On March 4th 2023, Jon Jones returned after over 3 years to debut in a brand new weight class and despatched the #1 contender Cyril Gane inside a single spherical to assert the vacant heavyweight championship. A triumphant return after 1120 days of absence within the UFC. Conversely, Henry Cejudo retired after his Dominic Cruz victory on Might 9 2020. He returned 3 years later with a shedding effort to Aljamain Sterling. Whole days absent: 1092. Two fighters, each with stellar information getting back from hiatus with drastically totally different outcomes. So this begs the query: Is Ring Rust actual?
Ring Rust: A scarcity of depth or focus because of inactivity, normally referring to competitors.
Stipe Miocic has at the moment not had a struggle within the UFC for over 1200 days. Together with his return struggle set to be the aforementioned Jon Jones, I made a decision there was no higher time to delve into the annals of the UFC to see the longest fighter layoffs and their careers upon their return to hunt a solution to the query: Is Ring rust a combating issue or simply a straightforward excuse for the shedding fighter? And secondly, can ring rust be a consider Jones vs Miocic.
George St-Pierre – Days between fights: 1449 days
Maybe it’s unfair to start out this listing with a reliable GOAT contender however GSPs return to the Octagon will probably be remembered for generations. After vacating his belt in 2013 he made his triumphant return in opposition to then UFC Middleweight champion Michael Bisping. Shifting with the ferocity and beauty he had proven in his prime, GSP confirmed no indicators of slowing and had an aura that will have made all the middleweight division barely on edge that they have been set to be his subsequent sufferer. This was to not be as George as soon as once more vacated the belt, and rode off into the sundown with an unbelievable submission victory and never an oz. of ring rust in sight.
Cain Velasquez – Days between fights: 953 days
The heavyweight cardio machine Cain Velasquez dropped his title to Fabricio Werdum on June 13 2015. After despatching Travis Browne with relative ease, the rematch with Werdum appeared imminent. Nevertheless accidents on each side after which the Nevada athletic fee not clearing Cain absolutely extinguished what may have been a rematch for the ages. Cains close to 3 yr lay off can be ended with a match in opposition to Francis Ngannou. Previous to this struggle, Francis had gained only one of his final 3 fights, so this might have actually gone both method. Nevertheless, Francis made this look comparatively easy and a metaphorical torched was handed onto the brand new technology of heavyweight hitters.
Brock Lesnar – Days between fights: 1653
The human home Brock Lesnar solely had 9 skilled MMA fights in his total profession. Debuting within the UFC after simply 1 skilled struggle and profitable the heavyweight belt simply 2 fights after, Lesnar exuded the phrase ‘right here for a superb time and never a very long time’. By 2011 he had acquired 2 brutal back-to-back first spherical finishes by the hands of Cain Velasquez and Alistair Overeem. Stating Diverticulitis troubles, Lesnar would retire and shortly after debut within the WWE. In 2016, Lesnar would return to struggle the ‘King of Stroll-offs’ Mark Hunt. This might go down initially as a unanimous determination win for Lesnar which might later be overturned as Brock examined optimistic for Clomiphene. With almost 4 and a half years layoff off, Brock returned and appeared just like the monster he at all times had. If ring rust is a psychological affliction in addition to a bodily one, this appeared non existent on this struggle.
Henry Cejudo – Days between fights: 1092
Irrelevant of your opinions of Henry Cejudo exterior of the ring, his prowess within the ring can’t have been questioned. Beating Sergio Pettis, the potential GOAT Demetrius Johnson, T.J Dillashaw, Marlon Maraes and at last Dominic Cruz in succession is an unbelievable accomplishment. It was after the Cruz win that Henry determined he had achieved all he wished and would trip off into the sundown. Now I absolutely respect the notion of going out on prime however at 33 years of age, it may very well be argued that he was simply reaching his maturity as a fighter. Added to this, his assertion grew to become irrelevant when he introduced his return 3 years later. He was granted a direct bantamweight championship shot in opposition to Aljamain Sterling and pushed the champion to a cut up determination with Cejudo on the shedding finish. This was adopted shortly after by a unanimous determination loss to Merab Dvalishvili. In case you have not seen this struggle, I’d suggest searching for footage of the gold medal profitable Cejudo being thrown over Merabs shoulder and paraded across the ring with ease. Evidently, Henrys return was underwhelming and a few say, dampened his in any other case stellar UFC file. This positively felt like ring rust at play. It appeared that MMA had developed while Henry remained stagnant in his struggle IQ.
Throughout my analysis, I realised that prolonged layoffs of over 1000 days appeared extra widespread than I had initially imagined. I selected to spotlight these fighters for a particular purpose. The Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic match is being closely criticised. Stipe is almost 42 years of age and has not fought since early 2021. The above examples show the huge array of outcomes {that a} hiatus can have on a fighter. Victories, shut calls, domination or a string of losses. This struggle may go both method however based mostly on my analysis, the layoff alone does in no way guarantee Jones victory. I do consider that Jon Jones takes this victory, however for components apart from ring rust.
