UFC on FOX 30 Preview
When looking at the card for UFC on FOX 30 one clear theme runs through much of the top fights on the night.
The theme is an attempt by three specific fighters to rise back to the top of their divisions where all three held titles.
It is a big time for all of these fighters as they were once considered the best in their division but have fallen off recently.
They suffered some big losses that took their titles away and now they are looking at the climb back up that long ladder.
As former champions, all have the ability to get right back into contention but they will need to take these wins on a FOX card to show that they are ready to get back.
The first one up will be Joanna Jędrzejczyk who is fresh off of her long reign at the top of the strawweight division.
After beating Carla Esparza in 2015 she quickly became one of the best female fighters in the world.
Her boxing ability was unmatched in the division and she went on a run eliminated all of the best strawweights on here way to five straight title defences.
Her name was being mentioned among the greats and there were serious doubts about whether or not she would ever lose.
Then came Rose Namajunas who just seemed to be a combination of skill everywhere and an awkward style that put together, was kryptonite for the champion.
In their first fight, Namajunas finished the champion in the first round and in the rematch, Namajunas took another win this time by decision.
The former champion continues to claim that Namajunas was simply lucky in the first fight and that she never really won the second fight.
To get a chance to show that she is right, Jędrzejczyk will need to put together more wins to get a trilogy fight especially after going 0-2.
The journey back starts in Calgary as the former champion takes on Tecia Torres looking to prove that she still has what it takes to beat everyone in the division.
Torres is looking to make a statement of her own by beating the former champion, a win against Jędrzejczyk would launch her right back to the title picture after a loss to Jessica Andrade in her last fight.
Jędrzejczyk isn’t the only former champ who was once considered unbeatable and is now just looking for a way back to the title.
In the co-main event, Jose Aldo will take on a resurgent Jeremy Stephens as the Brazilian tries to reset his already legendary career.
Aldo was a part of the dominant championship era where none of the title holders seemed to be beatable.
Aldo was one of the most dominant champions as it seemed like he might go down as one of the greatest champions ever.
Then he ran into Conor McGregor and in the biggest fight he had ever been a part of he took a big loss.
Since that loss, he has struggled to stay relevant in the division taking a win against Frankie Edgar then losing two straight against current champion Max Holloway.
Now with a new focus, he is trying to get back to the title conversation but in his way is Stephenson who has won three straight with his own new focus in training.
The final former champion looking to get back will be Eddie Alvarez, another casualty of the rise of Conor.
Alvarez was always considered one of the best lightweights in the world and he proved it when he beat Rafael Dos Anjos in 2016 he proved that the reputation wasn’t all talk.
Then he took a big fight against McGregor and like Aldo took the loss taking his title away.
On his road back to the title he took on Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje in two pretty impressive fights.
Unfortunately, the fight against Poirier was ruled a no contest after Alvarez landed a knee to the head while Poirier was on the ground.
Now he takes on Poirier again looking to prove that he would have beaten him anyway and trying to leave no doubt.
Poirier is looking to show that he has what it takes to beat the former champion with both fighters looking to get to the title.
The top of the card has three former champs and all three are only steps away from that title shot again.
They will all need to put on a good showing in Calgary if they want to get back to that title shot.
A win for any of them would be good enough to put them in the conversation but a loss could put doubt into the future of their careers.
This is their chance to show that they are still among the best in the world and that their divisions haven’t passed them by.
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