Lightweight is, and has always been filled with all the goodies we’ve come to expect from MMA: violence, drama, theatre. 2020 decided to add tragedy to its comprehensive checklist, and so the division wanders into the new year without a lightweight champion, who now lives without his father.
A lot of chapters closed in 2020 for the division. Not just with Khabib Nurmagomedov. Tony Ferguson finally hit the physical wall he never met until time, wear, tear and Justin Gaethje converged to stop him. Paul Felder flirted with retirement, came back, looked great, but it was always clear when Felder peaked.