What’s Happening With Current UFC Champions
The landscape of UFC champions is shifting, and fans are definitely noticing. If you’ve been following the sport lately, you’ve probably picked up on some heated discussions about certain champions and their fighting styles. The conversation isn’t really about whether wrestling works – we all know it does – but rather how some current titleholders are using it.
Think about fighters like Merab Dvalishvili, who recently claimed the bantamweight title. While technically skilled, his approach has drawn criticism from fans who feel he focuses too much on control time without actively pursuing finishes. Research suggests that fans show stronger preference for striking-heavy fights over grappling-dominant contests, which explains some of the pushback against control-heavy styles. This isn’t about disrespecting wrestling as a martial art – it’s about how certain applications of it can make fights feel less engaging for audiences.
The interesting thing is that fans aren’t rejecting all wrestling-based champions. There’s actually a clear distinction being made between different types of ground-based fighters, and understanding this difference helps explain why some champions are celebrated while others face backlash.
Why Fan Reactions Vary So Much
Here’s where it gets really interesting. When you look at how fans respond to different champions, you start seeing patterns. Fighters like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev, both dominant wrestlers, are widely respected even by casual fans. Why? Because their wrestling serves a clear offensive purpose.
These fighters use takedowns to set up submissions or deliver ground-and-pound damage. Evidence shows that Makhachev’s wrestling approach combines dominant takedowns with consistent submission attempts and ground strikes, making every takedown feel genuinely dangerous. Their grappling feels active and dangerous, not just positional. Compare this to fighters who seem more focused on winning rounds through control time, and you can see why reactions differ so dramatically.
How Different Wrestling Styles Affect Fan Engagement
Not all wrestling approaches are created equal in the eyes of fight fans. The key difference lies in intent and activity level once the fight hits the ground. When a wrestler takes someone down and immediately starts working for submissions or landing significant strikes, the audience stays engaged because they can sense the danger.
However, when takedowns are followed by extended periods of control without much offensive output, fans can get restless. This isn’t because they don’t understand grappling – many fight fans train themselves and appreciate technical skills. The issue is when the wrestling becomes more about winning points than creating genuine finishing opportunities.
What Makes Wrestling Exciting Versus Boring
The most successful wrestling-based champions tend to share certain characteristics in how they approach ground fighting. Here’s what separates the crowd-pleasers from the critics’ targets:
- Immediate transition to offensive positions after takedowns
- Consistent submission attempts or setup work
- Active ground-and-pound that creates visible damage
- Willingness to engage in scrambles rather than just holding position
- Clear progression toward finishing the fight
When these elements are missing, even technically sound wrestling can feel stagnant to viewers. It’s the difference between using wrestling as a tool to finish fights versus using it primarily as a path to decision victories.
Which Current Champions Face The Most Criticism
Some current titleholders are catching more heat than others when it comes to their fighting styles. The criticism isn’t always consistent or fair, but certain patterns emerge when you look at fan reactions across different weight classes.
Merab Dvalishvili’s title win exemplified the style that draws the most criticism. His approach often involves extensive movement, takedowns for control, and limited finishing attempts. Studies show that his style emphasizes relentless activity and pace rather than static control or submissions, though the evidence is mixed on whether this translates to fan satisfaction. While effective for winning rounds, this strategy can leave audiences feeling like they’re watching a chess match rather than a fight.
Interestingly, Belal Muhammad, despite also being a decision-heavy fighter, receives more positive fan reactions. The difference? Belal combines his wrestling with consistent striking pressure and shows more aggression in all phases of the fight. This demonstrates that it’s not just about wrestling versus striking – it’s about how actively a fighter pursues the finish.
Why Some Decision Winners Get More Respect
Even among champions who rarely finish fights, fan reception varies significantly. The key factors that influence perception include:
| Champion Trait | Fan Reaction | Example Behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Active striking pressure | Generally positive | Consistent forward movement and volume |
| Submission attempts | Highly positive | Clear finishing intent on the ground |
| Control-focused wrestling | Mixed to negative | Takedowns without offensive follow-up |
| Movement without engagement | Negative | Avoiding exchanges while point-fighting |
How Scoring Systems Influence Fighting Styles
Here’s something that often gets overlooked in these discussions – the current judging criteria actually reward the behaviors that fans find least exciting. Industry standards show that unified rules prioritize effective striking and grappling, effective aggressiveness, and octagon control, which can create tension between safe winning tactics and fan-preferred action.
This creates a natural tension between what wins fights and what entertains audiences. Fighters who are focused on championship success have strong incentives to pursue strategies that may not align with fan preferences. It’s not that these fighters lack finishing ability – they’re simply optimizing for the scoring system in place.
The challenge is that while these point-based strategies are often effective, they can make championship fights feel less dynamic and exciting. When the stakes are highest, fighters naturally become more conservative, which compounds the issue.
What Changes Could Improve The Situation
Several adjustments to scoring or matchmaking could address fan concerns while maintaining competitive integrity:
- Greater emphasis on damage and finishing attempts in judging
- Reduced credit for control time without offensive output
- More active officiating to prevent stalling
- Incentive structures that reward finishing bonuses
Some fans argue that takedowns without follow-up damage or submission attempts shouldn’t score as heavily as they currently do. This perspective has merit when you consider that the goal of combat sports is typically to determine who can impose their will most effectively on an opponent.
Why Wrestling Skills Still Matter In MMA
Despite the criticism directed at certain wrestling-heavy champions, grappling remains absolutely essential in modern MMA. The issue isn’t with wrestling as a skill set – it’s with how some fighters apply those skills in championship contexts.
Wrestling will always be fundamental to MMA success, but the fighters who truly capture fans' imagination are those who use their grappling to create danger, not just control.
The most complete fighters in the sport today all have solid wrestling foundations. Research confirms that wrestling remains the most important discipline in MMA due to its offensive and defensive utilities. Even striking specialists need defensive wrestling to avoid takedowns and offensive wrestling to threaten their own ground game. The skill itself isn’t going anywhere.
What might be changing is how fighters choose to deploy their wrestling skills at the championship level. There’s growing awareness that fan engagement affects the sport’s commercial success, which ultimately impacts fighter pay and opportunity.
How Effective Wrestling Adapts To Modern MMA
The wrestlers who continue to earn fan respect tend to adapt their approach to the entertainment aspects of the sport. This doesn’t mean they become less effective – if anything, they often become more dangerous by maintaining offensive intent.
Consider how fighters like Islam Makhachev have evolved the traditional wrestling approach. His takedowns consistently lead to submission attempts or significant ground strikes. This keeps audiences engaged because every takedown feels like it could end the fight, not just control it for the remainder of the round.
How Fan Expectations Shape Fighter Behavior
The relationship between fan reactions and fighter strategies is more complex than it might initially appear. While fighters primarily focus on winning, they’re also aware that fan appeal affects their marketability and earning potential. Evidence suggests that the UFC uses fan engagement data to inform matchmaking and promotional decisions, though the evidence is mixed on whether this directly influences in-fight tactics.
Some fighters deliberately cultivate exciting styles because they understand the business benefits. Others prioritize championship success first and worry about perception later. Neither approach is necessarily right or wrong, but they lead to very different career trajectories.
The current tension around wrestling-heavy champions reflects this broader question of what MMA fans really want from the sport. Do they want the most skilled fighters to win regardless of style, or should entertainment value factor into how we evaluate success?
What This Means For Future Champions
Upcoming fighters who aspire to championship levels are definitely paying attention to these fan reactions. Many are consciously working to develop more well-rounded games that can win fights while maintaining audience appeal.
This could lead to a new generation of champions who combine the technical excellence of current titleholders with the finishing intent that fans crave. Rather than abandoning wrestling, these fighters might simply use it more aggressively and opportunistically.
What the Research Says About Wrestling Evolution in MMA
Looking at what experts and coaches are saying, some interesting trends are emerging:
- Wrestling remains fundamental to MMA success, with strong evidence supporting its importance for both offense and defense
- Fighters who use takedowns to immediately set up submissions or strikes tend to maintain higher fan engagement
- There’s emerging evidence of specialized anti-wrestling training methods gaining popularity in gyms worldwide
- However, we don’t yet know for sure if widespread changes in training methodologies will occur industry-wide
- The evidence is still emerging on whether fan preferences will significantly reshape how champions approach their fights
What’s particularly interesting is how coaches like Craig Jones are developing specific techniques to counter wrestling-heavy styles, suggesting the sport continues to evolve tactically.
What To Expect From Future UFC Title Fights
The current debates about wrestling-heavy champions are likely influencing how future title fights will look. While we probably won’t see a complete abandonment of wrestling-based strategies, we might see fighters adopting more fan-friendly applications of their grappling skills.
The UFC itself has financial incentives to promote fights that generate strong audience reactions. This doesn’t mean they’ll change judging criteria overnight, but it might influence matchmaking decisions and bonus allocations in ways that encourage more aggressive fighting styles.
For fans and fighters alike, the key is understanding that this evolution doesn’t represent a rejection of wrestling as a martial art. Instead, it’s a refinement of how wrestling fits into the broader entertainment and competitive landscape of modern MMA.
How Training Approaches Might Evolve
As these discussions continue, training methodologies in MMA gyms are likely to adapt. Fighters will probably place greater emphasis on transitional grappling – the ability to move quickly from control positions to finishing opportunities.
This evolution could actually make the sport more exciting while maintaining its technical depth. When wrestlers focus on active offense rather than passive control, fights become more dynamic and unpredictable for audiences.
How You Can Apply These Lessons To Your Training
Whether you’re training for competition or personal development, the current discussions about UFC champions offer valuable insights for your own martial arts journey. The principles that make fights exciting – active offense, finishing intent, and well-rounded skills – also make training more effective and engaging.
If you’re working on wrestling in your training, focus on making it serve your overall game rather than becoming an end in itself. Every takedown should have a purpose beyond just getting someone down. Practice immediately transitioning to submissions, strikes, or better control positions.
The same principles apply to other aspects of training. Whether you’re working on Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, or conditioning, maintain an offensive mindset that emphasizes creating opportunities to finish exchanges rather than just winning them on points.
The great thing about training at a comprehensive facility is that you can develop all these skills simultaneously. Working on striking makes your takedowns more effective by giving opponents more to worry about. Developing your ground game makes your standup more confident because you’re less afraid of being taken down.
About the Author
Lachlan James
Marketing Coordinator at Extreme MMA
Lachlan James is the Marketing Coordinator at Extreme MMA, responsible for creating engaging content and building the brand’s online presence. With a passion for mixed martial arts and digital marketing, Lachlan combines his knowledge of the sport with strategic marketing expertise to help grow the Extreme MMA community. He works closely with coaches and fighters to share their stories and expertise with both current members and aspiring martial artists.
When he’s not creating content or managing social media campaigns, Lachlan can be found training at the gym, always looking to improve his own skills while gaining deeper insights into what makes Extreme MMA special.
When he's not creating content or managing social media campaigns, Lachlan can be found training at the gym, always looking to improve his own skills while gaining deeper insights into what makes Extreme MMA special.