The news of Mir and Nogueira as TUF coaches got me thinking about titles being tied up and how often titles are defended so I did some research and here's what I've come up with.
I'm only counting UFC events since 2005 (when the TUF era began) and the present and I'm excluding Ultimate Fight Nights and TUF Finales.
In 2005 there were:
6 UFC events
9 total title fights (
1 Champion fighting in a non-title fight (Hughes v. Riggs)
In 2006 there were:
10 total UFC events (9 with title fights, 1 without title fight)
11 total title fights
1 Champion fighting in a non title fight (Hughes v. Gracie (catch weight))
In 2007 there were:
13 UFC events (9 with title fights, 4 without title fights)
9 total title fights (10 scheduled)
1 Champion fighting in a non-title fight (A. Silva v. Lutter)
In 2008 there has been:
4 UFC events (all with title fights)
4 total title fights
Of the four announced events later this year (UFC 84-87)
2 have title fights scheduled and 2 do not
Overall since 2005 including the 4 scheduled events in '08:
Title fights by divison:
HW-9
LHW-9
MW-7 (Title holder also fought once in non-title fight)
WW-6 (Title holder also fought twice in non-title fights)
LW-4 (only since October '06)
Total: 35 title fights
% of cards with title fights by year:
2005: 150%
2006: 110%
2007: 69.2%
2008 to date: 100%
2008 estimate through UFC 87: 75%
You can read into the numbers however you want. Obviously with less events in '05 the titles seem like they are being defended more often in comparison to the last 2 years.
I just thought it would be interesting to see a breakdown of how often the titles are defended. And in my opinion now that there are 5 titles and the UFC hands out Interim belts on a whim there should more and I think the numbers back it up.
The news of Mir and Nogueira as TUF coaches got me thinking about titles being tied up and how often titles are defended so I did some research and here's what I've come up with.
I'm only counting UFC events since 2005 (when the TUF era began) and the present and I'm excluding Ultimate Fight Nights and TUF Finales.
In 2005 there were:
6 UFC events
9 total title fights (
1 Champion fighting in a non-title fight (Hughes v. Riggs)
In 2006 there were:
10 total UFC events (9 with title fights, 1 without title fight)
11 total title fights
1 Champion fighting in a non title fight (Hughes v. Gracie (catch weight))
In 2007 there were:
13 UFC events (9 with title fights, 4 without title fights)
9 total title fights (10 scheduled)
1 Champion fighting in a non-title fight (A. Silva v. Lutter)
In 2008 there has been:
4 UFC events (all with title fights)
4 total title fights
Of the four announced events later this year (UFC 84-87)
2 have title fights scheduled and 2 do not
Overall since 2005 including the 4 scheduled events in '08:
Title fights by divison:
HW-9
LHW-9
MW-7 (Title holder also fought once in non-title fight)
WW-6 (Title holder also fought twice in non-title fights)
LW-4 (only since October '06)
Total: 35 title fights
% of cards with title fights by year:
2005: 150%
2006: 110%
2007: 69.2%
2008 to date: 100%
2008 estimate through UFC 87: 75%
You can read into the numbers however you want. Obviously with less events in '05 the titles seem like they are being defended more often in comparison to the last 2 years.
I just thought it would be interesting to see a breakdown of how often the titles are defended. And in my opinion now that there are 5 titles and the UFC hands out Interim belts on a whim there should more and I think the numbers back it up.
Really interesting, especially that last column. I forgot how many title fights they had in 2005. This seems to highlight a major issue that the UFC faces, consistently selling non-title main events to their core audience.
Really interesting, especially that last column. I forgot how many title fights they had in 2005. This seems to highlight a major issue that the UFC faces, consistently selling non-title main events to their core audience.
well PRIDE was infamous for having non title fights as well but I see what your saying. I would love to see more title fights.
In 2006 and last year there were even a few events with 2 title fights they havent had one of those since 73 I think that has to do with them having more marketable people fighting for the belt they feel like the champions can sell the shows by themselves
That's one thing I like about for example the WEC ... their events are few enough that they still do pack in an average of more than one belt on the line, per event. That is solid IMO.
It is definitely disappointing that the UFC doesn't do that; but with so many solid major orgs springing up now with good legit fighters, we still get treated to multiple major-org title shots every month. Cannot beat that.
HAHAHA, somebody besides me is doing statistics! I love it! REP
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Last edited by CJRockstar; 05-14-2008 at 06:08 AM.
2005-2008 UFC Titles/Event Recap Stats
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