What's next at 205?

That depends on what you judge an up and comer as. Given how little their known to the UFC fanbase promoting Cruz and Faber should be the number goal of that show, rather than getting over fighters from other divisions.

 

Given how much they were pushed the last time, maybe the fans really arent interested in another jab and takedown contest.

 

I think there is an issue in that some fighters are struggling to develop because wrestling is a great equaliser. The likes of Diaz or Overeem wouldn't have developed if they were competing in divisions with greater wrestling.

Part of me thinks that's just tough ****. Wrestling is part of the sport and too bad if you're not good enough to deal with it. Its not like wrestlers are overly dominant at the top of the UFC - I mean you'd have to go back to GSP-Hardy for the last UFC title fight where one fighter won primarily due to 'lay and pray'. Another part thinks that's where the need for the UFC to create a developmental league comes in - some fighters need to be kept away from the big leagues for longer so they can develop fully. At the moment there's little money outside the UFC so some fighters are being rushed to the big show before they're ready. Hopefully White's talk of creating regional promotions goes somwhere.

 

I think you're being harsh on that fight dude.

 

Id agree with the tough **** bit, doesnt mean I'll be glued to my seat whilst watching it though. And GSP, Jones & JDS coasting behind the jab rather than go for the finish when guys were there for the taking is kinda the same thing as l'n'p. Guys are coming over from wrestling because there is no money in it. There's no money in it because it's boring to watch

But for me the best fight by a mile on the last card was a good old fashioned grappler v striker match in Brown v Wonderboy. Matt could have easily sat in guard all night and held him down, it's a credit to him he postured up and tried to finish with strikes and submissions. Which allowed Thompson to get back up and try and finish it with strikes in the second. Totally exciting and I was entertained to boot

That attitude is changing though, and with competition for places in only one major org so tight, it's not surprising most guys play it safe

I enjoyed the fight. No reason to see it again though, all my questions have been answered.

 

Meant to ask you Will - since you're a pro mma writer... how do you rate the ESB MMA forum compared with other internet mma forums?

 

I think there is an issue like with all sports of a perverse 'cliff-edge' disincentive for attacking play as the consequences of 'relegation' become ever more serious. I'm not entirely sure how you avoid that other than the UFC continuing their practice of allowing entertaining fighters to lose far more fights before getting cut than others.

And I agree with you on Cruz/Faber 3. They rushed the rematch when they should have given other fighters a chance. The UFC have been bad with tha recently actually - the fact we're getting Henderson-Edgar 2 is a disgrace.

 

I don't really go on many forums - just this and the wrestling observer's. Whenever I've viewed other ones they've just seen like a total sesspool. So better than most then :good

 

Haha nice. You and Scurla make for good reading when you two go at it

 

The present and the future is Jon Jones

Your looking at absolute domination here , the kid is so far advanced from the field its untrue , he is head and shoulders the best fighter in a " STACKED " division !!!!

There are some really good fights out there in the division , but none relevant to the title

Shogun Machida 3 as you said probably needs to happen , Rampage , Evans , Gustaffson , Franklin , Davis , Henderson , Bader , Thiago Silva , there all competitive guys who have skill , there are some really sensational fights out there but I'm afraid as long as Jones is around , there never going to be champions !!!

 

This place was far far better 5 years ago. Footfall is less here than other forums so it was much higher on quality. A lot of EXCELLENT posters have left. And that includes that wingnut BoxingCar.

 

There are people in multiple divisions coming to the point of contention who are viable future options like Renan Barao and Michael McDonald at BW, Rory Macdonald and Erick Silva at WW, Chris Weidman at MW, Alexander Gustafsson at LHW etc. It just takes time for people to knock off the old guard and dominant champions make a division look weak.

The problem with Cruz is that nobody was beating any of the former champs or guys he had beaten during his reign. Mighty Mouse beat Torres (on the scorecards anyway), so got a shot. Barao beating Jorgensen makes him a contender and McDonald knocking Torres out moves him into relevance. Those are the only times any of Torres, Bowles, Faber, Benavidez or Jorgensen have lost other than to each other since being champion or fighting Cruz.

 

Good point Uber, but personally speaking, apart from Barao and RMac, these arent guys I consider myself a 'fan' of.

But they are all good prospects, and hopefully they will all improve whilst as you say, clearing out some of the deadwood in their respective divisions

 

Too Bad King Mo isn't available.

 

Let's not forgot that it's only a couple of years ago we were bemoaning the lack of depth at 155Ibs with Penn seemingly untouchable as he went on his tour of TUF contestants.