FightLines: UFC Light Heavyweights
by Mike Fagan on Jun 16, 2010 1:12 PM EDT
in MMA News
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Rua <> Machida
Jardine > Liddell > W Silva > Jardine
Two big issues to discuss.
First, see Chuck Liddell there? Yeah, he has no relevant wins over the past three years. The victory over Wanderlei is wiped out by his loss to Jardine.
Despite what might have been misinterpreted over the past week, I don't think Chuck absolutely must retire. If an athletic commission finds him physically able to perform, by all means, he should continue fighting.
He shouldn't be fighting anyone sniffing a title shot though. Or anyone sniffing a shot for a title shot. If Chuck Liddell wants another fight, he draws Eric Schafer. Or Vinny Magalhaes. Or, hell, Tito Ortiz. Outside of Ortiz, I don't think Chuck's ego lets him step into a cage with C-level UFC light heavyweights.
What's more relevant to the light heavyweight division? The top of the weight class is an absolute mess. Lyoto Machida's loss to Mauricio Rua erases his controversial victory over "Shogun" in 2009. He remains unscathed from a FightLines perspective.
Rua's defeat to Forrest Griffin remains, though he has a chance to erase it whenever he's able to return and fight Rashad Evans. Evans, in turn, doesn't gain anything from his win over "Rampage" Jackson, as he already has a path to Jackson through Griffin (though he gains some insurance if Quinton were to beat either Machida or Griffin).
The knee injury "Shogun" suffered may end up as a boon for the division, allowing the top tier guys time to sort out the next contender following Evans. Some permutation of matchups needs to be made between Machida, Jackson, Griffin, Rich Franklin, and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Preparations will also have to be made for Anderson Silva's likely move to 205 and Jon Jones ascension into the title picture.
Upcoming light heavyweight fights:
Matt Hamill vs. Keith Jardine @ TUF 11 Finale - Keith Jardine must be dangerously close to losing his UFC gig. He's lost his last three fights (two by TKO) and holds a 6-6 record in the organization overall. Hamill, meanwhile, is coming off his impressive victory over Jon Jones.
Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Stephan Bonnar @ UFC 116 - I know the UFC rewards loyalty, but if Dana White and co. are serious about their organization being a place for the best fighters on the planet, Stephan Bonnar cannot be employed as a fighter, especially if he gets beat by Krzysztof Soszynski (legitimately this time). His best win came over three years ago against Keith Jardine and he recently lost a decision to Mark Coleman of all people.
Jon Jones vs. Vladimir Matyushenko @ UFC Live: Jones vs. Matyushenko - Vladimir Matyushenko is a great step up for Jon Jones, though a victory won't erase the Hamill DQ debacle from the FightLines system.
Thiago Silva vs. Tim Boetsch @ UFC 117 - I will never forget Tim Boetsch throwing David Heath into the fence in his UFC debut. He's getting another shot after taking a few fights on smaller shows, though I expect it might be one-and-done for Timmy.
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http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2008/7/23/577161/fight-lines-the-faq
Here’s an FAQ I wrote (and this is almost unbelievable to me) two years ago. I’ve been thinking about updating this since some things have changed, but this actually is still a good place to pick up the basics of what I’m doing here.
Twitter: @Mike_Fagan_13
http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com
Hamill, meanwhile, is coming off his impressive victory over Jon Jones.
by kid_eh on Jun 16, 2010 12:07 PM EDT reply actions 8 recs
Damnit
Got to that comment before I could
by dreamers_12345 on Jun 16, 2010 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions
btw that picture is backwards
first should come the squinted eyes as if puzzled, then the open eyes to express realization.
by Electro Boy on Jun 16, 2010 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions
nah
it’s the OH! that makes the bug-eyed pic first. the second one is more “You sly dog…”
Inhale deep, like the words of my breath—I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death
by Anthony Pace on Jun 16, 2010 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Surely they jest...
That was about as one-sided of an ass-kicking Jones put on Hammill as I’ve ever seen
by BigDNotDallas on Jun 16, 2010 4:01 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
well...
I never liked Liddell, but he could come back to KO Tito then retire….problem is what if tito wins….
We MUST not give Tito that opportunity.
by MMAInFeRioRiTy on Jun 16, 2010 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Stephan Bonnar didn't really beat Jardine either
that was a very poor decision, Jardine clearly won rounds 1 and 3. He won the final round by a very large margin.
by Electro Boy on Jun 16, 2010 12:58 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
It’s not for everyone. Read the FAQ I posted above. At the most basic level, it’s a graphical interpretation of a lot of data in one (relatively) easy-to-read format. I also think it’s a fresh alternative to traditional rankings, and a good predictor for future matchups.
Twitter: @Mike_Fagan_13
http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com
Jon Jones is STILL UNDEFEATED!!!
That fight should have been stopped anyway, he was HURTING that boy!..but anyway
I dnt see Shogun holding that belt too long, because there are waaaaay too many fighters comming up! JOn JOnes/AS/Rampage to name a couple fight i could see easily beating Shogun.. I jus HOPE Randy doesnt get a title shot..
You dont have to like me.. but you WILL respect my opinion! Jon Jones Cannot be Stopped! and neither can Anderson SIlva! Cain or Dos Santos??
Jon Jones has one loss
How do I know? It’s on his record.
by Electro Boy on Jun 16, 2010 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Thats loss is a DQ....
and he was winning that fight by FAR!! who has ever handled Matt Hamill like that? I think he should have got a stoppage instead of a DQ loss.. he didnt even get a warning tor the elbows(which didnt even cause the cut on his nose.)… in my eyes and in any1 who watched that fights eyes he is STILL undefeated!
You dont have to like me.. but you WILL respect my opinion! Jon Jones Cannot be Stopped! and neither can Anderson SIlva! Cain or Dos Santos??
He broke the rules, it’s as simple as that.
by HarmlessNinja on Jun 17, 2010 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Rampage?!?
Seriously?!? Wiithin the next year or so, Rampage will be a fringe top-10 LHW in the eyes of all but a few PRIDE fanboys – he just hasn’t evolved sufficiently for the modern LHW class and he is not a strong enough wrestler to be able to somewhat offset that. If anything, he’s devolved since PRIDE.
by BigDNotDallas on Jun 16, 2010 4:05 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Yeah, he’s slightly to the left of the middle, in between and below Rua and Pokrajac.
Twitter: @Mike_Fagan_13
http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com
Fantasy Betters
The Hamill-Simpson parlay—both at 105 on MMA Playground-looks mighty tempting …
█♣█
A wise man told me don't argue with fools
Cause people from a distance can't tell who is who -- Jay-Z
Did he really?
Did I misread or did it say Matt Hamill is coming off an “impressive win” over Jon Jones? I barely call it a win it’s like saying Fedor has a loss. I understand it’s a win but why add impressive I’d call it luck.
That’s the same Mark Coleman that almost decisioned Shogun Rua six months before that fight, right?
Ok. Just so we’re on the same page.
(I love Mark Coleman)
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift
Fightlinker.com
by Derek Suboticki on Jun 16, 2010 4:13 PM EDT reply actions
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