Building a dream team of fighters for MMA Olympic team

As someone who’s spent years following mixed martial arts and its various scenes across the globe, I have to say Australia is a country that truly knows how to punch above its weight class. The Aussies have this delightful knack for producing world-class fighters, and their current roster is no exception.

Following the conclusion of the 2024 Paris Olympics, sports enthusiasts worldwide are already peering ahead, speculating about what the 2028 Olympics might entail. Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) hasn’t been confirmed for inclusion yet, but it remains an alluring prospect for both fans and practitioners. Lerone Murphy, a top-ranked UFC featherweight, is among those who are intrigued by the possibility of MMA in Los Angeles, and his tweet has only added to the anticipation.

If Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) becomes an Olympic sport, which one athlete from each weight category would you choose to represent your home country’s team?

— LERONE MURPHY (@LeroneMurphy) August 11, 2024

Currently, the idea of MMA in the Olympics is still uncertain, but it’s intriguing to imagine, with many fans sharing their thoughts on what their nation’s ideal Olympic teams might look like. However, only a handful of countries possess both the abundance of talent and depth required to seriously contend for an Olympic gold medal.

First off, let’s agree on some basic guidelines for this mental exercise, as suggested by Murphy in his tweet. Each nation should field a representative in each weight category, using UFC weights for convenience. Secondly, all active fighters will be taken into account, regardless of their status in 2028. Lastly, a fighter must have fought at least once in a specific weight class to be considered for that division.

After setting some clear rules, let’s examine the top five nations competing for Olympic Mixed Martial Arts gold, ranked from strongest to least strong.

1. United States

In the various weight classes, the U.S. boasts many leading UFC competitors, giving it a strong possibility of claiming the gold medals in Olympic Mixed Martial Arts.

It’s hardly unexpected: The United States boasts the most diverse pool of fighters globally, largely thanks to the UFC’s influence in popularizing mixed martial arts. Over time, this sport has evolved significantly since its beginnings, and its deep roots in American culture have undeniably fortified the MMA skills within the nation.

Excluding Demetrious Johnson, who is not included due to his affiliation with ONE Championship, all the other fighters on the roster are among the top five contenders in their respective divisions within the UFC. With the exception of Justin Gaethje at lightweight, Tatiana Suarez at women’s strawweight, and Kayla Harrison at women’s bantamweight, every fighter on this list has held the title as an undisputed UFC champion at some point in their career.

This team has eight UFC champions across eleven weight classes. Each fighter here is almost certain to win a medal in their specific category, which isn’t typically true for others. No nation comes close to matching our dominance at the top of the sport, so it’s reasonable to predict that the USA will excel in the Olympics.

2. Brazil

Though less formidable on paper compared to the United States, Brazil boasts a team of experienced combatants who might offer their toughest contest yet in the Olympic games.

It’s not surprising to find Brazil at the top of the list given its reputation as the birthplace of one of the fundamental martial arts – Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The abundance of skilled fighters, many of whom are world-class, is a testament to this.

With the exception of Patricio Pitbull, currently fighting under Bellator, all other fighters on the roster are highly ranked UFC contenders, a title usually reserved for the US, which is exceptionally strong in mixed martial arts. While Brazil’s top fighters might not be as powerful as Russia or even England, they stand out due to their impressive depth.

Although they may not boast as many accolades as their American counterparts, the Brazilians possess an impressive collection of titles too. Figures like Alexandre Pantoja, Deiveson Figueiredo, Charles Oliveira, Alex Pereira, and Patricio Pitbull have all earned undisputed UFC championships during their careers. Moreover, Pitbull has solidified his reputation as the longstanding featherweight champion in Bellator. As a collective, Brazil is on par with any other team worldwide in terms of depth, and they have the battle-hardened expertise to triumph in high-pressure matches at the pinnacle of this sport.

3. Russia

As a passionate fan, I find myself excited about how my beloved Russian team seems stacked with division powerhouses, offering us a golden chance to disrupt and surprise others in our league.

In a battle of top combatants, Russia can hold its own against most opponents, even the U.S. and Brazil. Particularly in the bantamweight division, Umar Nurmagomedov boasts the abilities to overthrow current UFC champion and heavy favorite Sean O’Malley. Currently, Islam Makhachev is an unstoppable force at lightweight. Moreover, Magomed Ankalaev’s wrestling-focused style could pose challenges for Alex Pereira in the light heavyweight category.

As a gamer, I’ve learned that even underdogs can surprise you in the heat of battle. Take flyweight class, for instance – Askar Askarov has already bested Brazil’s Pantoja, and his unique fighting style could give most opponents nightmares. Meanwhile, across other divisions, fighters like Movsar Evloev and Magomed Magomedkerimov are versatile enough to make any matchup a tough challenge.

Despite the fact that their leading fighters can cause trouble for anyone on any specific occasion, their team depth is significantly weak, especially in women’s categories. Victoria Dudakova struggles against top contenders at strawweight, and Veronika Borisova lacks the experience to challenge contenders at flyweight. Furthermore, although Yana Santos and Ikram Aliskerov aren’t as feeble as those two, there’s a strong chance that neither of them will win a medal in their respective divisions.

4. England

With Tom Aspinall and the ex-UFC Welterweight Champion, Leon Edwards, as key figures, England’s younger team could significantly improve and shine brighter by the year 2028.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’d say that outside of the top-tier contenders, England’s roster in the UFC’s heavyweight division is unquestionably the cream of the crop globally. The Interim Heavyweight Champion, Tom Aspinall, may not have the undisputed title yet, but he’s definitely got a solid case for being the best. He’s on fire right now, and I can’t imagine anyone surviving more than ten minutes in the octagon with him.

Although Leon Edwards recently suffered a defeat at the hands of Belal Muhammad, he remains a formidable opponent for any welterweight contender, given his exceptional kickboxing skills and robust takedown defense that makes it tough to outscore him. In fact, Edwards and Aspinall are considered among the top-tier fighters globally, and they possess the potential to secure medals in the 2028 Olympics if they were to compete in such an event.

England’s team may not be able to overtake the top three nations currently, given their young roster. For instance, Paddy Pimblett, Dakota Ditcheva, and Muhammad Mokaev are rising stars in UFC and PFL respectively, but their youth might hinder them from outperforming seasoned players from other countries. Similarly, fighters like Basharat and Allen face similar challenges due to their lack of extensive experience, which could be a disadvantage when competing against elite-level opponents worldwide.

5. Australia

As a gaming enthusiast, I can say that Australia boasts an impressive lineup of seasoned champions alongside promising newcomers. However, certain vulnerabilities within their team hinder their full potential.

Australia’s team might not boast the most impressive lineup on paper, but it certainly is an exciting one to watch. The star attraction is undoubtedly Alexander Volkanovski, a long-standing UFC Featherweight Champion who lost his title to Ilia Topuria in February. However, even though he no longer holds the belt, Volkanovski remains more than capable of holding his own against most fighters at 145 pounds.

Apart from Volkanovski, Australia boasts some truly thrilling fighters on this team as well. Robert Whittaker remains a formidable adversary at middleweight, and Jack Della Maddalena recently knocked out Brazil’s Gilber Burns. In the flyweight division, Steve Erceg was in a life-or-death battle with current UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja, barely a year after his UFC debut. Erceg is the real deal, and it wouldn’t be shocking if he became champion soon.

Australia, like Russia, has no shortage of elite talent, but the issue lies in their depth. For instance, Jacinta Austin mirrors Veronika Borisova in that neither is quite ready to challenge any contender in their respective divisions. Jamie Mullarkey currently holds a UFC spot, yet he’s not particularly noteworthy either. Casey O’Neill was once highly touted, but her recent performances have cast doubt on her potential in this field at best.

Initially, other nations like Japan and Ireland were candidates for this list; however, due to not having enough high-caliber fighters to fill all eleven divisions, they didn’t make the cut. At present, just five countries possess the depth of talent needed to field eleven top-tier fighters, and it is these five that have been selected for this list.

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2024-08-17 01:14