Back in January, if you had said popular champions Jose Aldo, Ronda Rousey, Jon Jones, Cain Velasquez, Chris Weidman and Anthony Pettis would all lose their belts in one way or another by year’s end no one would have believed you.
That’s the kind of year 2015 was for the UFC. Unpredictable.
The UFC has a nice bit of momentum heading into 2016, so with that in mind, here are the top 10 UFC stories from 2015.
10. Reebok deal disappoints
The UFC’s Reebok clothing deal was criticized by fighters, fans and everyone in between during its first year. Many don’t like the new, uniformed look, but the most disappointing part is the fact it has taken money out of the pockets of many fighters and others involved in the sport. The UFC took heat for firing cutman Jacob “Stitch” Duran after he spoke out about the Reebok deal’s impact on his income. Fighters are allowed to have other sponsors, but they are not allowed to display them during fight weeks. Naturally, this led to many fighters losing sponsors and income.
Mike Johnston: GSP: UFC fighters are afraid to speak their minds
9. Titles never stopped changing hands
Seven of the 10 current UFC champions were not champions when the year began. Only Demetrious Johnson, T.J. Dillashaw and Robbie Lawler retained their belts for the duration of 2015. This goes to show the type of parity that exists in MMA. Due to the unpredictable nature of the sport you can rest assured more titles will change hands in 2016 with a number of former champs eager to regain what was once theirs.
Mike Johnston: Velasquez to get UFC title rematch with Werdum
8. Kimbo Slice KOs Ken Shamrock
This fight didn’t take place in the Octagon, but it featured two popular UFC veterans. Sometimes MMA blurs the line between sport and spectacle, and that’s exactly what fans witnessed when Kimbo Slice, 41, knocked out Ken Shamrock, 51, in June.
Mike Johnston: Kimbo Slice KOs Ken Shamrock at Bellator 138
7. GSP stays relevant despite his absence
Georges St-Pierre hasn’t fought since Nov. 16, 2013, yet he remained one of the sport’s most talked-about fighters in 2015. The Canadian has never officially retired and has teased a comeback on a number of occasions. In November, famed boxing trainer Freddie Roach, whom St-Pierre has trained with over the years, said the former UFC welterweight champ was planning on starting a six-week fight camp to see how he feels.
Mike Johnston: Roach: GSP planning fight camp, possible UFC return
6. Rousey dominates Cat Zingano, Bethe Correia
At UFC 184, Rousey dismantled Zingano with her patented armbar in just 14 seconds—the quickest finish in UFC title fight history until Conor McGregor broke her record. Then, at UFC 190, she knocked out Correia in a fight that was personal. Rousey had taken offence to things Correia said about her family. The Brazilian received some comeuppance.
Mike Johnston: Rousey fighting for Roddy Piper, family honour
5. Weight cutting issue brought to light
Fighter safety surrounding dangerous weight cuts is a growing concern in MMA and unfortunately it was thrust into the spotlight after 21-year-old Chinese fighter Yang Jian Bing died due to complications from his weight cut prior to a ONE Championship event in the Philippines in early December.
Mike Johnston: Tragedy strikes MMA; fighter dies after weight cut
4. Anderson Silva, Nick Diaz both fail UFC 183 drug tests
It was one of odder main events in UFC history in everything from matchmaking, the fight itself and its aftermath. Silva was coming off a 13-month layoff following a gruesome leg injury suffered against Chris Weidman, while Diaz hadn’t fought in nearly two years after leaving the sport following his loss to Georges St-Pierre. Silva won a unanimous decision with Diaz spending much of the fight trying to goad him into a scrap. Silva popped for steroids and Diaz tested positive yet again for marijuana metabolites. Both were suspended. Silva for one year; Diaz for much, much longer.
Mike Johnston: UFC star Nick Diaz suspended five years for marijuana
3. Jon Jones arrested, stripped of title
The year started off so well for Jones. But after earning a unanimous decision win over rival Daniel Cormier at UFC 182 on Jan. 3 it was all downhill. Several days after the win, it was revealed Jones tested positive for cocaine in the lead-up to the fight. He was fined $25,000 for violating the UFC’s Athlete Code of Conduct and spent one night in a drug treatment facility. Four months later, Jones was involved in a hit-and-run accident and was arrested on a felony charge of leaving the scene of an accident involving death or personal injuries (a pregnant woman in the other vehicle broke her arm). The UFC stripped him of his 205-lb. title and suspended him indefinitely. He was reinstated by the UFC in late October after he reached a plea agreement and avoided jail time.
Mike Johnston: Jon Jones announces tentative date for UFC return
2. McGregor knocks out Aldo in 13 seconds
Nearly a full year of hype and trash talk culminated in a 13-second fight MMA fans still haven’t stopped talking about. Irish sensation Conor McGregor landed a perfect, fall-away counter-left hook on longtime featherweight champion Jose Aldo, who’d charged forward aggressively with his right hand low. McGregor is now the undisputed champ at 145 lbs. and immediately following his win he started talking about becoming a duel-weight champion. Who McGregor fights next is perhaps the biggest storyline heading into 2016.
Mike Johnston: McGregor may leave division before defending title
1. Holly Holm stuns Ronda Rousey at UFC 193
No fight in the history of mixed martial arts garnered more post-fight attention than Rousey-Holm, and that’s because of the shocking outcome. Heading into the bout, most people didn’t think Holm stood a chance against one of the most dominant champions in UFC history, but she fought the perfect fight. After establishing her dominance in the opening round she finished Rousey off with a head-kick knockout 59 seconds into the second. Rousey was sent to the hospital and Holm was sent into superstardom.
Mike Johnston: How Holly Holm derailed the Ronda Rousey hype train
