2016 UFC Fighters To Watch: Flyweight
2016 UFC Fighters To Watch: Flyweight
By T.P. GrantWith so many different weight classes and champions, mixed martial arts can be a difficult sport to follow. The UFC roster currently contains m
By T.P. Grant
With so many different weight classes and champions, mixed martial arts can be a difficult sport to follow. The UFC roster currently contains more than 500 fighters, not to mention the thousands outside its promotion, so it’s not surprising that people have a hard time keeping up. To help, FloCombat is going to run down each UFC weight class and highlight fighters that new or casual MMA fans should watch.
At 125 lbs, the flyweight division is the lightest and most recent addition to men's weight classes in the UFC. Flyweight only existed on the regional scene until 2012, when the UFC introduced the weight class with a four-man tournament to crown their first champion.
Speed defines the flyweight class, which typically feature bouts at a breakneck pace. While often derided as a boring division due to the athletes' smaller statures, flyweight bouts regularly showcase some of the most consistent action fights on cards. Still a small division in terms of roster size, the flyweight division is slowly growing as more and more regional promotions add the division to their shows.
Reigning UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson is often criticized for not being interesting enough outside the cage, but inside, he's one of the most dynamic and skilled fighters in the sport. A standout high school wrestler from Parkland, Washington, Johnson began his MMA career in 2007. After just three years fighting at bantamweight on the regional scene, Johnson found himself in World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC), the top promotion at the time for the smaller weight classes that merged with the UFC in late 2010. In 2011, Johnson faced Dominick Cruz for the UFC bantamweight title, and while lost he a decision in the aftermath, Johnson accepted a spot in the inaugural flyweight tournament. After a controversial draw with Ian McCall in the first round that stalled the tournament, Johnson won a rematch and went on to win his next eight flyweight bouts, cementing himself as one of the most dominant champions in the UFC today.
Johnson trains under Matt Hume, who fought in the early Japanese MMA promotion Pancrase in the mid-90s. Under Hume, Johnson built upon his wrestling base to become one of the most dangerous grapplers in the sport with a frenetic pace and amazing speed in scrambles. On his feet, Johnson has developed into a very good striker with excellent hands and ability to mix in low and high kicks.
As defending champion, Johnson’s fights are obviously noteworthy events. But from a technical perspective, they are must-watch spectacles.
Slotted to fight Demetrious Johnson this April, Henry Cejudo is a new face for title contention at flyweight. Born from humble surroundings, Cejudo was raised by a single mother in the southwestern United States. Wrestling became an escape for a young Cejudo, and he emerged as a top-shelf wrestling prospect, winning four Arizona state titles in high school. Henry went on to train in Colorado Springs at the Olympic Training Center right out of high school, and in 2008, he became the youngest wrestler ever to win Olympic gold. Cejudo planned on returning to the Olympics in 2012, but after losing at the Trials, he decided to transition to a MMA career.
Only three years into his career, Cejundo's Olympic pedigree has served him well in MMA. Cejudo has been able to translate his wrestling into a motoric rise up the flyweight division. He has been building a striking and ground game to complement his relentless pace. Cejudo is still very much a developing fighter, and in each fight, fans will watch him continue to grow and hone his craft.
A true veteran of the fight game, Joseph Benavidez spent his entire 10-year professional career at Team Alpha Male, one of the most elite camps in the sport. He started his career at bantamweight, since there was not a MMA flyweight division at the time, and actually challenged for the WEC bantamweight title twice before the WEC merged with the UFC. Since the introduction of the flyweight division, Benavidez has fought Johnson twice for the title, but lost both times.
Benavidez is a well-rounded fighter; nuanced striker; and a venomous grappler on the mat with one of the most dangerous guillotine chokes in the sport. While another title shot doesn’t appear to be in Benavidez’s immediate future, he has never lost a non-title fight in his career, and is riding a five-fight winning streak over ranked flyweights. Benavidez fights are almost assured to be action-filled affairs that will be highly relevant to the title picture at 125lbs.
Justin Scoggins is a bit further away from the title picture than the first three on our list, but he is a rising prospect within the division. Just 23 years old, Scoggins went pro in 2012 and made his UFC debut just over a year into his career. Scoggins started with two wins, but then dropped two fights as he stepped up his competition.
Scoggins hails from a karate background, and has integrated his charging karate attacks and dynamic kicks with slick takedown transitions. He is currently riding a two-fight winning streak, including a recent win in a prospect vs. prospect match against Ray Borg. With that win, Scoggins will likely be walked back up the division later. He's an up-and-coming fighter to keep an eye on.
With so many different weight classes and champions, mixed martial arts can be a difficult sport to follow. The UFC roster currently contains more than 500 fighters, not to mention the thousands outside its promotion, so it’s not surprising that people have a hard time keeping up. To help, FloCombat is going to run down each UFC weight class and highlight fighters that new or casual MMA fans should watch.
At 125 lbs, the flyweight division is the lightest and most recent addition to men's weight classes in the UFC. Flyweight only existed on the regional scene until 2012, when the UFC introduced the weight class with a four-man tournament to crown their first champion.
Speed defines the flyweight class, which typically feature bouts at a breakneck pace. While often derided as a boring division due to the athletes' smaller statures, flyweight bouts regularly showcase some of the most consistent action fights on cards. Still a small division in terms of roster size, the flyweight division is slowly growing as more and more regional promotions add the division to their shows.
Demetrious Johnson
Reigning UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson is often criticized for not being interesting enough outside the cage, but inside, he's one of the most dynamic and skilled fighters in the sport. A standout high school wrestler from Parkland, Washington, Johnson began his MMA career in 2007. After just three years fighting at bantamweight on the regional scene, Johnson found himself in World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC), the top promotion at the time for the smaller weight classes that merged with the UFC in late 2010. In 2011, Johnson faced Dominick Cruz for the UFC bantamweight title, and while lost he a decision in the aftermath, Johnson accepted a spot in the inaugural flyweight tournament. After a controversial draw with Ian McCall in the first round that stalled the tournament, Johnson won a rematch and went on to win his next eight flyweight bouts, cementing himself as one of the most dominant champions in the UFC today.
Johnson trains under Matt Hume, who fought in the early Japanese MMA promotion Pancrase in the mid-90s. Under Hume, Johnson built upon his wrestling base to become one of the most dangerous grapplers in the sport with a frenetic pace and amazing speed in scrambles. On his feet, Johnson has developed into a very good striker with excellent hands and ability to mix in low and high kicks.
As defending champion, Johnson’s fights are obviously noteworthy events. But from a technical perspective, they are must-watch spectacles.
Henry Cejudo
Slotted to fight Demetrious Johnson this April, Henry Cejudo is a new face for title contention at flyweight. Born from humble surroundings, Cejudo was raised by a single mother in the southwestern United States. Wrestling became an escape for a young Cejudo, and he emerged as a top-shelf wrestling prospect, winning four Arizona state titles in high school. Henry went on to train in Colorado Springs at the Olympic Training Center right out of high school, and in 2008, he became the youngest wrestler ever to win Olympic gold. Cejudo planned on returning to the Olympics in 2012, but after losing at the Trials, he decided to transition to a MMA career.
Only three years into his career, Cejundo's Olympic pedigree has served him well in MMA. Cejudo has been able to translate his wrestling into a motoric rise up the flyweight division. He has been building a striking and ground game to complement his relentless pace. Cejudo is still very much a developing fighter, and in each fight, fans will watch him continue to grow and hone his craft.
Joseph Benavidez
A true veteran of the fight game, Joseph Benavidez spent his entire 10-year professional career at Team Alpha Male, one of the most elite camps in the sport. He started his career at bantamweight, since there was not a MMA flyweight division at the time, and actually challenged for the WEC bantamweight title twice before the WEC merged with the UFC. Since the introduction of the flyweight division, Benavidez has fought Johnson twice for the title, but lost both times.
Benavidez is a well-rounded fighter; nuanced striker; and a venomous grappler on the mat with one of the most dangerous guillotine chokes in the sport. While another title shot doesn’t appear to be in Benavidez’s immediate future, he has never lost a non-title fight in his career, and is riding a five-fight winning streak over ranked flyweights. Benavidez fights are almost assured to be action-filled affairs that will be highly relevant to the title picture at 125lbs.
Justin Scoggins
Justin Scoggins is a bit further away from the title picture than the first three on our list, but he is a rising prospect within the division. Just 23 years old, Scoggins went pro in 2012 and made his UFC debut just over a year into his career. Scoggins started with two wins, but then dropped two fights as he stepped up his competition.
Scoggins hails from a karate background, and has integrated his charging karate attacks and dynamic kicks with slick takedown transitions. He is currently riding a two-fight winning streak, including a recent win in a prospect vs. prospect match against Ray Borg. With that win, Scoggins will likely be walked back up the division later. He's an up-and-coming fighter to keep an eye on.