Has Corruption Reached the UFC? [Pettis vs Dos Anjos]

The announcement of UFC 185 headliner came as a shock to many UFC fight fans; Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis is set to defend his title for a 2nd time against Rafeal Dos Anjos. With Pettis coming in as a favorite and many fans excited about seeing Pettis in action again, what is being ignored is why 22-0 (6-0) in the UFC Khabib Nurmagomedov was passed over?

With UFC recent deal with brand powerhouse Reebok and the recent positive drug test of UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones, it seems that the UFC is worried about its image. Pettis has been seen on the box of wheaties and almost every other UFC promotions and has been called by UFC president Dana White "The best pound for pound fighter in the world." Is the UFC trying to protect Pettis from his flaws? And thus protect its brand name?

It would undoubtably be troublesome to see the Dagestani Sambo world champion and Judo black belt Nurmagomedov get the best of Pettis, but if Dana White wants politics and corruption to not rear its head in the UFC, then popularity cannot be placed over perspiration. Dos Anjos was defeated by Nurmagomedov on the undercard of UFC on Fox 11 in a one-sided fight that saw RDA lose by unanimous decision. It could be said that Dos Anjos, after his knockout victory of former WEC and UFC Lightweight champion Benson Henderson at UFC Fight Night 49, that Dos Anjos was placed against the incomplete Nate Diaz to set up his bout with Pettis, denying once again Nurmagomedov's claim to a title challenge. It can also be said that Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone is being fast-tracked to meet Benson Henderson at UFC Fight Night 59 in hopes of another win to set him up for a second shot at Pettis. Pettis and Cerrone are amongst the two most popular fighters in the UFC as a whole. Profits will sky-rocket; as much as MMA is unpredictable, therein lies always a formula to predict the unpredictable. Dana White, Lorenzo Fertita and Joe Silva has found that formula, the very one that is manipulating not only profits, but fighter's careers.

[The Reign of Khabib Nurmagomedov]

Located in the Northern Caucasus mountains, along the Caspian Sea lives the city of Dagestan, an ethically diverse region where none of the many ethnic groups form a consensus majority. Though diverse in Turkic and Caucasian language, the lingua franca is still Russian, though none of the region resembles modern-day what use to be the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, defunct in the late 80's.

Here in this ethnic melting pot, is the home of the #1 Lightweight contender in the world Khabib Nurmagomedov, the Dagestani phenom who has pummeled through the UFC Lightweight division, owning a 6 fight win streak and a 22-0 overall undefeated record, the two time Russian Sambo Champion, world Sambo Champion and Judo black belt has become the greatest conundrum alive and at work in the entirety of MMA.

At UFC on FX 1, "the Eagle" made his debut, submitting Kamal Shalorus in the 3rd round. At UFC 148, he met the Brazilian submission artist Gleison Tibau, grinding out a unanimous decision against the endurable opponent. Nurmagomedov delivered his first round knockout against another Brazilian submission artist Thiago Tavares at UFC on FX 7. Perhaps the most impressive grappling display ever seen in the octagon came at UFC 160, when Nurmagomedov met up with the Abel Trujillo, formerly of William Penn University, where he was a four-time NAIA All-American wrestler. Despite Trujillo's grappling background, his skill set was totally inane next to Nurmagomedov, sending the biggest shockwave of fear into the division, taking a unanimous decision victory after landing 21/27 takedown attempts.

At UFC 165, a matchup with Pat Healy commenced. Healy, known for his lack of speed but grinding style, was systematically broken down with the counters and speed of Nurmagomedov, earning him another unanimous decision.
The biggest test of his UFC career came at UFC on Fox 11, when he met another Brazilian submission specialist, Rafael Dos Anjos, who then was too on a 5 fight win streak as well. Again Nurmagomedov outstruck and out wrestled the jiu jitsu black belt, taking a unanimous decision. The match up was controversial, having being placed on the undercard, being followed by a open main card match up of Donald Cerrone vs Edson Barboza, with Cerrone being on a 2 fight win streak in the lightweight divison after being defeated by Dos Anjos at UFC Fight Night; Condit vs. Kampmann, and Barboza being on a 3 fight win streak after being knockout by Jamie Varner at UFC 146. Popularity vs wins has always been an issue in boxing and it seemed that it had become an issue in the UFC, putting profits over wins.

Nurmagomedov, now ranked #1 in the UFC Lightweight division along with Rafael Dos Anjos (after the defeat of Gilbert Melendez via 2nd round submission to popular Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis), if given his due title shot in the summer of 2015, will be the 2nd fighter from Dagestan to fight for a title, after Ali Bagautinov's, who was defeated at the hands of Flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson at UFC 174. It is also of note that Nurmagomedov also de
feated another successful Mixed Martial Artist from Dagestan, Shahbulat Shamhalaev at the 2009 M-1 challenge, who went 10-0-1 after meeting Nurmagomedov, notable wins over Mike Richman via Knockout at Bellator 79 and Rad Martinez (the star of ESPN's "The Promise) also via Knockout,  before being defeated at the hands of the Bellator Featherweight Champion Pat Curran at Bellator 95.

There are still circulating chaos and controversy over who should get the next title shot. Many believe that if Donald Cerrone curtails the undefeated #8 (15-0) Myles Jury at UFC 182, he should be granted the title shot against Pettis in the coming summer. Cerrone has already fallen to Pettis in the first round of UFC on Fox; Johnson vs Dodson via TKO and to the 1 of the 2 current #1 contenders Rajeal Dos Anjos. Popularity aside, Cerrone should have to play the waiting game, as Jury would have to if he is to beat Cerrone at UFC 182. Rajeal Dos Anjos, though owning an impressive knockout victories over Jason High at UFC Henderson vs Khabilov, and over former WEC Lightweight and UFC Lightweight Champion Benson Henderson at UFC Fight Night; Henderson vs Dos Anjos, an a one-sided unanimous decision victory over Nate Diaz at UFC Fight Night; Dos Santos vs Miocic, he has already fallen under Nurmagomedov, making Nurmagomedov the #1 of the #1's.

The Current UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis has appeared on the box of Wheaties, wearing the brand of the new UFC partnership with Reebok, the face of the rise in popularity of UFC and MMA as a whole. He is a household brand and a household name. So it brings the question; is the UFC attempting to defend not only him but his championship. Pettis, despite having a well-rounded guard, that saw him submit Benson Henderson in the first round at UFC 164 and most recently Gilbert Melendez at UFC 18, yet shows susceptibility to be taken down and grinded out, noteably in his UFC debut vs Clay Guida at TUF Finale 13, where his flashy strikes were perfectly timed and countered with takedowns, losing by unanimous decision. Nurmagomedov is the overall best grappler in the division and possibly the 4th on the UFC roster after the Cuban Olympic freestyle wrestling silver medalist #6 Middleweight Yoel Romero, 2-time olympian and #1 Light Heavyweight contender Daniel Cormier and the Judo bronze medalist and Women's Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey. Nurmagomedov is the most experienced grappler that Pettis will possibly ever face in his career.

Joe Silva, Dana White and the Fertitas have almost no other place to turn if they are to avoid another onslaught of controvery. Even Mixed Martial Arts experts as Kenny Florian, Joe Rogan and Ariel Huwani themselves cannot deny the rankings. A title defense is a bout that presses a champion by facing him with the best underdog, the most dangerous underdogs; it is clear that the most dangerous and the most deserving is Khabib Nurmagomedov.