muhammad
The truth of the matter is that there aren't many noticeable holes in Belal Muhammad's game. He's well-rounded, a suffocating wrestler, has serviceable striking and makes his fellow UFC welterweights pay for always rolling onto their stomachs by taking their backs.
Unfortunately, much of his success depends on the threat of takedowns, which will be nonexistent against Shavkat Rakhmonov. 'The Nomad' is a high-level wrestler himself, and wrestler vs. wrestler bouts typically devolve into kickboxing affairs, as was the case when 'Remember the Name' fought Sean Brady.
However, striking with Rakhmonov will not end well for Muhammad, who has little power in his hands and a limited toolbox. He'll be picked apart at range by a superior striker with better distance management, speed, and far more power. It's a bout he may very well lose.
#1. UFC bantamweight champion, Merab Dvalishvili
Merab Dvalishvili isn't keen on defending his newly acquired bantamweight title against the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov. He feels that the latter is undeserving, having only beaten one ranked fighter. However, he may have to come to terms with whoever the UFC decides to put in front of him.
Dvalishvili is a pressure-based wrestler with a relentless takedown game, a bottomless gas tank, and decent striking. However, his defensive striking is poor and he's often rocked by check hooks whenever he overcommits to a forward lunge with his chin untucked and rear hand by his hip.
Nurmagomedov is too good a wrestler for him to outwrestle, too physical for him to outmuscle like he did Sean O'Malley, and too slick on the feet for him to get anything going. Dvalishvili's only advantage may be that he can outpace the difficult Dagestani contender, but that's an if.