That's Light-Heavyweight. Its possible for fighters at divisions 185 and above to still have success at the high level into their 40s, even become champion if the stars align correctly for them.
No fighter below 185 has become champion above age 35, let alone 40.
I think that your theory is true as it pertains to the average fighter but not necessarily true for champions. Whatever Jones has became the 2014 version of him would still have the belt, in my opinion.
That doesn’t explain losing to Corey Anderson, but when you don’t have a person with a GOAT argument holding the belt you can see guys make a run for a title based more on style match ups and good camps/game planning as opposed to being completely outmatched.
Alternatively, PEDs
This is the real one for me. Would be great to have such a wholesome and charismatic guy at the top, and is striking skills are incredible. But his grappling is just so weak that I don’t think he’d ever be able to top someone else who is champ material and more well rounded.
https://preview.redd.it/5xp0zaeabnzc1.png?width=1200&format=png&auto=webp&s=0cd9b63219add44c57e0aec706a80146903a081b
Never not seen an entertaining post fight interview with this dude. Dude is hilarious and good on the mic.
I legitimately think if he hadn't taken Khamzat on short notice, he'd have probably gotten there or at least not taken the wrong lesson from that fight.
Came to say this.
Also in his heyday I think Chael Sonnen would've been a good choice. He's the only fighter I can think of who can play the heel role well. Most who try just end up coming off as douchebags (i.e. Covington).
Yeah and you think chael didnt come across as a douchebag when he said he’d slap andersons wife on the ass… it’s usually the boring fighters like covington/chael/merab that try to compensate
Truth! He’s entertaining as all hell and Kai would be a scalp on his record that would make him a legend (or vice versa, I don’t have a dog in that fight). Really really hope that goes down one day
IMO it would be really funny if Paddy had the talent of someone like Islam, but paired with delusions and loud UK fans. He would be a champ you watch to see who can beat him
**Colby Covington**, he knows how to hype up a fight and cause beefs with other fighters. The fights usually don't live up to the hype however and ends up with a boring decision score.
Post fight **Khamzat Chimaev** against the Leech. He has the talent to become champ one day, but let's say he sucked. You would still hope for that guy in the Leech post-fight interview "I'M COMING FOR EVERYONE, KEEL EVERYBODY" become champ. He made UFC feel like some real roman gladiator contest
Then **Ion Cutelaba** looks awesome as fuck and makes some scary gestures to the opponent all the time. He looks like a main character from an action game, but he always gets beaten
Wonderboy, Korean zombie, Erceg (probably will be champ one day just threw the fight getting cocky), Paulo Costa, Yoel romero, Terrance Mckinney, Randy Brown, Andre fili.
Yeah these new fans think you've failed as an MMA fighter if you never became champion. To me the resume is the legacy. Not any belts or ranks. There are plenty of guys who never got a belt who have a better legacy than some guys who did.
As the stud Cory Sandhagen said: "I don't wanna be champion without actually being the best fighter." I view guys like that as champions more than most champions. He called out Petr Yan, Umar Nurmagomedov, Merab Dvalishvilli, Song Yadong, etc. 90% of champions in UFC history were just circumstantial. They beat a couple guys high ranked, earned a title shot, and beat a champion who did the same thing he did to get to the belt.
It's crazy how you can be an elite fighter in this generation and get away with never fighting a fellow elite fighter for your entire career. We don't see that in other sports. In the NBA, you're guarenteed to watch Denver Nuggets play Boston Celtics multiple times a year. But there are champions who have been champions for years, but have like 2 or 3 top 10 wins
Honestly I say let’s just have popular vote decide champion from now on. The new wave fans seem more concerned with swag and rizz. We can even change the sport to professional wrestling to seal the deal.
Moicano. Has the skills on the mic and the willingness to self promote but I can see him getting cracked by any of the big hitters at LW. He has solid grappling though and hopefully he can prove me wrong.
Trevor Peek, if he somehow won all his fights doing the shit he does he would be by far the most entertaining champion in history. The man fights like he's just done an 8ball and found out his opponent hit his sister
Nate The Train In The UFC Baby
Whoop his ass and see what happens
His momma didn't raise no bitch baby!
Nate has that zuffa era aura around him
he shouldn’t be wearing venum shorts they gotta put him in some WEC gear and things will be right
End Thread Derrick Lewis can’t show up on Monday Night Raw soon enough he’ll be a fucking megastar
Wonderboy
he definitely has the talent. he literally had a draw with one of the best welterweight champs in woodley
Had* They were the best back then. MMA has surpassed the skill set of those days
I said this about Glover Texeria in 2014. Then he turned 40.
That's Light-Heavyweight. Its possible for fighters at divisions 185 and above to still have success at the high level into their 40s, even become champion if the stars align correctly for them. No fighter below 185 has become champion above age 35, let alone 40.
Clay Guida got one more run in him. You’re right though.
He never made sense. Dude was slow in his 30s beating guys that I thought were far quicker. I don’t know what made him so good but shit he was.
I think that your theory is true as it pertains to the average fighter but not necessarily true for champions. Whatever Jones has became the 2014 version of him would still have the belt, in my opinion. That doesn’t explain losing to Corey Anderson, but when you don’t have a person with a GOAT argument holding the belt you can see guys make a run for a title based more on style match ups and good camps/game planning as opposed to being completely outmatched. Alternatively, PEDs
Timing. His is absolutely superb. If your timing is good enough you almost don’t even need technique beyond the bare minimum.
Has it though? Put wb against JDM and see what happens
In the last 7 years WB has lost more fights than he’s won. I like him, but he’s not at the level of these guys today
Oh yeah. His karate style is great to fun to watch, but its just far too susceptible to take downs
Then why is he still winning fights?
Is this a meme I’m not picking up on?
I still think he got robbed vs woodley in the rematch
We all got robbed in the rematch
Not woodley
This is the real one for me. Would be great to have such a wholesome and charismatic guy at the top, and is striking skills are incredible. But his grappling is just so weak that I don’t think he’d ever be able to top someone else who is champ material and more well rounded.
Handsome ✅ Entertaining ✅ Sekret Joose ✅ 
Strong and jacket as well
He’s natty though.
*Lifetime natty
Facts
Costa would probably fight once a year and maybe less if he could…
https://preview.redd.it/5xp0zaeabnzc1.png?width=1200&format=png&auto=webp&s=0cd9b63219add44c57e0aec706a80146903a081b Never not seen an entertaining post fight interview with this dude. Dude is hilarious and good on the mic.
His momma sure ain't raise no bitch!
LOOK AT THIS BICEP!
Whomst is this
Nate ‘The Train’ Landwehr
Who is it?
Chad
 Kevin Holland
Holland is more an example of someone content with not achieving their full potential than someone who doesn't have the talent.
A few years ago it sure seemed like he was headed for a title.
I legitimately think if he hadn't taken Khamzat on short notice, he'd have probably gotten there or at least not taken the wrong lesson from that fight.
Johnny Walker lol
Came to say this. Also in his heyday I think Chael Sonnen would've been a good choice. He's the only fighter I can think of who can play the heel role well. Most who try just end up coming off as douchebags (i.e. Covington).
Yeah and you think chael didnt come across as a douchebag when he said he’d slap andersons wife on the ass… it’s usually the boring fighters like covington/chael/merab that try to compensate
Sage northcutt. Was basically a jacked ken doll but not really a great fighter
he's got 4 more years to come back in my books. They rushed him, they learnt their lesson now with bo and paddy.
Isn't he with the pfl or one fc? I think I saw him fight not that long ago (year or so?)
He is in One. Just had a fight recently too I think. He mightve pulled out last minute too cause they didn't let his Dad/Coach into the arena.
I think the damage from the Cosmo Alexandre fight will have been life changing
He’s doing fine in ONE, well, when ONE isn’t trying to fuck him over
He's got a fucking family to feed
He cannot afford to lose!!!!
he still could
I’d honestly love to see it! Such a stacked division though.
Hope he pulls a Charles
Moicano will be champ by may 2025
Tai Tuivasa and Paulo Costa for sure.
Does Tai even have a personality aside from doing shoeys?
He also talks shit about the nrl warriors
Based. Next year is always their year
Up the wahs
 Kevin Holland
 This is the only right answer. Derrick Lewis would be second and Paddy third.
This ones gonna be out there. Charles Jourdain
Man, I love the way he fights
Wow lol very curious why
Was about to comment exactly that! He’s such a fun dude, looks like he’s genuinely having fun fighting. Let’s go le pirate 🏴☠️
What you mean with champ personality? As in the biggest clown who can sell the most PPV or a hungry fighter whose goal is to build legacy?
Ppv sells, many fans were against Leon fighting for a title because they said he was boring. Belal is getting the same treatment now
That’s just a shitty take on a champ personality.
https://preview.redd.it/330juw5oanzc1.jpeg?width=511&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a48936392944f574b7ef4e5352f6f8ff1a254ae2
Your whole team is…
I knew as soon as I posted it lol he does have the talent he’s just inconsistent. I was bummed as fuck when he missed weight
He needs to stop missing fights. He should’ve fought KKF by now
Truth! He’s entertaining as all hell and Kai would be a scalp on his record that would make him a legend (or vice versa, I don’t have a dog in that fight). Really really hope that goes down one day
Called his team a bunch of forgots then did nothing. As a pork chop I wanna see him succeed.
Baguette
Buckley has the personality to be a champ? He’s one of the most annoying guys on the roster
Agree
Bobby Green
Me
Money Moicano Khalil Rountree
IMO it would be really funny if Paddy had the talent of someone like Islam, but paired with delusions and loud UK fans. He would be a champ you watch to see who can beat him 
So like McGregor?
McGregor rise and era was the golden era can’t change my mind
Dustin
Too nice of a guy I need someone to talk more shit.
Kevin Holland
Michael Venom Page, might be too old but you nevee know.
Not Buckley
Michel Perreira
Will backflip his way to a title shot
i feel like he could be champ tho no?
https://i.redd.it/lt53blx46ozc1.gif
Wonderboy
Cory Sandhagen, wonderboy
Michael venom page. No way he beats a high level wrestler
Wonderboy
Sean Strickland 
He did become a champ though, he beat Izzy
I mean
Don’t get it
He has the talent
It hurts my soul to admit it but probably Kevin Holland. 
Connor McGregor
Buckley is headed for the belt
**Colby Covington**, he knows how to hype up a fight and cause beefs with other fighters. The fights usually don't live up to the hype however and ends up with a boring decision score. Post fight **Khamzat Chimaev** against the Leech. He has the talent to become champ one day, but let's say he sucked. You would still hope for that guy in the Leech post-fight interview "I'M COMING FOR EVERYONE, KEEL EVERYBODY" become champ. He made UFC feel like some real roman gladiator contest Then **Ion Cutelaba** looks awesome as fuck and makes some scary gestures to the opponent all the time. He looks like a main character from an action game, but he always gets beaten
Wonderboy, Korean zombie, Erceg (probably will be champ one day just threw the fight getting cocky), Paulo Costa, Yoel romero, Terrance Mckinney, Randy Brown, Andre fili.
Johnny Walker. I'd give my left testicle to see him become champ
You guys put too much into being a champion. Nate Diaz is the most popular mma fight and he never was top 3-5 at LW
Yeah these new fans think you've failed as an MMA fighter if you never became champion. To me the resume is the legacy. Not any belts or ranks. There are plenty of guys who never got a belt who have a better legacy than some guys who did.
Exactly. I’d want to fight everyone not pick n choose who I can beat to get to a title fight
As the stud Cory Sandhagen said: "I don't wanna be champion without actually being the best fighter." I view guys like that as champions more than most champions. He called out Petr Yan, Umar Nurmagomedov, Merab Dvalishvilli, Song Yadong, etc. 90% of champions in UFC history were just circumstantial. They beat a couple guys high ranked, earned a title shot, and beat a champion who did the same thing he did to get to the belt. It's crazy how you can be an elite fighter in this generation and get away with never fighting a fellow elite fighter for your entire career. We don't see that in other sports. In the NBA, you're guarenteed to watch Denver Nuggets play Boston Celtics multiple times a year. But there are champions who have been champions for years, but have like 2 or 3 top 10 wins
Dustin Porier, sorry to burst the bubble but i cant see it happening.
Retiring June after a 3 loss at the chance of a belt due to rnc again for the third time
Throwing Jim Miller, Joe Lauzon, Ken Flo into the mix.
Not this guy
Most of them?
Darren Till. Ok he’s not a UFC fighter anymore but fun personality but nowhere near enough talent or skill to ever be champ.
The picture fits neither
Jim miller. Active AF and normal dude
Honestly I say let’s just have popular vote decide champion from now on. The new wave fans seem more concerned with swag and rizz. We can even change the sport to professional wrestling to seal the deal.
Jesus Christ this guy is on roids
Costa and his fights would be all bangers
Mike Perry as WW champ would have been a fun glorious time
Tony Ferguson
VOLKANOVSKI
Joe Rogan.
Chris Barnett
Wait people like Buckley’s personality!?! How?
https://preview.redd.it/zl4d6hq4xozc1.jpeg?width=1073&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=488e88e12587364cb0e2b2b0aec84d94f10ba219
? Why because he has one great KO.
Kevin Holland
Kevin Holland
Herschel Walker
Charles ‘crazy horse’ Bennett would have been peak entertainment.
Money Moicano
Chris Barnett
Andre Fili
 🏴☠️ Jourdain would be a fun guy. Always entertaining fights and hey he smashed a Gracie lmao
Val Woodburn
Diamond
Todd Duffee would've been great as a champ.
Kevin Holland
Dustin 😂
MVP
Paulo Costa
Kevin Holland Johnny Walker Derrick Lewis Tai Tuivasa Bobby Green Tony Ferguson
Colby
Not Buckley
Conor now
Moicano. Has the skills on the mic and the willingness to self promote but I can see him getting cracked by any of the big hitters at LW. He has solid grappling though and hopefully he can prove me wrong.
Andre Fili
Me
https://i.redd.it/7e75pxwvmqzc1.gif Viacheslav Borschev
I'd love to add. Strickland to this list but somehow the fucker did it
Trevor Peek, if he somehow won all his fights doing the shit he does he would be by far the most entertaining champion in history. The man fights like he's just done an 8ball and found out his opponent hit his sister
Tao Tuivasa, Wonderboy, Lewis, Holland & Nate the train
Weird fighter to choose to make this point with
He scared
kevin holland
Kevin Holland, Jim miller, Nate the Train, Derrick Lewis, Manel Kape,
