Buzz Break: 2015 Topps UFC Chronicles (hobby box)

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2015 Topps UFC Chronicles (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 10
Cards per pack: 40
Cards in this pack: 400
Base set completion: 
275 of 275 (100 percent)
Duplicates: 38

Notables on base cards – Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva, Conor McGregor, Ronda Rousey, Paige VanZant, Arianny Celeste, Holly Holm, Nate Diaz, Stipe Miocic, Cain Velasquez, Dan Severn, Rampage Jackson, Royce Gracie,  Miesha Tate, Chael Sonnen, Rashad Evans, Amanda Nunes, Brock Lesnar

Insert cards: 82 (a sampling of everything in gallery below)
Gold parallels (2) – Jessica Andrade, Johnny Case (/88)
Black & White parallels (8) – Alexey Oleynyk, Julianna Pena, Mirsad Bektic, Daniel Cormier, Alexander Gustafsson, Ruslan Magomedov, Ryan LaFlare, John Makdessi (/188)
Green parallels (10) – Diego Brandao, Scott Jorgensen, Demetrious Johnson, Eddie Gordon, Baron vs. Miller, John Dodson, Andrei Arlovski, Leslie Smith, Vitor Belfort, Yair Rodriguez (/288)
Silver parallels (30) – Notables include Ronda Rousey, Paige VanZant, Brock Lesnar, Carla Esparza, Royce Gracie, Demetrious Johnson, Julianna Pena, Thiago Alves
Climbing The Ranks (4) – Aljamain Sterling, John Dodson, Yoel Romero, Michael Johnson
Fight Posters (10) – UFC 78, UFC 123, UFC 125, UFC 136, UFC 148, UFC 149, UFC 189, UFC Fight Night 50, UFC Fight Night 66, The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale
Octagon of Honor (6) – Ronda Rousey, Royce Gracie, Forrest Griffin, Anderson Silva, Julianna Pena, Frankie Edgar
Victorious Debut (10) – Ronda Rousey, Conor McGregor, Junior Dos Santos, Jose Aldo, Chris Weidman, Anderson Silva, Todd Duffee, Frankie Edgar, John Dodson, Ronaldo Jacare Souza
Originals buybacks (2) – Mike Guymon, Stann vs. Wallace

Autographs/Memorabilia: 5
Chronicles Relics (2) – Yoel Romero, Joe Lauzon
Jumbo Fight Mat Relics (1) – Georges St-Pierre
Chronicles Autographs (2) – Paige VanZant, Dan Miller

What's Buzz-worthy: Buzz isn't a huge UFC collector -- more of a dabbler here -- but this box has been one I've eyed for a while (and a brand I bought packs from back when it arrived) because it's a clean and simple set that is foil-free, has guaranteed hits flowing pretty well and serial-numbered cards in every meaty pack. At its current sale prices, it's a fun and cheap rip with the potential to pay off pretty well if you land some of the bigger autos such as Conor McGregor, Ronda Rousey, Georges St-Pierre, Royce Gracie and many others. My first hit was ink from a name who was a bigger deal in the past, VanZant, moreso than today and that was followed up by a pretty solid two-color Relic for St-Pierre. The prices in this release aren't huge but this seems like a solid value break with good upside and a good beginner or pack-ripper fun-fest. This one is printed on standard skinny stock, but the thick packs protect the inner cards very well and that's where your hits and inserts/paralells live.  The VanZant auto would be slab-worthy had she not had the ink run off the sticker and I'm pondering some slabs for a couple of inserts because they are cleaner cut with crisper corners than more recent stuff in standard packs. There's good variety here and the base set includes past highlights (hence "Chronicles") as well as past and present (at the time) stars. The parallels aren't pricey but you get a good chunk of stuff in a box and I could imagine people trying to build those numbered sets, too. Another plus? The cases are smaller -- six boxes -- making it a cheap buy at that level. I'll probably do another of these at some point as there are also auto parallels for some inserts that can pay for a box or two if you land the right names along with autographed Relics, which I didn't find. The deep auto checklist probably hurt this one some -- it's a big list -- but it's still a comfortable break at a bargain price.

Product Grade: A- (meaty comprehensive set)
Box Grade: A- (some good names among hits and inserts)
Fun Grade: A- (at this lower price it's a fun bulk break)

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