There’s a principally unavoidable cycle in sports activities the place the younger rookie takes purpose on the veterans, garners expertise, and hits a peak all earlier than turning into the exact same veteran they sought to take out within the early phases of their profession.
In combating, that cycle consumes nearly all fighters, with just a few nice exceptions getting out on high. For the remainder of the pack, the story ends in a not-so-favourable trend, finishing the cycle by turning into the factor they fought to interchange.
The battle between the previous guard and the brand new will not be contemporary to this panorama, nevertheless, it’s an particularly prevalent theme for the UFC within the first quarter of 2024.
Yearly issues for the group, however 2024 is shaping to be significantly necessary for the promotion’s future. There are lots of upcoming fights in Q1 between the previous and new guard that might lead to many “passings of the torch”, shaping the brief and long-term for the corporate.
Previous vs. New – A New Guard…
Alexander “The Nice” Volkanovski vs Ilia “El Matador” Topuria
The debatable featherweight GOAT in Alexander “The Nice” Volkanovski is about to defend his title for the sixth time towards rising star Ilia “El Matador” Topuria, a well-rounded 27-year-old prodigy. This combat, above all others, feels probably the most like a passing of the torch. The 35-year-old Volkanovski has accrued tons of mileage over time and the current knockout loss to Islam Makhachev put “The Nice” in a spot we’ve got by no means seen him in.
Given the truth that all 4 undisputed featherweight champions have hall-of-fame resumes, the following champ has large sneakers to fill. When assessing age, abilities, and star energy, Topuria comes off as the proper fighter to hold the torch.
Charles “do Bronx” Oliviera vs Arman Tsarukyan
Fan favorite and former light-weight champion, Charles “do Bronx” Oliviera is trying to reclaim what he as soon as misplaced after a submission loss to reigning champion, Makhachev. His re-ascension was kicked off with a powerful TKO win over Beneil Dariush and he appears to stake a declare for the Makhachev rematch with a win over 27-year-old budding star Arman Tsarukyan, who had revenge-fueled motives of his personal towards the light-weight champion.
With Tsarukyan aiming for Oliveira, this might be one of many final cases we see the 34-year-old former champion within the thick of the title race ought to he lose to his UFC 300 opponent. For Tsarukyan, this can be a step towards being within the title image, probably for years to come back.
Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier vs Benoit “God of Warfare” St. Denis
Oliveira will not be the one one relying his submit at light-weight, for “The Diamond” has answered the decision to attempt to fend off the brand new guard. On this occasion, he will likely be trying to quell a really violent opponent in 28-year-old blossoming contender Benoit “God of Warfare” St. Denis.
With Poirier being a number of wins away from a title shot, a loss to the #11 ranked Frenchman would possible dispose of any championship hopes. For the Frenchman, a win over a top-three opponent would usher in a brand new face within the light-weight title image.
Gilbert “Durinho” Burns vs Jack Della Madellena
There’s a near-identical occasion of narrative to Poirier/St. Denis right here with Burns vs Della Madellena. The 37-year-old Brazilian has been searching for a approach again to title rivalry since dropping to then-champion Kamaru Usman in 2021.
For Burns, like Poirier, the objective is right here to safe a win so as to keep a little bit safety on the high towards a hungry up and comer in 27-year-old JDM. Similar to St Denis, the #11 ranked fighter is trying to skip the road and hop into the highest 5 of his respective division with a powerful win.
Katlyn Chookagian vs Maycee “The Future” Barber
The highest three to 4 of the ladies’s flyweight division is turning into reasonably aggressive, with one of the best of the division all gunning for champion Alexa Grasso. One fighter trying to deliver themselves to the combo is 26-year-old Maycee Barber, a well-rounded athlete at #6 strolling an analogous path because the aforementioned, Arman Tsarukyan.
Barber is driving a five-fight win streak, along with her final loss coming towards the present champion. A win towards #4 ranked veteran Katlyn Chookagian would put her within the image and probably arrange a title combat with championship and revenge implications on the road. For Chookagian, a loss right here would possible imply the top of title hopes for the 35-year-old.
Extra previous guard vs new guard matchups to begin the yr
Henry “Triple C” Cejudo vs Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili
Geoff “Handz of Metal” Neal vs Ian “The Future” Machado-Garry
Petr “No Mercy” Yan vs Tune Yadong
Pedro “The Younger Punisher” Munhoz vs Kyler “The Matrix” Phillips
