The coveted UFC belt has been on the shelf in 2014. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC
Due to recurring injuries, UFC fans have become accustomed to expecting last-minute changes to the 2014 cards. With some champions not fighting for almost the entire year and others appearing only a few times, one question has been on fans' minds: the How much has this scenario hindered the organization's progress? Therefore, the SUPER FIGHTS went after the numbers, looked at the statistics and found the answer: without any new sudden changes, 2014 is on track to become the year with the second worst average of belt defenses in the history of the UFC under the administration of Zuffa – company owned by Dana White and the Fertitta brothers.
The criteria used in this survey are simple. The following data were related: absolute number of belt defenses in a year and number of existing/disputed belts in the same period. It is also important to highlight that in the calculation, interim titles were not taken into account, only linear ones. Thus, with a total of 15 defenses in ten current categories and an average of 1,5 (considering the already scheduled fights for the lightweight and welterweight titles at UFC 181 and the inaugural fight in the strawweight category) 2014 was left with the second worst historical average.
The worst historical average since the reformulation of Ultimate, with its purchase by Zuffa in 2001, the year was 2012, whose final number was pulled down due to the fact that the bantamweight belt was not put on the line even once – due to the former champion's long period of inactivity Dominick Cruz. Thus, 2012 had only 11 belt defenses with eight current categories, resulting in an overall average of 1,36 defenses/year. Interestingly, the bantamweight belt (up to 61,2 kg) was the one most often put on the line this year, on three occasions, twice by the former champion Renan Barao and one for the current TJ Dillashaw.
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Check below, year by year, the absolute numbers and average number of UFC belt defenses:
2014
Total defenses: 15;
Number of current belts: 10;
Average: 1,5.
2013
Total defenses: 17;
Number of current belts: 9;
Average: 1,89.
2012:
Total defenses: 11;
Number of current belts: 8;
Average: 1,38.
2011
Total defenses: 13;
Number of current belts: 7;
Average: 1,89.
2010
Total defenses: 9;
Number of current belts: 5;
Average: 1,8.
2009
Total defenses: 8;
Number of current belts: 5;
Average: 1,6.
2008
Total defenses: 9;
Number of current belts: 5;
Average: 1,8.
2007
Total defenses: 8;
Number of current belts: 5;
Average: 1,6.
2006
Total defenses: 11;
Number of current belts: 5;
Average: 2,2.
2005
Total defenses: 7;
Number of current belts: 4;
Average: 1,75.
2004:
Total defenses: 5;
Number of current belts: 3;
Average: 1,67.
2003:
Total defenses: 6;
Number of current belts: 4;
Average: 1,5.
2002:
Total defenses: 9;
Number of current belts: 5;
Average: 1,8.
2001:
Total defenses: 10;
Number of current belts: 5;
Average: 2.
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