UFC Welterweight Division State of the Union
by Fraser Coffeen on Dec 13, 2011 5:00 PM EST
in UFC Analysis
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With so many fights coming up spread across seven different weight classes, it's easy to lose track of what's happening in every division. Here, we take a look at where a particular division stands right now, and where it's headed.
Last week, a bombshell piece of news hit the UFC Welterweight division: dominant champion Georges St. Pierre is injured and a new interim champion will be crowned. It's been nearly 4 years since anyone other than GSP held that belt, and now, some new names finally have a chance to get their foot in the door. Who will make the most of this opening, and who will be waiting for GSP when he returns? Let's see who has a shot.
Next in Line:
At UFC 143 it will be the #3 ranked Nick Diaz vs. #5 Carlos Condit for the Interim Welterweight title. Great fight there, and one that has come about in a very convoluted series of events. What started at GSP vs. Nick Diaz at UFC 137 evolved into GSP vs. Carlos Condit when Diaz famously no-showed his media obligations. Then GSP was hurt, leading to the Diaz vs. B.J. Penn main event. After Diaz won, Diaz vs. GSP was back on, only for it to be switched yet again, this time to today's Diaz vs. Condit. Will we see more switches before February 4? I hope not, as this is a fight that really interests me, but we'll just have to wait and see.
Key Match Ups:
Looking over the division, the loss of the champ actually comes at a rather opportune time. Often when I put these lists together, there are 2 or 3 big fights to highlight. Not so this time. Take a look at the ridiculous action the 170 pounders have in store for us in the coming months:
- #2 Jon Fitch vs. #17 Johny Hendricks (UFC 141) - Jon Fitch may easily end up the big winner from this whole GSP situation. A Fitch vs. St. Pierre rematch seems more and more unlikely as time passes, but Fitch is beyond a doubt the dominant #2 in the division. If he can get past Hendricks (and I expect Hendricks won't be able to stop the Fitching), he could easily get a crack at the Diaz vs. Condit winner and find himself the interim champ awaiting GSP's return.
- #24 Siyar Bahadurzada vs. Erick Silva (UFC 142) - Yes I know, these are two new fighters who are still a fair bit outside the top of the division, but I believe both of the chance to be serious long-term contenders. One will take a nice step up by winning on a PPV card.
- #16 Charlie Brenneman vs. Daniel Roberts (UFC on FX) - Brenneman made a name for himself beating Rick Story as a last minute replacement for Nate Marquardt this summer, but needs another win to remind fans of that one. Roberts is on a 2 fight losing streak, and a loss to Brenneman will likely mean his UFC career ends for now.
- #6 Josh Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce (UFC 143) - Koscheck is the big loser in the GSP/Condit/Diaz scenario as he was set to face Condit at this show. Now he's against Pierce in a fight that doesn't do much for Koscheck if he wins, but really sets him back if he loses.
- #4 Jake Ellenberger vs. #11 Diego Sanchez (UFC on Fuel TV 1) - Ellenberger is on a great streak right now with his KO over Jake Shields capping a new rise up the ranks. Diego is only on a 2 fight win streak since his return to Welterweight, but he's a very established name with strong history in the UFC. Winner here is my pick for next challenger after Diaz vs. Condit.
- #7 Jake Shields vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama (UFC 144) - I've long felt a move to 170 would be good for Akiyama, and he's finally doing so at UFC 144. Unfortunately, he makes that move in a debut against the top ranked Shields. This is a weird fight where you have two highly skilled fighters who just have not gotten it together lately. Winner could be stepping closer to title contention - loser could be cut.
- #9 Martin Kampmann vs. #12 Thiago Alves (UFC on FX 2) - I love this fight. Two entertaining fighters who are sure to go at it here. I don't see either man getting up to title contention soon, but it's still a very good fight that deserves a close look.
- #13 Rory MacDonald vs. Che Mills (UFC 145) - MacDonald returns to action here after being briefly sidelined. It's a shame he missed out on the planned fight with Ebersole, which would have been much more exciting. This fight feels like he is treading water for a bit, waiting for a bigger fight next time out.
In The Mix:
Just in case that wasn't enough, here is another handful of fighters who could make a big impact in their next fight:
- #15 Rick Story - Poor Story has lost most of the momentum he had mid-year. After beating Thiago Alves and being scheduled to face Nate Marquardt, he looked on the verge of the top 5. He's now on a 2 fight losing streak, but definitely has the skill to get back in contention.
- #21 Brian Ebersole - That UFC 140 win over Claude Patrick wasn't pretty, and it won't do his quest for a title shot any favors. But he is still a worthy contender, who should have a good fight next time out.
Others to Consider:
And finally, a few names that may not find themselves in the title picture any time soon, but should be mentioned:
- #10 Anthony Johnson - He's facing Vitor Belfort at Middleweight at UFC 142, but has stated that he's still unsure if that is a permanent move up to 185 or just a one time thing. I think a move would be wise, but we'll see how that fight goes.
- #8 B.J. Penn - Is he retired? Taking a break? It's unclear, but if the former champion returns, he'll absolutely be right back in the top of the division.
- Matt Hughes - Is he retired? Taking a break? It's unclear, but if the former champion returns, he... will get a notable fight, but won't be a relevant factor in the division. Sorry.
- Carlos Eduardo Rocha - One of my favorite up and comers in the division to watch for. He's 9-1 with that only loss coming against Ellenberger in a fight where Rocha had some very good success.
- #18 Tyron Woodley - Pretty much the entirety of the Strikeforce Welterweight division; he'll face Jordan Mein on January 7.
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too many words
you just need one-clusterfuck.
i tried to change my username to 'big country fit' but the system wouldnt let me.
Agreed...
I stated this when the news broke and everyone poopooed the notion, but I fully agree.
•#2 Jon Fitch vs. #17 Johny Hendricks (UFC 141) – Jon Fitch may easily end up the big winner from this whole GSP situation. A Fitch vs. St. Pierre rematch seems more and more unlikely as time passes, but Fitch is beyond a doubt the dominant #2 in the division. If he can get past Hendricks (and I expect Hendricks won’t be able to stop the Fitching), he could easily get a crack at the Diaz vs. Condit winner and find himself the interim champ awaiting GSP’s return.
I'm no Michael Bisping.
Fitch is beyond a doubt the dominant #2 in the division.
#2, yes IMO. But he’s lost the “everyone but GSP” dominance at least to me after the Penn Draw and long inactivity.
he won rounds 2 and 3 and if judges weren't whimps and scored rd 3 correctly would have won that fight
Twitter @MaZZM
http://www.mazzznet.com/
They all scored round 3 correctly, a 10-8
and they all scored round 2 correctly, for Penn
Head conductor of the Charles Oliveira hype train.
MMA judging is broken down to striking, octagon control, grappling, and aggression.
Striking:
If you check out fightmetric, you’ll see the striking breakdown is as follows:
Fitch had 59 strikes, 14 being significant.
Penn had 18 strikes, 5 being significant.
You can’t objectively argue that Penn won with striking. It’s not possible. Fitch easily outstruck Penn in round 2.
Octagon Control:
I went over the fight and noted the timestamps after each change in control. Here they are:
at 4:55, Fitch takes BJ down
at 4:12, BJ gets up, but is still being controlled against the cage
at 2:34, BJ spins and puts Fitch against the cage
at 2:11, Fitch spins BJ against the cage
at 2:07, the fight is back to neutral
at 1:54, Penn takes Fitch down
at 1:16, Fitch spins into top position
at 0:03, BJ is back up, into a neutral position
added up, Fitch controlled for about 3:38, BJ did for about 1:01
Fitch clearly won in octagon control. You can’t objectively argue it in favor of Penn. Not possible.
Grappling:
Not too much to go on in this round. Fitch went 1 for 3 in takedowns, BJ went 1 for 1. There were no submissions applied. BJ passed to Fitch’s back for a short period, but did nothing with it. Fitch reversed it into top position. Grappling-wise, it’s tough to judge. Very close. I’d say it’s a wash, but I’m willing to give Penn the slight edge.
Aggression:
Again, very close. Neither fighter was retreating too much or timid. According to fightmetric, Fitch attempted 73 strikes. Penn attempted 30. Fitch attempted 3 takedowns. Penn, 1. Could call it a wash, but I’d say Fitch had the slight advantage.
So the only area where you can really argue in favor of Penn is grappling, and it doesn’t compare to the advantages Fitch had in striking and control. It basically washes out Fitch’s slight edge in aggression.
by UFChamp on Dec 13, 2011 6:34 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Brilliant Write Up
Couldn’t have said it any better. I thought the draw was another example of bad judging in the UFC specifically because two judges gave BJ the 2nd round. I’ve re-watched the fight several times and I can’t see how you justify it.
Pushing someone against the cage isn't control
In fact takedown defence should count as out grappling your opponent. BJ looked more in control than the struggling Fitch, especially considering he took his back
Head conductor of the Charles Oliveira hype train.
Really?
You honestly don’t think sandwiching your opponent between you and the cage is control? If you don’t know this, then you obviously don’t know what you’re talking about. But I guess you don’t disagree with the rest of it. Not a very strong rebuttal at all. Deep down, you understand that Fitch won the round, Mr. Penn fan…..I know ya do. ;)
I think the exact opposite is true.
The idea of Fitch vs GSP 2 isn’t THAT bad. GSP’s recent fights have been pretty boring since he’s been overly cautious. But what does he have to worry about with Fitch? Their first fight was a fun thrashing, and it’s likely that the rematch would be as well. Stylistically, there’s just a very small chance of Fitch beating GSP. I don’t think GSP/Fitch would do killer numbers, but GSP having an exciting fight for the first time in a long time could help his future buyrates.
I think even with an interim title, he’s less likely to get a shot vs other fighters since he’d be more likely to beat them and the UFC obviously doesn’t want him wearing UFC gold.
by Jeffigatame on Dec 13, 2011 5:22 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Did you honestly see Jake Shields knocking out GSP or something? No? So then why was that fight not exciting? This is why I dislike GSP, its one thing to be careful against a knockout artist, or a super dominant wrestler, but he’s the best wrestler in the division, and how many knockout artists has he faced? He’s such an enormously talented fighter, but he refuses to fight to his ability, he just wants to coast through his fights without doing much. Eventually that’s gonna bite him in the ass.
Man, he hit Shields in the head with a brutal head kick; still surprised that didn’t finish him. Then he fought three rounds with vision in only one eye. It’s not excuses, and everyone knows that wasn’t his best fight. But to say he was just ‘refusing’ to fight to his ability is revisionist history and not the good kind.
"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."
I’m confused, how is this revisionist? And did he go for combos? Did he push the action? Did he try to create a knockout besides those weird over hand punches? Hell, Jake Shields threw the most strikes in the fight. Did you see the way he submitted Matt Hughes? Have you seen his knockouts? That’s fighting to his ability, not adopting stick and move for such a mediocre striker as Jake Shields.
Gonna be an entertaining 2012
As bad as the GSP loss is for the UFC. It should end up being extremely entertaining for the more hardcore fan base.
Tatum: I think he's a good man. I like him. I got nothing against him, but I'm definitely gonna make orphans of his children.
There is nothing bad about the GSP loss, it's all 100% better for the division, entertainment-wise and excitement-wise.
Deal with it.
Top 5 most boring fighters to watch p4p:
1. Jake "Mr. Snuggie" Shields
2. G "what's the Rush?" SP
3. Jon Fitch
4. Gray "lets cuddle?" Maynard
5. any wrestler w/ the same fight strategy as #1-4
by TheRassler on Dec 13, 2011 5:33 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
From a marketing standpoint
This is a disaster. Ideally you want your cash cows visible to your audience and potential audience at all times, especially when you’ve invested a lot of time and money into making these fighters recognizable. If the UFC wants to be mainstream, GSP needs to fight. I’m willing to bet Dana White wets his bed when he dreams of Lesnar regaining the heavyweight crown, just like David Stern dreams of big market teams in the NBA finals. As Monte said, good for us hardcores, terrible for the UFC.
"i hate signatures...that, and hypocrisy"
I said this before, but the St. Pierre injury could lead to a massive fight when he gets back. If Condit/Diaz (please God, let it be Condit) wins and keeps the interim title until St. Pierre comes back, that would be the biggest fight of the year for the UFC.
I agree, everyone is back in contention for a title shot.
This next year is going to be great, and then GSP will come back to a superfight around this time next year against an interim champ, and the hype should be amazing.
by dpk875 on Dec 13, 2011 6:22 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Silva-Maia II
At least GSP has the potential to destroy Fitch in the exact same manner. Silva will likely dance for another 25 minutes against Maia.
"i hate signatures...that, and hypocrisy"
I bet the UFC is banking on Bisping beating Maia because if Maia wins then he’s only one more top 10 win away from a rematch. Honestly I would be kinda interested in seeing that rematch because I think that Demian would push the action and I wanna see what Anderson would do, I don’t think a repeat performance would sit well with Dana at all
If Maia wins, and then wins again...this is what will happen
Dana: “Congratulations kid, here have a seat in the title shot line”
Maia: “Ok, thanks”
-Maia sits next to a wrestler
Maia: “Hi, I’m Demian Maia, I’m waiting for my second shot at the title”
Wrestler: “Hi, I’m Jon Fitch”
Maia: “Very nice to meet you, have you been here long?”
Fitch “………”
"i hate signatures...that, and hypocrisy"
by nannerb on Dec 13, 2011 6:33 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
Such a gnarly flying knee
"God loves violence... Why else would there be so much of it? It's in us. It's what we are. We wage war, we burn sacrifices, and pillage and plunder and tear at the flesh of our brothers. And why? Because God gave us violence to wage in his honor... There's no moral order at all. There's just this: can my violence conquer yours?"
- Warden of Ashecliffe Hospital
by ElliotMatheny on Dec 13, 2011 11:27 PM EST up reply actions
ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
I enjoy MMA, but I am no Michael Bisping
by Andy Anderson on Dec 13, 2011 10:46 PM EST up reply actions
You don’t get excited to watch Carlos Condit fight? His fights are practically as good as Nick Diaz’s.
"He's like Elvis in Korea! They love him there." - Mike Goldberg on Denis Kang
In all Honesty
I prefer Condit’s fights
I enjoy MMA, but I am no Michael Bisping
by Andy Anderson on Dec 13, 2011 11:51 PM EST up reply actions
Agreed. THere’s something so focused and perfect about the way Carlos fights. When Diaz is thinking punch punch punch, Carlos is jumping guard for Guillotines, flying knees, and throwing left hooks with everything he has. Nick is entertaining for sure, but he just doesn’t have that certain je ne sais quoi that is Carlos.
my band
http://www.groggybikini.com
What is Jake Shields still doing in this division? He’s much more suited to MW and now that he had his shot at GSP and Nick, who he will never fight, might be champ and might be for some time he is going to languish at WW. There are a handful of fights I would like to see him take at MW.
It's that the world is basically a forced labor camp from which the workers, perfectly innocent, are led forth by lottery, a few each day, to be executed.
I don't think that's just the way I see it. I think that's the way it is. Are there alternative views? Yes. Will any of them stand close scrutiny? No.
by memitim on Dec 13, 2011 5:38 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Geez you’re thinking he’ll be welter for a long time? I’m holding off until the guy faces a decent wrestler. He’s proven his stand-up against anyone, but damn, a good grinding wrestler like Fitch or half a dozen others I think could easily take Nick. He could very well beat GSP, but his chances are pretty unlikely I’m thinking, and also pretty unlikely that he’d keep the belt for long enough to necessitate Shields leaving the division to make way for a hypothetical and unlikely epic title run by his friend. I mean if Nick destroys GSP, then yeah, I can see one thinking this, but otherwise…wha?
my band
http://www.groggybikini.com
what the hell ever happened to rocha?
He hasn’t had a fight scheduled in forever it seems.
He had two serious elbow surgeries
One after another
Head conductor of the Charles Oliveira hype train.
Fitch
Not really doubting Fitch as a fighter/neutralizer but I don’t believe he has beaten anyone from 3-11 on this list. Shouldn’t the #2 guy have to fight some of these guys?
by Pillowhands on Dec 13, 2011 5:45 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions
I think that may have been intentional
To prevent him from eliminating potential new contenders for GSP.
by BrandtShaft! on Dec 13, 2011 7:00 PM EST up reply actions
fitch definatly has a shot here if GSP is out for a long time
he is big enough to shut down Diaz guard and I doubt Condit would be able to sweep him from the bottom would love to see both of those fights though
Twitter @MaZZM
http://www.mazzznet.com/
#7 Jake Shields vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama (UFC 144) – I’ve long felt a move to 170 would be good for Akiyama, and he’s finally doing so at UFC 144. Unfortunately, he makes that move in a debut against the top ranked Shields. This is a weird fight where you have two highly skilled fighters who just have not gotten it together lately. Winner could be stepping closer to title contention – loser could be cut.
I think that there is a lesser chance of Shields getting cut than Akiyama. Uncle Dana may give Shields a pass considering everything he was dealing with in that Ellenburger fight. Plus, Shields can always move up to the shallower 185 lbs division and ring off a few wins
Robbie Lawler vs Nick Diaz UFC 47
Rogan: (after Diaz throws a looping left kick) Look at this Karate Kid stuff right here
Goldie: Daniel Miyagi has arrived in the OCTAGON.
by HeadKickOfDoom on Dec 13, 2011 5:47 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
I think if Diaz wins the interim title then Shields would probably move up, it would almost make sense to…
by Chris WhiteDynamite Bielanski on Dec 13, 2011 6:29 PM EST up reply actions
Shields?
Shields is pretty far away from a title shot of any kind right now. Shouldn’t matter what weight he is at. Plus, Kos and Fitch have gotten away with competing in the same division for years now.
Like my post? Well, follow me on Twitter anyways. @LenBarson
I wouldnt say pretty far away for anyone anymore...
didnt Machida just got a shot, in the course of two fights now a days pretty much anyone can become a contender if they have previous establishment to build on…
by Chris WhiteDynamite Bielanski on Dec 13, 2011 7:01 PM EST up reply actions
Completely different
Machida’s actually talented in more than one area. And he’s exciting.
Business as Usual has a STACKED team. I mean, we could win with just me, but you know.
by halitosis on Dec 13, 2011 7:44 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
agreed
my point is though that if Nick Diaz wins I would think its entirely possible for Shields to move up in weight…granted he can still take fights at WW but what if he strings off some wins and moves up in ranking, if Diaz has the belt whats the point, why wouldnt he consider moving back to a weight class where he was more successful…again this is all hypothetical and would require both him and Diaz winning their next fights which isnt guaranteed.
by Chris WhiteDynamite Bielanski on Dec 13, 2011 9:19 PM EST up reply actions
Shields and Diaz can both fight at WW if they want.
The only reason I could see Shields moving back to 185 is because he had his shot at WW and is now in the back of a very long line. There are enough contenders to keep both guys busy without crossing paths. But I think Diaz will be near the top of the division for a while. Shields may jump back up the rankings a bit, but I think his best days are behind him.
Like my post? Well, follow me on Twitter anyways. @LenBarson
And he’s exciting.
Amazing to here that about Machida compared to 2-3 years ago.
"Nothin' wrong with an ass whuppin' every now and then. You take away the ass whuppin's and what do you get? You get people wearin' pants below their belly buttons. I'm tellin' you, you go out these days and see the crack of a young lady's butt. It's crazy, man. They should be locked up for indecent exposure. Look here. See? Suspenders! And a belt! I ain't takin' no chances."
Exactly what I thought too.
That was considered to be the main reason he was denied a title shot for so long.
Like my post? Well, follow me on Twitter anyways. @LenBarson
I never said
That Shields would be a fight away from a MW title shot. But, with MW being a shallower division, and Shields looks good at 185 (just ask Hendo) I think a move up to 185 wouldn’t be a bad one for him. I just think that they have invested too much money and marketing on Jake to just throw him under the bus.
Robbie Lawler vs Nick Diaz UFC 47
Rogan: (after Diaz throws a looping left kick) Look at this Karate Kid stuff right here
Goldie: Daniel Miyagi has arrived in the OCTAGON.
by HeadKickOfDoom on Dec 13, 2011 9:18 PM EST up reply actions
same
Look at the factors:
1- Fitch’s long layoff
2- Fitch coming off a shoulder injury
3- Vegan diet making him smaller
All of that adds up to a less-than-optimal Fitch, not to mention the horrific style matchup in fighting Hendricks. I can’t wait.
Business as Usual has a STACKED team. I mean, we could win with just me, but you know.
by halitosis on Dec 13, 2011 7:42 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Rick Story edged out Hendricks when they fought.
I just don’t think he’s fought many good guys. Of course, Fitch hasn’t had the toughest schedule in his career, but he’s got a lot of experience against talented guys. While the shitkicking at the hands of GSP has made him a more cautious fighter, it’s also made him more aware and intelligent in the cage as well. Hendricks may have better wrestling credentials, but I think Fitch does a lot better job at integrating it along with jiu-jitsu into an effective MMA technique. I’m picking Fitch via late submission.
An annoying Fitch fan. Also, captain of the inaugural BE Civil War champions, the K-1 Level Predictions Team. Be on the lookout for season 2's sign-ups!
Follow @zakkree
by Zachary Kater on Dec 13, 2011 8:06 PM EST up reply actions
Nah.
A Fitching will commence.
Writer for Blistered Thumbs
Fabricio Werdum is not my father.
Follow @TheCynicsCorner
by MicahtheCynic on Dec 14, 2011 3:41 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Fitch might be ranked ahead of Ellenberger, but Ellenberger is closer to a title shot.
Ellenberger has the 5 wins in a row with 4 stoppages, while Jon Fitch has just done what he does. If Fitch doesn’t stop Hendricks in emphatic fashion, then Fitch isn’t getting the next title shot, unless Ellenberger loses to Sanchez, and I just don’t see either happening.
Fitch hasn't won since August '10.
…and he could get a title shot after beating Johny Hendricks? I don’t buy it. Look how long it took him to get a title shot the first time around. I don’t think anyone is in a rush to see Fitch fight for a title again. I like him, but he has got to beat a real contender. Koscheck would be a perfect opponent for him, should he Fitch the hell out of Hendricks, but we all know that won’t happen.
So basically what dpk said.
Like my post? Well, follow me on Twitter anyways. @LenBarson
Confused
I thought the bj Penn couldn’t be talked about unless the word “motivated” appeared before his name. Sorry but those are the “rules”
by dumpmasta on Dec 13, 2011 6:38 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Mein will be the top guy in the Strikeforce welterweight division when he beats Tyron Woodley.
"I don't know where this term "training camp" in MMA came from. There's no campground. There's no tents." - Nick Diaz
My twitter: @TB_Money
Great fight
I’m looking forward to Mein/Woodley more than any other fight on that card. Not saying much, but still….
Like my post? Well, follow me on Twitter anyways. @LenBarson
How is Fitch without a doubt a dominant number two? If he has beaten 3-10, then maybe you would have an argument.
You could argue Nick Diaz has been far more impressive lately and deserves to be ranked above Fitch.
Fitch hasn't even done anything relevant in the past two years on top of that.
My opinion>Your onion.
by Tairy Hesticles on Dec 13, 2011 7:14 PM EST up reply actions
Besides that,
He’s losing to Hendricks.
Business as Usual has a STACKED team. I mean, we could win with just me, but you know.
by halitosis on Dec 13, 2011 7:38 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Impossible.
You have to be a French Canadian to stop the Fitch, or outweigh him by 20 some odd pounds.
Writer for Blistered Thumbs
Fabricio Werdum is not my father.
Follow @TheCynicsCorner
by MicahtheCynic on Dec 14, 2011 3:41 AM EST up reply actions
RoryMac is fighting Che Mills?
Damn, I kind of liked Che Mills…
Business as Usual has a STACKED team. I mean, we could win with just me, but you know.
by halitosis on Dec 13, 2011 7:37 PM EST via mobile reply actions
No Paul Daley?
He gave Nick Diaz a pretty decent scrap and could probably knock out more than a few of the title contenders you’ve mentioned.
Daley is on the outs for two good reasons.
by discoandherpes on Dec 13, 2011 8:27 PM EST up reply actions
Daley’s just a boxer. You take him down and the fight is over.
Fuck you, double fingers
- Nick Diaz
Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society
- Mark Twain
by TheLastEmpress on Dec 13, 2011 8:42 PM EST up reply actions
Daley no longer fights for Zuffa. I only include the Strikeforce guys because it’s clear they can bring them over if they want. If Daley starts fighting for either UFC or SF again, he’ll be on this list.
Staff Writer - BloodyElbow.com
Follow @FCoffeen
by Fraser Coffeen on Dec 13, 2011 8:59 PM EST up reply actions
Two good reasons?
One is that he took a cheap shot at Josh Koschek after the final bell. I can see Dana eventually softening his stance on this, especially as he freely refers to Koscheck as being a dick and that the Daley v. Diaz fight really impressed him. So I wouldn’t rule out Daley coming back to the UFC.
Repeated weight issues
That’s what will keep him out of the show.
"Everyone has a plan until they’ve been hit."
~ Joe Lewis
http://worldisart365.blogspot.com/
Ding ding ding. Show him what he’s won Johnny.
by discoandherpes on Dec 14, 2011 7:15 AM EST up reply actions
GSP’s injury has created some interesting possibilities for the WW division. It doesn’t really matter which guy wins the interim belt between Condit and Diaz. Both the winner and loser will have Fitch, Ellenberger, Koscheck, Kampmann, and others waiting on deck. I’m excited to see how it all shakes out.
Why would BJ Penn be at the top of the division if Jon Fitch’s reward for drawing with BJ Penn is Johnny Hendricks?
It's just a world, it's just a life.
Henricks isn’t his reward for drawing with BJ, it’s his punishment for continuing to be Jon Fitch.
"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."
As BJ himself noted before the Diaz fight...
Dana likes him.
Conversely, Dana apparently does not like Jon Fitch.
"Nothin' wrong with an ass whuppin' every now and then. You take away the ass whuppin's and what do you get? You get people wearin' pants below their belly buttons. I'm tellin' you, you go out these days and see the crack of a young lady's butt. It's crazy, man. They should be locked up for indecent exposure. Look here. See? Suspenders! And a belt! I ain't takin' no chances."
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