FightLines: UFC Welterweights

by Mike Fagan on Jun 17, 2009 10:00 AM EDT in News Comment 30 comments

JOHNSON <> BURNS
HUGHES <> ST PIERRE

Wow! Outside of the two splits, we have no loops for what I believe is the first time ever. Essentially, guys are beating who they should be beating. There are exceptions, of course (i.e. the case of a guy in his UFC debut beating an established veteran).

The first thing you'll notice after viewing the image is the sheer scope of the division. By my count, the graph represents just over 100 fighters. It's a monster, and I imagine it's more than a little overwhelming at first glance. You can blame the Serra/Hughes season of TUF for part of the influx.

The UFC's welterweight division is about to be put into an interesting spot. If Georges St. Pierre beats Thiago Alves at UFC 100, he will have joined Anderson Silva in virtually cleaning out a division. There's no standout challengers waiting in the wings.

However, if Alves pulls off the upset, it will be interesting to see how Zuffa handles it. Will they give GSP the auto rematch? Do they make amends to Jon Fitch if he gets by Paulo Thiago at the same card? Do we get a title rematch with Matt Hughes? Certainly, much of this will depend on how the GSP/Alves fight plays out. If Thiago beats him up convincingly, St. PIerre will probably have to earn his way back.

Coming out of UFC 99, I think a fight with Dan Hardy and Mike Swick makes a lot of sense right now. Swick got a cupcake at UFC 99, Hardy's looking to move up the ranks, and both guys are at a similar spot in the division.

One guy I glanced over is Martin Kampmann. He would also be a nice fight for either Hardy or Swick. I could also get into a bout with Brock Larson. Regardless, Kampmann's right in the title picture if he beats a top-15 type of fighter next.

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Funney how is Hughes beats another top ranked figter, there is a good chance to see GSP/Hughes 4!

by Bandaka on Jun 17, 2009 10:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Who could he beat?

I dislike Matt Hughes.

by MonkeyCHops on Jun 17, 2009 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Paulo Thiago looks so silly up there by himself.

I almost thought you had split Thaigo Alves into two boxes and that would of been weird. So no one make the mistake I did.

watchkalibrun.com

by Zak Woods on Jun 17, 2009 10:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Swick, Hardy and Kampmann

Are clearly the best title shot prospects they’ve got going right now.
Unless Paulo Thiago somehow beats Fitch like he beat Koscheck. Unlikely.
If Swick were to fight Hardy or Kampmann and the winner gets a vicious KO win, they could start the title shot drums. Swick vs Matt Hughes doesn’t have much upside if Hughes wins.
Clearly if Alves wins it gives them a lot more short term options for the division, but a GSP win continues building a superstar property in GSP.
A GSP win, plus and Anderson Silva win over Griffin lets them possibly do a GSP/Anderson Silva superfight for the end of the year show.
Trigg’s return to the division has some possibilities too, although his humiliation at GSP’s hands makes him a less appealing contender.
They should let Swick fight Hughes. Kampmann fight Hardy and Brock Lesnar fight Trigg.
Give the winner of Swick/Hughes the winner of Kampmann/Hardy and that guy gets a shot.
Then the Lesnar/Trigg winner can fight…..
I dunno this division is a mess. Haunted by Fitch, Hughes, Koscheck — the scary wrestlers that GSP has swept aside.

"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"

by Kid Nate on Jun 17, 2009 10:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Brock Larson not Lesnar

;)

by Graven Image on Jun 17, 2009 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

d'oh!

of course.

"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"

by Kid Nate on Jun 17, 2009 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe Paulo Thiago will sweep the scary wrestlers.

I dislike Matt Hughes.

by MonkeyCHops on Jun 17, 2009 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Alves loses, a rematch with Hughes sounds like an okay idea (given that Hughes wants it, not that I think he’ll do any better).

"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR

by Rundownloser on Jun 17, 2009 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I really like a GSP/Silva fight at the end of the year if both are successful this summer. Putting aside that the fight, in and of itself, would be huge, it gives time to establish a defintiive contender in both divisions.

I’d like to see the winners of Maia/ Marqurdt and Bisping/Hendo fight for a number one contender spot, and giving GSP a shot in the interim allows such a mini tournament to take place simultaneously.

by Bazz1119 on Jun 17, 2009 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I assume you purposely eliminated non-UFC fights between UFC fighters like Condit over Larson.

by Graven Image on Jun 17, 2009 10:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, this just represents every UFC fight in the WW division over the past 3 years.

http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com

by Mike Fagan on Jun 17, 2009 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

where's Stun Gun Kim?

"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"

by Kid Nate on Jun 17, 2009 10:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Middle-right of the graph. Long path from Parisyan with paths to Tan and Brown.

http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com

by Mike Fagan on Jun 17, 2009 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

didn't the Karo loss get overturned?

"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"

by Kid Nate on Jun 17, 2009 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes. It is a NC. Impressive catch.

by szucconi on Jun 17, 2009 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, that’s my bad. Didn’t update my database after the result. Thanks for pointing it out.

http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com

by Mike Fagan on Jun 17, 2009 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

watch out for brock larson

hey mike fagan what do you think of putting mike swick vs brock larson since he wants to fight someone so bad? i still say larson is the future of that division

by valtheguy on Jun 17, 2009 4:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

larson couldn't get past Fitch or Condit

"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"

by Kid Nate on Jun 17, 2009 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like the fight.

http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com

by Mike Fagan on Jun 17, 2009 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There are plenty of new blood to challenge GSP if he wins, between guys like Larson, Condit and Kampman the new blood at WW is just as impressive as the old blood.

by Raker on Jun 17, 2009 4:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

ANTHONY RUMBLE JOHNSON

"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"

by Kid Nate on Jun 17, 2009 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

Now he is the future of the division.

by goodbones on Jun 17, 2009 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If he can quit getting injured all the damn time.

Due to Cheick Kongo's atrocious takedown defense....
Walla walla walla, I’m an idiot

by ufc4 on Jun 18, 2009 2:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You got your moments, Kid.

by subo on Jun 17, 2009 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There’s definitely tons of talent in the division, but Kampmann’s still a fight away and Condit/Larson both probably need a couple legit wins before being in consideration.

http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com

by Mike Fagan on Jun 17, 2009 11:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs