The title is a symbol of being the best in your weight class. It not only ushers in money and fame, but it brings glory to the titleholder – a laurel of respect and legitimacy that they are indeed the best in the world.
But now, with so many deserving challengers in the UFC to choose from, the question of what exactly it takes to get a title shot comes to mind. And I’m not just referring to my own musings, but it seems the fighters are contemplating it as well.
In a recent interview for UFC Fight Night 75: Japan, Josh Barnett stated that he’s “past chasing titles.” Barnett holds that title shots are not guaranteed, and as long as he gets wins the title should come. Tyron Woodley made a similar statement on the recent UFC 192 conference call, saying he’s done calling guys out. Woodley believes that a title shot is never secure even when it seems to be. In addition, he harped on how he and Johny Hendricks both beat Carlos Condit, but Carlos is the one getting a title shot.
“Who cares what the future brings?” Hendricks remarked. “I’m only getting older . . . I don’t have time to wait for six months.”
And who can blame them for their cynicism or indifference? There are many recent examples of the UFC’s “unwarranted” rewarding of title shots. On that same UFC 192 card we have the four-fight-streaking Ryan Bader ceding a title shot to Alexander Gustafsson, who was knocked out in his last fight. At UFC 193, we have #1 women’s bantamweight, Miesha Tate, being passed up for #8, Holly Holm. We’ve found out that the previously poised Andrei Arlovski may not be in line for a title shot after his lackluster win over Frank Mir. And, for what it’s worth, there’s all sorts of bluster about how Gus and Cormier are fighting for an “illegitimate title.”
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