So Rua is out for at least a yr. . .never saw that comming. So I am wandering if they plan on haveing a interm bout. personally Id like to see Rich have a shot.
If they do a interim it will most likely be Rashad vs .............
It's kinda unclear at this time.
I'd personally love to see a rematch between Machida and Rashad, as I dont think Rashad will come into the fight with a game plan as horrible as the first time around.
Rashad vs somebody for interim belt I would say... But who? If only Silva would move on up, but we know he doesn't want Machida's belt :/ and he's preoccupied in his own division ATM
Lyoto comes to mind as well, but I would like for him to win another fight before getting close to the belt again...
Franklin might actually be a possibility, even though his last W was in the division below this one...
Whatever happens, it will be interesting to follow
Well we could have Rashad vs Rodrigo, and then Rampage vs Lyoto, but the latter will not happen since Rampage has a chubby for griffen.
Then Jones is tied up with Vladimir Matyushenku(sp?). Thiago is fighting Boetsch. Franklin is hurt. So in terms of the LHW division maybe a time of sorting out till Shogun gets back.
Well we could have Rashad vs Rodrigo, and then Rampage vs Lyoto, but the latter will not happen since Rampage has a chubby for griffen.
Then Jones is tied up with Vladimir Matyushenku(sp?). Thiago is fighting Boetsch. Franklin is hurt. So in terms of the LHW division maybe a time of sorting out till Shogun gets back.
What's the point of having an interim belt? It's just the number one contender with a fancy name. It means literally nothing to have an interim champion.
Either strip him of the belt or let him keep it. But no more interim shit.
I say let him keep it and have Rashad wait. Rua isn't even going to be out that long compared to how often the other champions fight.
I can't believe I'm seeing so many people in favor of Rich Franklin getting a title shot any time in the near future. He beats a sub-20 LHW in Chuck Liddell and now it's talk about title contention? In my opinion there are 10 LHW's in the UFC that are better qualified for a title shot than he is. Since Shogun is out for this long, and an interim belt seems to be what might happen, I think honestly the best matchup for the interim belt would be Rashad/Machida rematch.
Or better thought, if Shogun is really out for a full year, than strip him of his belt. Then, when he comes back make his first fight against what would be the LHW champ so that he can possibly regain the title.
I'd love to see Silva move up against Rashad. I think it's a really intriguing matchup. If not Jones, the winner of Rampage vs NOG (UFC 119), or Machida are your only really available viable options. Machida hasn't fought since Shogun knocked him out but it's for the interim title so it's basically a #1 contender match so I don't have a problem with it. Jones hasn't beaten 1 ranked fighter. I don't see how he's earned it. If Rampage wins, he just lost to Rashad. I think he needs to win again before getting another shot at Rashad. If NOG wins, he might be an option, but this fight takes place in late September, so the earliest the interim LHW title fight can be is December. So I think Machida is the best option.
What will probably happen? Couture beats Toney and gets a shot.
Didnt they say the Bones wouldnt be ready to get mixed up in title contention for at least a year or so? I'm sure i remember Dana saying something to that effect after he beat Vera?
True, but that was before the Rua injury. And with my fellow MMAF members pointing out ( rightfully ) that Bones wont fight Rashad due to Jackson love, the options look really thin. So much for the "stacked" LHW division.
I don't know that Jackson teammates are the same as AKA pussies. I do know Dana is truly pissed off at the AKA P's because of it though.
Is this speculation or has the Jackson team also declared they will fill the top 10 with fighter's in that weight class and then refuse to fight?
I think AKA is wrong in this. Fights are to determine ranking and eventually a Championship. They aren't two guys that dislike each other and want to kill the other.
“I am a Jackson fighter. Before I got accepted to Greg Jackson’s team he had a meeting with Rashad Evans, and he had a meeting with Keith Jardine and they decided to accept me and opened me up to the best training camp in the world, strength coaches, nutritionists… all this stuff they have that I didn’t have. So I would not fight them. That would be like fighting my brother.”
Bones did actually say this himself. I dont like it one bit. It isn't right that fighters ranked in the top 10 wont fight. I dont have an short term answer though.
Lyoto is the only option here guys! He is without a doupt the second best LHW in the World right now. So do a Rashad rematch with him for the number one contender spot, or so called interim belt. :thumbsup:
That's a horrible idea. Machida will win and then we're left with Shogun vs Machida III, which is a fight I'm not interested in seeing for at least a year and a half to 2 years. I don't even get why you'd want to see Machida fight Shogun again either, do you want to see him get knocked out again? As far as the division goes Rashad vs Little Nog or Forrest with Machida taking on Rampage works best for me. Rashad-Forrest II is a fight I'd definitely love to see, as Forrest was winning the first fight before getting sloppy on the ground I think. Far more interesting than inevitably seeing Shogun and Machida fight again, for the 3rd time in less than 2 years.
I dont believe in the interim belt to start with. Put it on hold or strip it. But thats just me. And I thought it was 10 but thats why I was looking for the source lol
There must be at least 100x more amateur and professional boxers than MMA fighters. Its very rare that we hear this kind of fight refusal in boxing, especially when talking about top 10 fighters. Reserved only for brothers and other such bonds. Maybe we're blowing this all out of proportion and really this is simply a saturation problem that will sort itself out. When there are 10x more MMA gyms, coaches and fighters I suspect it'll become easier to get the highest quality training without having to resort to training with your immediate competitors... which is not good long term for belt legitimacy.
So at the last second, Dana White said Rampage vs. Evans was to decide who would get the next shot against whoever won Machida vs. Shogun II. Evans won, so that should put him in the "interim belt" fight.
Who to put up against him? Well, Anderson Silva has wanted to fight at 205 for a while, taking a couple of fights and winning them with ease. Why not him? "The Spider" vs. "Suga."
Schedule the fight for November or December. Shogun is supposed to be back around March. So if Silva beats Evans, let them fight to unify the belt when Shogun gets back. That way, if Silva beats Shogun, he can be the guy who holds both the MW and LHW belt at the same time.
In the meantime, Machida can fight the catch weight fights he wants, or can work his way back into title contention. If Machida gets back to being the #1 contender and Silva refuses to fight him, take the LHW belt from him and let Machida fight the #2 contender.
I'd love it if A.Silva fought Rashad for an interim belt, The thought of Evans vs. Machida II is appealing but if Machida wins, that means the last 3 of Shoguns fights are Machida, give the guy a break!
I also think Bones vs. Evans would be awesome, he will be in title contention this time next year, no doubt.
Anderson Silva vs Rashad Evans - for the interim title if Anderson wins we get a title unification match next year if Evans wins he fights Rua.
Forrest Griffin vs Rampage Jackson - makes sense, Griffin has a claim to the title after beating both Jackson and Rua which is a much better claim Rua had when he got his shot at Machida. The winner fights Rua when he comes back.
Lyoto Machida vs Jon Bones Jones - both guys are out of title contention with a win it puts them back in and gives them a "number 1" contender slot.
Frank Mir vs Rich Franklin - Mir wants to move down, or he doesn't or he does when he comes to his senses he should fight Rich Franklin the winner will fight the winner of Machida/Jones for the number 1 contender.
Little Nog vs Randy Couture - Winner gets either Evans if he loses to Silva or the loser of Jackson/Griffin.
Ryan Bader vs Thiago Silva - Winner takes on the loser of Machida/Jones
Cyrille Diabate vs Matt Hamill - Winner takes on Rich Franklin if he loses to Mir or the loser of Nog/Couture
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