The biggest news in the 205lb class involved two young wrestlers, one on the rise, one due for a fall. #9 Jon Jones cracks the top 10 after crucifying #29 (was #24) Vladimir Matyushenko at UFC on Versus 2. #8 Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal will certainly fall next month after his loss to #15 Rafael "Feijao" Calvacante at Strikeforce: Houston.
This is the portrait of a division on hold. With #1 Mauricio "Shogun" Rua out with an injured knee and #3 Rashad Evans electing to wait out Shogun's return, light heavyweight has been snoozeville this month.
Not a lot of movement in MMA's premiere division this month. The biggest fight featured #21 Chuck Liddell losing to #11 Rich Franklin at UFC 115.
The king is dead. Long live the king. #1 Mauricio "Shogun" Rua definitively established himself as the new king of the division with his first round finish of #2 Lyoto Machida to take the UFC 205lb title.
Finally, after waiting since UFC 104 last October, MMA fans will get the rematch between #1 Lyoto Machida and #2 Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 113 on May 8. The first fight was a classic of MMA strategy, heart and technique from two great fighters at the top of their games.
Things have been so slow in the Light Heavyweight division lately that I was tempted to simply re-post last month's commentary. But that would be wrong.
Rising UFC light heavyweight star Jon Jones will be bringing a vast array of flashy techniques to his bout with Brandon Vera at UFC on Versus.
In contrast to the wild and wooly heavyweight division, the light heavyweight division is lying dormant in suspended animation, awaiting the rematch between #1 Lyoto Machida and #2 Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 113 in May.
Due to hand injuries he sustained at UFC 104, #1 Lyoto Machida won't rematch #2 Mauricio "Shogun" Rua until May's UFC 113. That is a long time for fans to have to wait for one of the most intriguing rematches in MMA history.
No division has seen more movement at the very top ranks in the last year than light heavyweight. MMA fans have said "The King is Dead, Long Live the (new) King" of the division more times at 205lbs than happens in most divisions in five years.
