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Assuming they stayed in their current weight class...

3K views 36 replies 26 participants last post by  Life B Ez 
#1 ·
...which of the dominant three UFC champions (BJ Penn, GSP, A. Silva) do you think would dominate their respective weight classes the most amount of times consecutively? Silva currently has 5 title defenses, GSP has four, and BJ Penn has three. I'm curious because I think that it has to be Silva, because I think that A. Silva stayed at MW he could easily win another five title defenses. I don't see GSP not getting caught once in six title defenses to tie that, and for BJ Penn to win seven more in a row would be absolutely insane. I know that obviously there is talk about all three of them moving up in weight, but assuming they stayed at their current weight class until the end, who do you think would have the most title defenses before a loss?
 
#4 · (Edited)
BJ Penn. No one can touch him at 155. Except, maybe Maynard could possibly outwrestle him for 5 rounds, but BJ is too well rounded a MMAist to get taken down and held there by a guy who has just barely eeked by some really good fighters.

AS could possibly be suseptible to a guy like Sonnen if he can get close to Silva without getting KOed.

I dont know who can beat GSP but a guy like Alves with great TDD and ground defense and great striking could maybe find a way.

This is all under the assumption that the fighters would stay in their divisions and not retire prematurely of course.
 
#5 ·
I gotta go with GSP.

Nobody can stop his takedowns, or defend against his athleticism.

Silva and Penn will be moving up in weight very soon. I dont think Silva wants to fight at 185 anymore and both BJ and Silva have just about cleaned out their divisions. And with Dana already talking about BJ moving up in weight, it is most likely to happen.
 
#18 ·
The best challengers at LW are more complete MMA fighters than the best challengers at WW.

GSP is the third best fighter out of the group and he can have the longest streak if he wants it just because WW is a division of one dimensional fighters. If GSP had to fight the mix of talents of different disciplines that Andy has to he would have lost already.
 
#11 ·
BJ Penn great fighter and legend that he is, I actually believe his days as champ could be numbered, I dont think Frankie Edgar is the best LW in the UFC (I believe Penn is) but I do believe that Edgar is a bad stylistic match up for Penn and I think he could take this fight.

As for who do I think rain as champ for the longest I go with GSP.
 
#22 ·
Ugh I was really enjoying reading this thread but I should have known it was only a matter of time before someone comes in here and posts some nonsense that doesn't even add to the real conversation here...

Anyway I think i'll go with BJ. He seems to have more of a size advantage in his weight class than GSP and Silva. I also think BJ has the absolute best BJJ and Striking out of his entire division. Silva has the best striking in his division easily, and GSP has the wrestling and is the most well rounded. But if pressed I have to say BJ, GSP, then Anderson. Just my opinion. But if BJ and Anderson both move up in weight and GSP stays at 170 then I will have to say GSP will keep his streak the longest.
 
#26 ·
I think its Silva.

He's dominated the division, there's no one left to challenge him. The only three decent fighters left in the UFC middleweight div are Marquardt, Maia, and Belfort. He's gonna KO Belfort when they eventually(FUCKIN FINALLY!)get to fight. He'd do the same to Marquardt(IMO)and if he keep Maia standing, he'll wreck him too.

On the ground Anderson is underrated, but not so much that I think he'd dominate. I think he'd be able to get back up if it went to the ground. This is only questionable against Maia who has sick ground skills...but then again Hendo had good ground too(not as good as Maia by a longshot)and we all saw how that went for him...
 
#27 ·
Gotta say GSP.
I don't think he will go to MW and if the guys at WW don't do anything against his wrestling, they stand no chance.
BJ and Silva are pretty much in the same situation, somewhat..
Silva has 3 interesting match-ups at MW:
1. Maia - I am curious what will happen if they go to the ground.
2. Sonnen - if he can avoid Silva's strikes and take him down, it's an interesting scenario also.
3. Belfort - this sounds interesting also. Silva has the reach advantage and his "matrix" on his side. But Belfort has excellent boxing also. It would be a fun fight to watch.
As for BJ, if he gets passes Edgar, the UFC will give him Maynard, a very good wrestler, would be a test for him. And after that the only fight available for him would be a rematch with Florian, who i think has improved after his loss to BJ.
 
#28 ·
Whomever ends up with the most defenses depends on too many other variables than just the fighters skill, so I'm not sure that should be used as a metric for greatness.

That said, I think we can agree that the cream has truly risen to the top of these divisions. Sure we'd all love to see the dynamic, exciting GSP that first won the belt come back, but his dominance can't be argued with. Silva has looked tentative against a great grappler, so handling Maia is a great test (especially if it hits the ground, since if he gets sloppy and leaves an arm out like he did with Lutter, Maia WILL finish it). For BJ, Edgar is yet another dangerous, well-rounded, cardio machine that has never been finished.

Bottom line, who cares when it ends, I'm enjoying watching the 3 greatest LW, WW, and MW champions in their primes kicking some serious ass!
 
#29 ·
It would be a toss up for me between Silva and Penn. Yeah, GSP completely tools his opponents as well, but I could easily see him catchin a knee during one of those takedowns, or simply coming against a better wrestler (unlikely, but possible).

Penn and Silva are simply monsters in their respective weight divisions.
 
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