All of These Injuries to Champions Can Provide Opportunities

by Nogoodnameideas on Nov 13, 2009 12:48 PM EST

The only UFC champion that is currently healthy is BJ Penn. This is obviously a huge issue for the UFC in terms of main events. However, this is also a huge opportunity for fighters to step up and get a chance to be in the spotlight and make a name for themselves.

Some examples of this are Anthony Johnson getting his first chance to headline at UFC 106, Matt Hughes facing Renzo Gracie at UFC 109 (possibly), and Akiyama headlining UFC 110. All of these fighters are getting a chance to prove themselves in a more visible situation than they normally would if there were healthy champions.If they win or even put on a great fight, then they will rise up in the eyes of the casual fans and the UFC brass

In addition, some fighters who have already won titles are getting another chance to climb back to the top, such as Tito Ortiz, Forrest Griffin, and Nogueira. Tito and Forrest would not be the main event if Lesnar was not injured and there were no other available champions.

We do not know when Lesnar will recover from mono, when GSP or Lyoto Machida will be fully healed, or when Anderson SIlva will be healthy and the middleweight title picture will finally be sorted out. The UFC could be facing more similar situations, and more fighters could get an opportunity that they otherwise would not. Who do you guys think deserves, or could get, the next opportunity for a main event fight that they normally would not?

The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.

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GSP mentioned in an interview earlier this week that his groin was 100%, that he was back to training and expecting a March or April return against the winner of Hardy vs Swick.

I am blinded by a sea of green.

by bubbafat on Nov 13, 2009 1:17 PM EST reply actions

We do not know when Lesnar will recover from mono, when GSP or Lyoto Machida will be fully healed,

Err, GSP is fully healed.

by Scott Haber on Nov 13, 2009 1:51 PM EST reply actions

No he isnt. Since he isnt training at the moment. Unless apparently you are his trainer

"What do you want from me?..... A Slap?"

by xtremecouture on Nov 13, 2009 3:32 PM EST up reply actions

He’s training, unless the faked the footage of him sparring with Jerome LeBanner, and unless GSP is lying to everyone in interviews.

by Hardcharger on Nov 13, 2009 4:12 PM EST up reply actions

hey hardcharger where can a guy see this sparring

by troquezz on Nov 14, 2009 7:13 AM EST up reply actions

Anthony Johnson isn’t headlining at 106.

by ufc4 on Nov 13, 2009 3:48 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Didn’t they move that fight to the co-main event? I guess technically it’s not headlining but it’s still a big step for him in his career.

by Chadsac on Nov 13, 2009 4:58 PM EST up reply actions

Yes they did, but co-main is a long way from headlining, that’s like saying Ben Rothwell headlined UFC 104.

by ufc4 on Nov 13, 2009 7:51 PM EST up reply actions

You’re premise is correct… The idea of the UFC not being able to do more shows because the “Stars” are missing is incorrect.

UFC is a vaccum. why is it that 2nd rate fighters in strikeforce and in japan are more popular in the hard core mma community than their equal or better counter parts in the UFC?

Because 2nd rate fighters have more opportunities to be featured in the co-main and main events with those shows. It’s as simple as that.

Now casuals dont watch those shows but it works the same way in the UFC and within the casual market as it does in the hardcore community…

If you’re established stars always fill the main and co-main slots then you’re really not building any new stars…

UFC shows should not be predicated on whether there are enough “stars” but if there’s enough demand for consumption. The vacuum gets filled with new “stars”… always has and always will.

Meltzer did a piece on Zuffa not building any “new stars” as fast as the originals were built or something to that… Well the main reason for that is because the established stars have been filling up all the marquee slots. Critical Mass was reached to a certain extent with the amount of shows being produced, the slots that were available and the number of establish stars.

by mmalogic on Nov 13, 2009 6:50 PM EST reply actions