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#4 Fabricio Werdum vs Cain Velasquez – UFC 196
Cain Velasquez is widely recognised as one of the best UFC heavyweight champions in the promotion’s history. However, that didn’t stop a mixed reaction from fans when he was granted an instant rematch with Fabricio Werdum at UFC 196.
Werdum had unseated Velasquez at UFC 188 to win the title in a pretty heavy upset, pushing a torrid pace and surprisingly forcing the champion to wilt en route to a submission loss. But despite Velasquez’s previous position as the UFC’s most dominant champion, it felt like UFC fans simply didn’t want to see a rematch so quickly.
The main reason for that seemed to be Velasquez’s chequered history when it came to injuries. His initial meeting with Werdum had already been delayed for the best part of a year, as he picked up a knee injury. And despite his title reign lasting two and a half years, he had made just two defenses.
Incredibly, Velasquez’s injury history meant that fans who were criticising the booking got what they wanted anyway. A back injury meant Velasquez was forced out of the event on two weeks’ notice, and when Werdum pulled out too, the whole show was changed from a pay-per-view to a Fight Night card.
Velasquez never got his rematch, fighting just once more in the UFC before retiring, while Werdum lost his title to Stipe Miocic at UFC 198 a few months later.
#3 Benson Henderson vs Frankie Edgar – UFC 150
If there’s one fighter who is more synonymous with UFC title rematches than any other, it’s former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar.
During his lengthy UFC career, which has lasted well over a decade, ‘The Answer’ has been involved in nine title fights. And incredibly, five of them have been rematches against opponents he has faced before. The majority of them came during his time challenging and holding the UFC lightweight title from 2010 to 2012.
Edgar won the UFC lightweight crown from BJ Penn at UFC 112. Due to Penn’s status as a previously dominant champion, it made sense for a rematch to take place. Edgar duly won, proving himself as the better fighter, and was then booked in a defense against the first man to defeat him in the UFC, Gray Maynard.
The fight went to a dramatic draw. So despite there being a number of other viable contenders, few fans grumbled when the UFC booked a third fight between the two. But when Edgar won via knockout, it finally felt like the division could move on.
‘The Answer’ was then booked against Benson Henderson at UFC 145, and in a close fight, ‘Smooth’ ended up winning the title. It felt like the lightweight division could finally move on from Edgar and his seemingly endless line of rematches. But that was only until the UFC announced an instant rematch between him and Henderson.
UFC fans were massively frustrated by the booking, feeling that while Edgar had been a solid champion, he had never been dominant, and there were more intriguing contenders out there.
While the fight – which took place at UFC 150 – was a really good one that saw ‘Smooth’ edge another tight decision, the lack of fan interest was echoed by the pay-per-view buy rate, as the show did a low 190K, which must’ve disappointed the UFC greatly.
