The NCAA Tournament tends to be held every spring and has taken the sports world by storm. When you open your internet browser or social media app, you'll immediately see an image of braces.
You can't fight it, so just accept it. Historically, brackets have been rare in mixed martial arts, although Bellator and PFL have both utilized tournament formats at times. But in reality, this is a martial arts sport and there is little direct connection to championships. There are usually some zigzags made up of timing, marketing, injuries, style points, etc.
But in the spirit of March, we decided to build a bracket of the world's top middleweights and predict who would come out on top in a traditional tournament format. Why middleweight?Well, there was The title has changed four times in the past two years. At the top are equivalent divisions. No champion has been able to defend the UFC middleweight title since Israel Adesanya defended his title five times from 2020 to 2022.
We used a combination of Brett Okamoto's division rankings to rank the top 10 in each division, and then extracted an additional six best from all major promotions, including UFC, PFL, and Bellator MMA. The ESPN MMA teams filled out their respective brackets. Here are the overall results and what our expert team of Jeff Wagenheim, Ian Parker, Dre Waters and Eddie Maisonet think the match will look like. Did Cinderella appear or did the favorites prevail? See the results below.
suite 16
1:42
Israel Adesanya celebrates highlight KO of Alex Pereira
Joe Rogan, Daniel Cormier and Jon Anik are all in shock after Israel Adesanya brutally KO'd Alex Pereira.
(1) Doricus du Plessis def. (16) Gegard Mousasi: Mousasi is a former two-time Bellator middleweight champion and remains a threat. However, he comes into this tournament on a two-game losing streak and will face the top-seeded UFC champion. Not ideal. Du Plessis, on the other hand, hasn't lost since 2018. His raw power, unconventional style, and consistently high pace have made him a great fit for each of his UFC opponents. It is unlikely that Mousasi was the first to understand du Plessis. The UFC champion defeated Mousasi by KO/TKO to advance to the Elite 8. –Waters
(2) Israel Adesanya def. (15) Impa Kasanganay: Kasanganay looked like a different fighter from the one who went 2-2 in 2020-21 with one of the most spectacular knockouts in UFC history. reception end. He found his way to the PFL last year through the higher division Challengers Series and not only earned a spot for the season, but also won the championship. And he tormented Johnny Eblen in last month's PFL vs. Bellator match. But Adesanya presents a whole new set of problems that Kasanganay cannot solve, mainly through his varied and creative striking. — Wagenheim
(3) Robert Whitaker def. (14) Anthony Hernandez: Hernandez has been strong in the past, but he has never faced a top-five fighter, much less a former champion. Hernandez will have to find a way to take down Whittaker and keep him in place, and few, if any, can do that. Whittaker has never had a problem with cardio or keeping up with the pace of others, so as long as he can do that with Hernandez, he expects to stay in the fight and get wins on the feet. I am. — hoodie
(13) Nasouddin Imavov def. (4) Jared Cannonier: Imavov, who is just 29 years old, has only lost two times in his UFC career, including a decision loss to former champion Sean Strickland in a 205-pound catchweight fight. Cannonier is still a very strong fighter at age 40, but Imavov's mobility, quantitative striking, and wrestling ability make him a tough matchup. Luck favors the brave, and Imavov's age and willingness to throw a lot of punches favor him, and the fight swings in his favor in a split decision. — Maisonette
1:50
Sean Strickland defeats Israel Adesanya in shocking upset
Sean Strickland shocked the world by upsetting Israel Adesanya to win the UFC middleweight championship.
(5) Sean Strickland def. (12) Romain Dorise: After seeing how Strickland fought against Adesanya and du Plessis, it's clear that he belongs at the top of the division. Dorise has great power and a solid leglock, but if he doesn't land a knockout shot or grab his leg, what else does he have? When Dolidze fought Imavov, a good striker with good takedown defense, he lost his way and struggled. Strickland is a miserable opponent for Dorise and should pass him in this round. — hoodie
(6) Marvin Vettori def. (11) Paulo Costa: The biggest question regarding this matchup is which Costa will play? When the two faced off in 2021, Vettori won a unanimous decision, but it was just the final chapter in a tortuous drama. The weight class for the fight was changed twice, ultimately going to light heavyweight, as Costa's weight did not reach the middleweight limit when he arrived the week of the fight. This aroused Vettori's instability, and the battle became fierce. Costa received a point deduction for being poked in the eye, but it did not affect the result as Vettori was already ahead on all three scorecards. Since then, neither fighter has provided evidence to suggest the rematch will take place in any other form. — Wagenheim
(7) Johnny Eblen def. (10) Jack Hermansson: Hermansson gained momentum in his final match before the tournament, scoring an upset victory over seasoned boxer Joe Pifer. However, Hermansson is 4-4 in his last eight fights, and that instability won't help him win against the current Bellator champion. Hermansson is an accomplished wrestler, but the problem is Evren has proven to be even better. Evren is also a more skilled striker. Eblen showcased his extensive skill set, earning a unanimous decision victory and advancing to the next round. –Waters
(8) Khamzat Chimaev def. (9) Brendan Allen: Chimaev has become an almost mythical figure, and from press clippings one might expect him to defeat Superman. He earned that hype with a dominant start in the UFC, but has only made two appearances in almost two years. Chimaev remains undefeated, but it hasn't been easy against higher-level opponents. Allen is on a six-fight winning streak, five of which have come by submission, so he won't be pushed or pushed. However, Chimaev did not come on as a substitute and he will continue to fight and get through the night. — Wagenheim
elite 8
1:07
Robert Whitaker beats Paulo Costa in thriller movie
In the co-main event of UFC 298, Robert Whittaker defeated a very tough Paulo Costa by unanimous decision.
(1) Dorikas du Plessis def. (8) Khamzat Chimaev: This may be the most exciting matchup of the tournament. In his previous two fights (Burns, Usman), even if Chimaev couldn't dominate on the mat or finish in round one, he turned into a normal guy in the second and third rounds. It has been shown that it can be put away. I believe DDP has better gas. Use your tank and physics to overcome the onslaught of round 1 and win by decision. — hoodie
(2) Israel Adesanya def. (7) Johnny Evren: This match has the most unknown variables of all the matchups this round. How does Adesanya look after suffering the most disappointing loss of his career against Strickland? How will Evren do against the toughest competition of his career? Evren is probably the most well-rounded middleweight in mixed martial arts, but this will be the biggest stage he's ever fought on . Adesanya's ability to stuff takedowns, connect from range and play with spectacle will be the difference in tournament fights. — Maisonette
(3) Robert Whittaker def. (6) Marvin Vettori: When the two met in 2022, Whittaker was one step ahead. He took cleaner shots, especially as the game went on. In the third round, Whittaker built a 27-9 advantage with key strikes when Vettori needed to play catch-up. Will the rematch be one-sided? We'll never know if he'll be as aggressive and powerful a fighter as Vettori, but considering how Whittaker avoided damage in his first fight, it stands to reason he could do it again. . — Wagenheim
(5) Sean Strickland def. (13) Nasrin Imavov: Strickland rushed into the first fight and dominated Imavov through five rounds. I don't know why this fight is any different. Look for Strickland to stay in the fight and pick up the pace to earn another decision victory. — hoodie
final four
2:25
Doricas du Plessis defeats Sean Strickland by split decision to win title
At UFC 297, Doricas du Plessis defeated Sean Strickland by split decision in Toronto to win the middleweight title.
(1) Doricas du Plessis def. (5) Sean Strickland: The Final Four will begin with a rematch of the previous UFC middleweight title bout. In the first bout, du Plessis won a close split decision to claim the title. But this time, the champion used his experience from fighting to the end in a five-round battle with Strickland to score a more decisive victory. Du Plessis learned from his past mistakes and took advantage of an opening to make a big shot that put Strickland away. Du Plessis wins by KO and advances to the final tournament. –Waters
(2) Israel Adesanya def. (3) Robert Whitaker: The two have fought twice before, with Adesanya defeating Whittaker both times, and this time it was the first time he won by knockout. Whittaker certainly closed the gap in their second matchup, but there's little reason to expect him to completely turn the tide in his direction. Familiarity will unlock your creativity as a striker in the 'last stylebender' and give you the courage to diversify your attack. And while Whittaker should be able to push past his nemesis and hold on until the final horn, this is an Adesanya fight. — Wagenheim
Championship
2:31
Du Plessis: Adesanya and I have different values
UFC middleweight champion Drikas du Plessis told ESPN in an exclusive interview that he and Israel Adesanya don't share similar values in the fight game.
(2) Israel Adesanya def. (1) Doricas du Plessis: The tension becomes intense. There will be plenty of trash talk. The fight will come down to volume and big shots. Unless du Plessis is as methodical as Strickland and willing to come out of his shell and stand in the pocket, there's no way the current champion will get dragged into a trade with one of the best counterpunchers in the history of the division. It's difficult to avoid it. It's also possible that du Plessis takes 1 and 2 and gets 1 and 2, as Adesanya's jaw has proven not to be made of granite. Still, with Stylebender's accurate blows, this ends in a TKO. — Maisonette
