The championship fight. The pinnacle of achievement across combat sports for centuries. A premiere attraction that draws millions every year. But not all title bouts are created equally.
So which title matches every week are the ones to watch? We’ll look over every title fight from across the combat sports landscape and give you the five best based on five criteria:
- Competitiveness: Is this an even matchup? Or just a warm body to throw at a champion? It’s a title fight, so we want the best possible at that division in that promotion.
- Excitement: How exciting will this fight be? A clash of two elite talents throwing everything they have at each other in an attempt to win the gold? Or a half-dead plod-fest devoid of action or risk?
- Juice: A sort of catch-all term for all the factors behind the matchup. Is there a story leading up to the match? A true rivalry? Anticipated rematch? Do the fighters dislike each other? Were the circumstances leading to the fight extraordinary, or was it just a promoter putting two names against each other? Is there a lot of excitement or hype going into it?
- Prestige: Applies to the belt itself, but also to the fighter wearing it. Is this a long-tenured champion defending? Is this an interim title or one that was vacated? Has the champion increased the prestige of the title or is this a fight that will increase the prestige of it?
- Viewing Ease: We all don’t mind suffering for our art (or hobbies), but sometimes paying twenty dollars for a choppy stream, or searching your cable plan for a channel you’re pretty sure was just invented three days ago in the 6000s isn’t the best of times. How easy, affordable, and stress-free is this bout to watch?
So here are your five best gold options for the weekend.
1. Glory Welterweight Championship: Nieky Holzken (c) (89-11) vs. Murthel Groenhart (63-22-3)
When/Where: Saturday, 12:00am, ESPN3
Competitiveness: 5: I never count Groenhart out in a fight, he’s going way up in weight to fight a guy in Nieky, that he gave all he could handle ten months ago. Groenhart is actually taller than Holzken, but Holzken hasn’t lost in his Glory career, although Murthel gave him his closest call.
Excitement: 4: These are absolutely two of the best in the world at what they do (“drink it in, maaan…”), and I’ll enjoy every minute, but their last bout was more technical and cerebral than some folks have the tolerance for.
Juice: 5
Prestige:5
Viewing Ease: 3: The main card doesn’t air until midnight on ESPN3, and if you miss that, there’s only one replay on ESPN2 at an awkward time.
Total: 22
2. Glory Featherweight Championship: Gabriel Varga (c) (13-3) vs. Robin van Roosmalen (47-15-3)
When/Where: Friday, 9:30pm, UFC Fight Pass
Competitiveness: 5: RVR did everything he could in the lightweight division, so he’s dropping down to face Varga, who is the only two-time champion in the promotion’s history.
Excitement: 3
Juice: 4
Prestige: 5
Viewing Ease: 4: If you have UFC Fight Pass, and you really should, if just for all the fight promotions they’re gobbling up, it’s easy street to watch.
Total: 21
3. Absolute Championship Berkut Lightweight Championship: Abdul Aziz Abdulvakhabov (13-1) vs. Oleg Bagov (22-9)
When/Where: Saturday, 11:00am, YouTube
Competitiveness: 3
Excitement: 5: Abdul’s last six wins were finishes, including a KO of Bagov, and NONE of Bagov’s 22 wins have gone to the judges. Yeah, this should be damned fun.
Juice: 5: Highly-anticipated rematch of a 2014 bout in which Abdul turned out Bagov’s lights with a spinning back kick. Also, this card is called “Revenge”. Suffice it to say, it’s a big deal for ACB.
Prestige: 2
Viewing Ease: 5
Total: 20
4. Absolute Championship Berkut Featherweight Championship: Askar Askarov (7-0) vs. Jose Maria Tome (37-5)
When/Where: Saturday, 11:00am, YouTube
Competitiveness: 5
Excitement: 4
Juice: 3: Simple story, but a classic one that always works: The hotshot upstart looking to break into the big leagues against the hardened veteran looking for another crack at the big time.
Prestige: 2
Viewing Ease: 5: Free at 11am on YouTube! And with Frank Mir on commentary! Miguel Torres, if ever there was a time to make your triumphant return…
Total: 19
5. Vacant IBO/IBF/GBU Women’s Junior Bantamweight World Championships: Eileen Olszewski (10-6-3) vs. Eva Voraberger (20-5)
When/Where: Saturday, Untelevised
Competitiveness: 5: Two legit top-10 talents in a pretty rich women’s division.
Excitement: 2
Juice: 1
Prestige: 3: Well, it’s the only world championship on the line this weekend in all of boxing, so it’s a fairly big deal.
Viewing Ease: 1
Total: 12
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