MMA Discussion Thread Part XV
And we keep on going...Continued from here.
And a reminder how long we've been around!
MMA Discussion Thread Nov 06 - Dec 08
MMA Discussion Thread Part II Dec 08 - May 09
MMA Discussion Thread Part III May 09 - July 09
MMA Discussion Thread Part IV Jul 09 - Oct 09
MMA Discussion Thread Part V Oct 09 - Feb 10
MMA Discussion Thread Part VI Feb 10 - May 10
MMA Discussion Thread Part VII May 10 - Aug 10
MMA Discussion Thread Part VIII Aug 10 - Nov 10
MMA Discussion Thread Part VIIII (IX) Nov 10 - Mar 11
MMA Discussion Thread Part X - Mar 11 - Aug 11
MMA Discussion Thread Part XI - Aug 11 - Nov 11
MMA Discussion Thread Part XII - Nov 11 -Feb 12
MMA Discussion Thread Part XIII - Feb 12 - May 12
MMA Discussion Thread Part XIV - May 12 - August 12
MMA Discussion Thread Part XV - Aug 12 - ? I agree with Stu btw. I wouldn't say the LHW division is weak. It just happens that Jones has been prolific. Not only battering people, but fighting very regularly.
I still look forward to it though. There's Hendo first. Then the Machida rematch, which is the only one of the 4 potential rematches that is actually interesting. Then guys like Gustafson and Texeira and possibly Phil Davis. I honestly don't think Sonnen will ever get near a LHW title shot. Just started reading the first thread and the talk was around Hughes V GSP 2. Its funny how most people thought Hughes was unbeatable and that GSP didnt stand a chance. If it proves anything its that all great champions careers come to an end at some point and they will lose. It will happen to GSP & Silva soon, if they dont retire first that is. Some news too...
There were rumours that Fox were unhappy at the quality of cards the UFC were putting on the main broadcasts.They won't be complaining now...
UFC on Fox 5 is scheduled for December 8th.Headliner is Ben Henderson vs Nate Diaz. Supported by Penn vs McDonald and Shogun vs Gustafson! Hell of a lineout, and there's still room for another. Fox events usually have a 4 fight main card.
Glad to see Henderson straight back in too. Long gaps between title defences are a pain so great to see Henderson and Jones wasting no time.
Aldo, GSP, JDS and Cruz have been slowed down by injury, Condit is choosing to wait for GSP rather than defend the interim belt and Silva seems happy to fight twice a year. He's not planning to fight again until early 2013. I loved watching Hughes back in the day. One of my early favourites.Although his striking was awful, he wasn't a lay'n'pray merchant even though his wrestling pedigree gave him the tools to be just that. Always going for GnP and had a superb submission game. That sucks. It also means that we dont get to see weidman fight again until then Me too, although after Hughes appeared on TUF I slowly went off of him.
He was a very dominant champion though and I thought he was unbeatable at the time. Weidman hasn't been confirmed as no 1 contender yet. Silva's team have been running down his credentials etc.
I think Dana is waiting for the outcome of Stann vs Bisping. I think if either of them win impressively they'll get the shot. If they don't look good doing it, they might face Weidman first with the winner getting Silva.
That would leave too long a gap for Silva though. I think the UFC are just having trouble persuading him to take the Weidman fight. Who ultimately decides who the fighters have to fight? Is it the UFC (Joe Silva/Dana White) or is the fighters manager?
In Boxing, champions can duck other fighters for years without ever being stripped of the title, i'd hate to see the UFC fighters following that path. My understanding of boxing (could be wrong) is that the fighter is contracted to the manager, and the manager then arranges the fights with the different organisations etc. So in that situation Anderson Silva would have a contract with Ed Soares rather than the UFC, and Soares would negotiate with the UFC or Strikeforce etc.That would of course give the fighter or manager more power than the organisation.
I think one of the big benefits of having 1 major organisation like the UFC is that they have the power.Fighters cant duck other fighters because the UFC holds their contract so they fight who they have to, or they dont fight.As far as I remember from the Couture/UFC/Fedor battle, a standard UFC contract guarantees a fighter a set number of fights within a set timeframe.If the UFC dont offer you a fight within that time then they are in breach.But if they offer and you refuse then thats your tough luck.They have not broken their agreement to offer fights.
Of course the downside of the 1 big organisation situation is that the UFC have maybe too much power.But aside from the occasional disgruntled fighter, the majority tend to praise the UFC, and not just to keep in their good graces.There was an interesting article a while back (I may have posted it a while ago) where Sean McCorkle posted on the Underground (the MMA site, not the tube) about his recent UFC contract.He lost 2 of 3 fights and was cut, but during his contract he was paid approximately 40% more than he was entitled to.He won a fight bonus, and in 2 other fights he received extra cheques simply for putting on a good fight.
Of course there are still some refusals.Shogun Rua allegedly (he denies it) turned down a fight with Glover Teixeira.Lyoto Machida turned down a fight with Rashad Evans unless he got a pay rise to Anderson Silva money.Melvin Guillard says that 3 other guys turned down the Cerrone fight before he stepped up.But I think when it gets to the title, its a different story.If there is a clear number 1 contender then you cant just refuse.Thats why the UFC hate the I dont fight teammates argument.Dana once said that Koscheck wouldnt get another WW title shot unless he fought Fitch first.Kos said hed move to MW to solve the problem!
So to answer the original question, I think the UFC (Silva/White) control the decision 90% of the time.
And interestingly on that note, Daniel Cormier says he wants a HW title shot if (when) he beats Frank Mir. But if teammate Cain Velasquez is champion by that time he says he will cut to LHW and go after Jon Jones!