IMO Welterweight. Besides having the #2 p4p fighter in the world they also have Jon Fitch, a guy whose only loss in YEARS is to GSP and Jake Shields, another guy whose only loss in years is to GSP. Condit, Penn, Koscheck, and Alves round out the division. All of these guys are elite challengers that could be a good champion were it not that the #2 p4p fighter in the world reigned on top. Who could be the strong champion at MW if Anderson retired tomorrow?
either light heavy weight as they have the most entertaining fights and most divisible fighters e.g. wrestlers, muay specialists, boxers, and bjj guys.
Jon Jones aside, I dont see the future being very bright for 205 personally. Guys like Machida, Tito, Dan, Rampage, Franklin, Forrest, Lil Nog ect are the wrong side of 30 and some brutal fights too and are all going to be tough to replace. Who do you think the up and comer's are at 205 are going to be to keep that division strong?
It's light-heavyweight. Jon Jones, a fighter with almost unparalled hype behind him has claimed the throne by defeating possibly the greatest light-heavyweight of all-time, Shogun Rua. But winning the prize is easy, keeping it has always been the challenge in this most competitive of divisions, and a queue of contenders has already formed. Looking to seize the belt we have Rampage Jackson, Rashad Evans, Lyoto Machida, Forrest Griffin and of course, Shogun Rua. Each man is a former champion with a star-studded resume, and when you add Dan Henderson fresh off a win over Fedor, it's clear that the dust has far from settled at the top. If Anderson Silva moves up again to challenge for the title, then things just get even more explosive. As well as these huge names, many of them already considered all-time greats, there is a new breed of exciting up and comers ready to challenge the old guard of the division. Jon Jones is the most obvious name, having already succeeded, but Gegard Mousasi, Phil Davis, Alexander Gustafsson, Roger Gracie, Muhammed Lawal and even Ovince St. Preux could all be major contenders in coming years. Not only does the division have the legends, it's also got the future. And can any division compete with the sheer quality of the 205lbs B-list? Look at the caliber of fighters you need to be beating in order to be considered a top name in the division: Antônio Rogério Nogueira Thiago Silva Rich Franklin Renato Sobral Ryan Bader Vladimir Matyushenko Luiz Cane Rafael Cavalcante Keith Jardine Cyrille Diabate That's quality control right there - you need to earn your stripes at light-heavyweight. In conclusion, 205lbs has long been the glamour division of MMA, producing many of its greatest fights and fighters, and it shows no sign of slowing down. In fact, in this humble poster's opinion, it's just getting started. :deal
Guillard, Dunham, Sherk, Lauzon, Siver, Pearson etc Throw in Alvarez, Melendez etc I disagree, Fitch, Shields, BJ etc are some of the best at 170 and I don't think they are as good as the best 155.
yea you have a point there alex gustaffason, ryan bader, Muhammed Lawal, Gegard Mousasi, yes they are the only ones i see having great success or potential to.
Ok, I actually completely disagree with you, especially with the guys you listed above. But I'm not mad at ya, you have a right to your own opinion :yep:good
On occassion, great minds don't need to think alike. I can be swayed though. 170 has real depth with guys like Condit, McDonald, Sanchez, Kampmann, Thiago, Alves etc
I prefer to watch the light heavyweights too and as you said the division could be strengthened further with the addition of Spider Silva.
lightweight is a stacked division but I think there is a gap between the top guys and the rest of the division whereas lightwheavyweight is populated by fighters that could be champion on any given night. The way the 205lb crown has changed hands every fight should be testament to that division's strength alone.