The UFC 205 pound division isn't desolate, like many would have you think.
There's a lot of new blood there, a point reiterated often on Tuesday's Fightful MMA Podcast. A plethora of fighters have made up new blood in the division, and it's not just pundits that are taking notice. When Fightful spoke to WWE Superstar Big E recently, he spoke highly of several emerging names at light heavyweight.
"Like 205, a lot of people complain that light heavyweight is a bunch of old guys, it’s stale. But there’s a lot of good young blood. You got (Aleksander) Rakic. And Lionheart (Anthony Smith) looked great in his last fight as well. He just had the title fight not that long ago. But I really like what 205 is doing. 170 is so stacked right now. 155, I can talk for days and days. There’s a lot of good, lot of great stuff to watch. Valentina [Schevchenko], she’s incredible. 125, she might be the next champion at 125 for the next five years," said Big E.
It wasn't limited to light heavyweight, as Big E admittedly holds a place in his heart for an UpUpDownDown veteran in Featherweight Champion Max Holloway.
"I love Max [Holloway]. I also met Max, so I’m bias. I met him at a show in Hawaii. He’s incredible. Who else do I like? I dunno, I like everybody. I like all the boys. And the women. I also really like Rose [Namajunas]. I hope she rebounds quickly. She just seems like a very good hearted human being. D.C.’s a big wrestling fan. There’s a lot good match-ups to be made," Big E said.
Previously, Big E and Fightful had discussed the good and bad of Twitter and social media. Tying that in with realism, we asked about the cynical criticism of his finishing move, The Big Ending. Naysayers have wondered how the move is "realistic" or "painful" when the opponent lands on Big E.
"Yeah, and like, how does shooting someone into the ropes and having them come back work? How does any of this work? Like, it’s an RKO to the body. It’s a body cutter, that’s all it is. And people love the RKO. Are necks being broken during the RKO? Are guys being knocked out unconscious because—what are we doing? Just be entertained. If you don’t like it, watch something else. It’s fine!" said Big E.
