“Surprising” would be the best way to describe the landscape of MMA last year. Seven UFC titles changed hands in 2015, with six of those fighters being underdogs heading into their respective championship matchups. This year could be a different story, but there are plenty of former stars who will be seeking redemption in 2016. With this being an off week for the major MMA promotions, here’s a list of fighters who are on MMA’s hot seat this year.
Ronda Rousey
Prior to her UFC 193 championship matchup with Holly Holm last November, it would seem unfathomable that the superstar would ever make it on this list after she dispatched Cat Zingano and Bethe Correia. But with Holm dominating that fight, eventually knocking Rousey out in the second round, there are many question marks heading into the potential rematch. There’s not currently a tentative date for the rematch, but it is concerning that Rousey will be fulfilling her commitments to various movie roles – including her starring in the remake of Road House – which takes away from her training. Nobody can deny what the Glendale Fight Club product has done for women’s MMA, but if Rousey wants to prove that she’s one of the best fighters in MMA history, she needs to avenge her loss to Holm.
Cain Velasquez
Velasquez lost his heavyweight title to Fabricio Werdum at UFC 188 in a fight where many felt the 33-year-old didn’t look like himself. One argument for the AKA product’s disappointing performance was his hindered cardio, which appeared to be affected from the high elevation in Mexico City where the fight took place. However, some pundits suggest that years of injuries have finally caught up to Velasquez, who has competed just once since the end of 2013. Another loss to Werdum would make it extremely difficult for him to capture UFC gold again, especially considering his age and the damage he’s endured throughout his career. Velasquez is a big chip for the UFC’s Latin American market, so the pressure is on him to avenge just the second loss of his career. Velasquez meets Werdum in a rematch on Feb. 6 at UFC 196 in Las Vegas.
Michael Chandler
The former Bellator lightweight champion had a solid 2015 going 2-0 with the promotion, so why does he find himself on this list? One name: Will Brooks. Regardless of who the promotion wants to match Brooks up with next – some are suggesting Josh Thomson because of name value – it’s highly likely that Chandler and the current lightweight torchbearer will fight for a third time at some point this year. Brooks won a controversial decision over Chandler back at Bellator 120, but silenced those critics in the rematch by defeating the Power MMA product by TKO at Bellator 131. Since his most recent loss to Brooks, Chandler has racked up two straight stoppage victories, but Brooks has looked equally impressive in his wins over Dave Jansen and Marcin Held. The pressure is on Chandler to emerge victorious because a third straight defeat would likely mean an exit from the weight class.
Johny Hendricks
In a bid to get his UFC welterweight title back, Hendricks has a stiff test at UFC 196 against Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. Unfortunately, Hendricks’ 2015 won’t be remembered not for his unanimous decision over Matt Brown at UFC 185, but rather for having weight cut issues that forced his bout with Tyron Woodley at UFC 192 to be cancelled. To his credit, Hendricks made some changes. He left his management (Team Takedown) and hiring weight management specialist Lou Giordano. His upcoming opponent, “Wonderboy,” poses a serious threat and comes into the matchup on a five-fight win streak. At 32, Hendricks needs to seize this opportunity if he not only wants to change public perception, but also if he wants to earn another shot at the welterweight title in the near future. With Robbie Lawler defeating Carlos Condit in a closely contested decision, Hendricks needs to make a statement at UFC 196 if he wants to be mentioned in the title conversation.
Gegard Mousasi
Once thought to be a middleweight contender, Mousasi has had a disappointing Octagon tenure sporting a 4-3 record since he signed with the UFC in 2013. The 30-year-old is coming off the first knockout loss of his career, when underdog Uriah Hall stopped him in the second round of their encounter at UFC Fight Night 75. The former Strikeforce light-heavyweight champion now faces a tough test in Brazilian Thales Leites at UFC Fight Night 83. Leites has racked up an impressive 5-1 record since re-signing with the UFC in 2013, including stoppage victories over Trevor Smith, Francis Carmont and Tim Boetsch. If Mousasi ever wants another shot at the middleweight title, he desperately needs a victory over the former UFC title challenger Leites. With setbacks to Lyoto Machida, Ronaldo Souza and the aforementioned Hall, it wouldn’t be shocking to see the UFC cut ties with the Dutch-Armenian fighter should he lose again on Feb. 27.
Other notable hot seat candidates include…
Renan Barao – Two straight losses to T.J. Dillashaw have made the former bantamweight champion an afterthought. Once considered one of the pound-for-pound best fighters on the roster, Barao may be headed to featherweight with the 135-pound title unattainable. Regardless of that decision, the 28-year-old needs to get back on the winning track if he wants to maintain his relevancy as one of MMA’s best fighters.
Myles Jury – Going 0-2 last year with setbacks to Donald Cerrone and Charles Oliveria has silenced any talk about the 27-year-old being a potential contender. The Power MMA product needs to have a successful 2016 if he wants to prove his doubters wrong.
Chad Mendes – Once considered the best featherweight not named Jose Aldo, his back-to-back losses to Conor McGregor and Frankie Edgar have pushed the Team Alpha Male product out of title contention. The pressure is on for the 30-year-old to bounce back in a big way this year if he wants to be back in the driver’s seat.
Agree or Disagree? Who are your picks for fighters on “The Hot Seat” in 2016. Leave your comments below or hit James up on Twitter @LynchonSports.