Whoa, okay, here we go. So, let’s just dive into this crazy world of UFC welterweight champions, right? Maybe it’s just me, but these guys seem to have the wildest highs and some pretty gnarly lows after they lose that shiny belt. And, like, what’s up with Belal Muhammad? Poor dude. He dropped his last fight to Jack Della Maddelena at UFC 315. Not exactly where you want to be, huh?
Anyway — wait, no, let’s rewind. So, history kinda tells us that after losing the belt, things go downhill for these champs. I’m talking about a real slippery slope here.
Let’s chat about Leon Edwards. Remember when he lost to Muhammad? It was a real snoozer in Manchester at UFC 304. Guy looked like he left his mojo back in the locker room. B came out and just… yeah, it wasn’t pretty. Then Edwards couldn’t figure out Sean Brady either. Like, five takedowns against him, yikes.
Then there’s Kamaru Usman. Oh man, this dude was no joke, he added some killer striking to his wrestling chops. Five defenses and then boom! Leon Edwards caught him with a headkick. The sound must’ve been like, if you were to crack a coconut open or something. That loss seemed to spiral into more trouble, with another loss against Chimaev.
Tyron Woodley, anyone? T-Wood was a beast, right? Dominated like a king and then, off he went fighting YouTuber Jake Paul — twice! Didn’t go his way though, which kind of bums me out because… I mean, come on, he had mad skills.
Robbie Lawler’s story is pretty bonkers too. After his belt slipped away to T-Wood, Ruthless went on a losing spree — except for beating Cerrone. He retired after some ups and downs. He was a total hall of fame material though, no doubt.
Johnny Hendricks is like a case of “what just happened?” Went from almost defeating GSP to struggling with weight and losing matches. Just didn’t seem fair, but life’s a rollercoaster, right?
And speaking of rollercoasters, Matt Serra pulled off a seismic shock against GSP to snag his belt. Canada wasn’t kind to him later though, where GSP pretty much bossed the fight in his backyard. Serra later hung up his gloves, and honestly, he deserved that Hall of Fame nod.
Don’t let me forget Matt Hughes. Man, losing to GSP left a mark on him too. Beats a few guys after, but never rediscovers that golden touch. It’s like trying to find an old ring in a messy attic — you almost find it, but not quite.
Oh, Carlos Newton, what a sight! Remember that iconic slam by Hughes? Newton’s post-title run wasn’t loaded with wins, but being the first Canadian champ is a big badge of honor, don’t you think?
Pat Miletich, the pioneer, the OG welterweight king. After losing the title, didn’t really find that spark again. And then fighting in his 50s, that’s some dedication — albeit a tad risky.
But, oh, Georges St-Pierre — now here’s the anomaly. Bounces back with style every single time, even grabs a middleweight title for fun. He’s like that rare bird that just flies higher every time you think it’s impossible.
So yeah. There it is. Champions who took hard hits but kept going, or not. It’s wild, unpredictable, sorta like life itself. Thoughts?
