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Two stunning title changes could just be start of UFC upheaval

TWO stunning title changes at UFC 185 could be just the start of an era of upheaval that threatens to change the face of the UFC.

DALLAS, TX - MARCH 14: Rafael dos Anjos, top fights with Anthony Pettis in the Lightweight Title bout during the UFC 185 event at American Airlines Center on March 14, 2015 in Dallas, Texas. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==
DALLAS, TX - MARCH 14: Rafael dos Anjos, top fights with Anthony Pettis in the Lightweight Title bout during the UFC 185 event at American Airlines Center on March 14, 2015 in Dallas, Texas. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

THE UFC has two events in the near future featuring two title defences on the card, the perils and possibilities of which were showcased at UFC 185 this weekend.

Two new champions were crowned Saturday night in Dallas: Anthony “Showtime” Pettis, a dominant lightweight champ, was unseated by Rafael dos Anjos, and the first UFC woman’s strawweight champ Carla Esparza lost in her first title defence.

Rafael dos Anjos, right, delivers a kick to Anthony Pettis.
Rafael dos Anjos, right, delivers a kick to Anthony Pettis.

Pettis was not just a UFC champion, he was a fixture of crossover appeal for MMA. His face was on the cover of Wheaties boxes, and he graced numerous advertisements for Reebok.

All that was shattered after Brazil’s dos Anjos beat Pettis from pillar to post, battering the champ en route to a five-round decision victory.

As if Pettis losing wasn’t enough upheaval for an entire UFC weight class, the first woman’s strawweight champion lost in remarkably devastating fashion, getting brutally knocked out in the second round.

Rafael dos Anjos, top dominated Anthony Pettis in the Lightweight Title bout at UFC 185.
Rafael dos Anjos, top dominated Anthony Pettis in the Lightweight Title bout at UFC 185.

Esparza’s ascent to the top of the division was captured on “The Ultimate Fighter.” The finalist was crowned the woman’s 115-pound champion at the show’s finale. But challenger Joanna JÄ™drzejczyk finished the champ with strikes in the second round.

For a weight division that is barely six months old in the UFC, the champion losing that viciously in her first defence makes for a rocky start.

(L-R) Joanna Jedrzejczyk defeated Carla Esparza in the Women's Strawweight bout during UFC 185.
(L-R) Joanna Jedrzejczyk defeated Carla Esparza in the Women's Strawweight bout during UFC 185.

Now the UFC has to promote two very new champions to the masses, ones who replaced fan-friendly and well-known champs, especially in Pettis’ case.

This shouldn’t be too hard to do, however, especially given how dos Anjos and JÄ™drzejczyk took their belts.

UFC 186 also will feature two title fights on a single card. T.J Dillashaw is set to defend his bantamweight title against Renan Barao, the man he took the belt from, and flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson takes on Kyoji Horiguchi.

And one pay-per-view later at UFC 187, 205-pound champion Jon Jones fights Anthony “Rumble” Johnson and Long Island champ Chris Weidman defends his middleweight belt in a long-anticipated fight with Vitor Belfort.

If the trend of the underdog continues, there could be as many as six new UFC champions in the span of three PPVs.

This story originally appeared in the New York Post

Originally published as Two stunning title changes could just be start of UFC upheaval

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/ufc/two-stunning-title-changes-could-just-be-start-of-ufc-upheaval/news-story/385d368b83f3c1ad0d1ca3933a28d49f