Hot Takes

Petr Yan losing his first title run to one illegal knee changed the bantamweight division for years.

Ronda Rousey did more for women's MMA than anyone, and her fighting résumé is still overrated.

Charles Oliveira's UFC submission record will never be broken.

Leg kicks are the most underrated weapon in MMA. Ask anyone who fought José Aldo.

Sean O'Malley is a top-ten talent with a number-one personality. The skills never matched the hype.

Tony Ferguson's 12-fight win streak deserves more respect than the end of his career gets.

Demetrious Johnson would have been a pay-per-view star if he weighed 50 pounds more. Flyweight robbed him of the spotlight.

Takedown defence wins more title fights than knockout power.

Strikes absorbed per minute is the most important stat in MMA. It tells you who lasts.

Instant replay for eye pokes and low blows should be standard. It's 2026.

Kamaru Usman at his peak was better than Georges St-Pierre at his peak.

Power Slap is the worst thing the UFC brand has ever been attached to.

Amanda Nunes is the greatest female fighter of all time. Two belts at once, and she beat the best of her era.

José Aldo is the greatest featherweight ever. Thirteen seconds against Conor doesn't change a decade.

Valentina Shevchenko is the best women's flyweight on the planet, with or without the belt.

Arman Tsarukyan is the best lightweight without a belt and it isn't close.

Holly Holm's head kick on Ronda Rousey is the most important knockout in women's MMA history.

Superfights should only happen after you clear out your own division.

Islam Makhachev at welterweight is scarier than Islam at lightweight ever was.

Daniel Cormier is the best fighter never to beat his rival.