Here is all that has happened in our UFC: Way Too Early Year in Review since we last spoke. You’re welcome.

 

A ton has happened in the UFC world since we last spoke. Let’s skip all the “Welcome Back Kenzie” and get straight to it. Here is my “Way to Early Year in Review”!

*Did I mention it is only September? Yeah, it’s way too early!*

Since you’ve been gone?

Conor McGregor decided to “retire”

(kinda), then it was revealed that he had a disagreement with the UFC suits about press dates thus getting removed from UFC 200. From UFC Light Heavyweight “kindachampbutIdecidedtobeadumbassandhitapregnantwomanandfleethescenesoisnotchampanymore Interim Champ” Jon Jones returned from suspension to face current LHW Champ (but not really champ since he never beat the dumbass listed above) Daniel Cormier…Ovince St. Preux…? Awesome!

Did I mention Jon Jones was arrested again? No? Well, Jon Jones was arrested….again.

So the highly anticipated rematch between Jones and Cormier was set for UFC 200, billed as the biggest UFC card in history, right?

Wrong. We can’t have nice things. Want to know why? Because Jon Jones, that’s why.

BECAUSE JON JONES

Then Jon Jones decides to renew his Dumbass Card (it’s like a Library book…keep renewing as you see fit) and gets pulled from the card because USADA ain’t no fool.

Speaking of USADA, this also happened. And this.

AND NEW…AND NEW…AND NEW…AND NEW….

There have been remarkable fights this year.

Lawler-Condit, Holm-Tate, Jędrzejczyk-Gadelha, Diaz-McGregor (both fights), etc…

This year is trending to be most profitable since the UFC’s inception. And with that, there has been a record number of new champs. One can argue that all of the title changes hurt the UFC in the long run, and while I vehemently disagree, that is an argument for another day.

Check the list below.

  1. Bantamweight Dominick Cruz def. T.J. Dillashaw (c) Decision (split) UFC Fight Night 81
  2. Women’s Bantamweight Miesha Tate def Holly Holm (c) Submission (rear naked choke 5th round)  UFC 196
  3. Interim Light Heavyweight Jon Jones def Ovince Saint Preux Decision (unanimous) UFC 197
  4. Heavyweight Stipe Miocic def. Fabrício Werdum (c) KO (punch 1st round) UFC 198
  5. Middleweight Michael Bisping def. Luke Rockhold (c) KO (punches 1st round) UFC 199
  6. Lightweight Eddie Alvarez def. Rafael Dos Anjos (c) TKO (punches 1st round) UFC Fight Night 90
  7. Interim Featherweight José Aldo def. Frankie Edgar Decision (unanimous) UFC 200
  8. Women’s Bantamweight Amanda Nunes def. Miesha Tate (c) Submission (rear-naked choke 1st round) UFC 200
  9. Welterweight Tyron Woodley def. Robbie Lawler (c) KO (punches 1st round) UFC 201

$4 BILLION!!!!!!!!!!

So a day after the UFC 200 kerfuffle, news broke that the Parent Company of the UFC, Zuffa LLC, sold the UFC to WME-IMG for $4 Billion. The transition to the new ownership group will take some time, so I wouldn’t expect many changes for a while. But things could get interesting in the months ahead.

START SPREADING THE NEWS, I’M LEAVING TODAY

After years of being illegal in New York, for some weird reason, MMA was legalized in the state when Gov. Cuomo signed the bill back in March, after several hours of contentious debate, as opponents of the bill made hysterical accusations in attempting to compare MMA to slavery, pedophilia, pornography, and public hangings. UFC will hold its first event in the state on Nov. 12, and 2 months out is around the time that the suits like to put cards together, so expect to hear some news soon.

Over the next few weeks, I will take a look at each UFC division, give a glimpse of the champs and top contenders, and the jabronis that should just retire. Fun times ahead!

 

Featured Image via Forbes.com