Things are getting pretty mixed up, aren't they? Dana White announced that Rashad Evans will fight Forrest Griffin for the title. Is that fair? Chuck Liddell was on his way to fighting Forrest Griffin at the NYE show for the light heavyweight championship. That would've been a big money fight for the UFC. Liddell had lost two of three but an impressive showing against Wanderlei Silva was enough to get him back into contention. Now he's lost three of four, two by knockout, and it seems like grudge matches are all that are left for him. Rampage Jackson wants a rematch with Griffin badly. He was a professional when he lost to Griffin at UFC 86, but since he has complained bitterly about the decision going the wrong way. I personally scored the fight a draw but there are a good amount of people that gave Jackson three rounds of that fight. Jackson should be the number one or two contender but it looks like he'll be fighting Wandy at UFC 91 instead--if the UFC doesn't adjust their plans for Griffin's first title defense. Here are the two wrenches in those plans, though: Lyoto Machida, unbeaten, and Rashad Evans, unbeaten. Machida has five straight wins in the UFC--more than his training partner Anderson Silva had when he fought Ace Franklin for the first time. Machida has never lost and also has wins over BJ Penn, Stephan Bonnar, and the aformentioned Franklin. The Brazillian's fight with Thiago Silva has been scrapped due to Silva's back injury so now he has nothing going on for the next few months until the NYE show. He isn't a draw, though. Evans is also undefeated with two wins in a row over Mike Bisping and Liddell. He fought Tito Ortiz to a draw, which should be the distinguishing factor between him and Machida, but three of his last four wins have been by knockout. His KO's of Salmon and Liddell are both going to be highlight reel knockouts forever. I hope people don't say Rashad's knockout of Liddell was a fluke because it was the exact opposite. Everyone knows Liddell likes to take the centre of the octagon or to backpedal while cherry picking for openings and looking to land counter punches and looping hooks. Rashad forced him to engage him and Chuck lazily did so without his hands up--you think he would've learned something from his fight with Rampage. I don't think Evans is a draw either but his knockout of Liddell will be enough in the mind of most fans for him to be getting a shot at Forrest's title. Then there is Shogun, set to return late this year, undefeated Thiago Silva, probably ready to go before the end of 2008, and Wanderlei Silva. And Anderson Silva, too, he's not through with the light heavyweight division yet, either. So who is the top contender at 205 Lbs?
I heard that Dana did announce Rashad will get the 1st shot at Forrest's title, however, I think 'Page deserves a rematch. Forrest didn't convincingly beat him IMO.
with the depth and talent at 205, I think Rampage has to win one to get a rematch. timing is important and either Machida who doesn't have an opponent now or Rashad deserve the shot. Forrest is such an enigma, I can see him losing or beating either of those guys.
Rashad should get the bout with Forrest at the NYE show while hes still hot shit from his KO of Liddell. The winner of Wandy vs Rampage should be next and then Machida, Shogun, etc, etc will have to fight their way to be the 3rd in line.
I would say Rashad, then Rampage (due to it being very close). Machida, and Shogun haven't done enough lately to warrant a shot yet, and Shogun's most recent loss is to Forrest, and Rampage's loss was a close one while Shogun's wasn't. Vera, Sokoudjou, and Thiago Silva are interesting potential contenders, but need some more fights against bigger name guys.
I know this doesn't fit here, but I didn't want to start another thread. I'd like to see a Franklin/Liddell matchup, now. Liddell has fallen from contention, but swears he just got caught. More like, got lazy. He dropped his hands vs. Rampage, too. Some rumors have him wanting to call out Anderson Silva (Jim Rome talked about it) for a fight, so he can erase the Rashad defeat. Chuck should be ready to go by the NYE card, so I'd like to see a Chuck/Shogun fight. Or if Jardine doesn't get banged up in his fight @ 89, I'd like maybe a Chuck/Jardine rematch? As for contention, Shogun called out Rashad and Franklin, but I don't think he deserves either, yet. I want to see him get a W under his belt in the UFC and for him to prove that his knee can hold up before he starts calling people out. He's also been called out by Sokoudjou a couple of times--I'd like to see him man up and answer that one. Wanderlei? Eh, no. The destruction of Jardine doesn't throw him in there as a top contender, yet. I'd like to see him pick up another victory. He's supposedly got a fight with Rampage coming up @ 91, if he wins that, I think he should get a shot. If he loses, throw him against Chuck for a rematch.
Well, Chuck vs. Anderson Silva would make no sense in terms of title contention, just because Chuck doesn't deserve a title shot at this point in time. It actually could be a good fight for Silva, because it is a nice thing to have on one's resume to beat Chuck Liddell. (and I would definitely pick him to win) I'd want a Jardine vs. Sokoudjou fight (just to get Sokoudjou's name up there, and to diminish Jardine after beating Liddell and Forrest), apparently Shogun will fight Rampage soon. I think a Franklin vs. Wanderlei could be interesting. Maybe a Chuck vs. Machida. Realistically there are a lot of interesting LHW fights that could be set up.
I'd take Anderson over Chuck at this point, as well. His pin point striking and speed would be too much for Chucky. I think Sokoudjou would wreck Jardine. Jardine, when he loses, loses big time lately. The loss to Houston Alexander and Silva were just brutal KO's. Dana White recently had an interview that said that the plan was for Forrest/Jackson II to happen right away, but Jackson screwed up that with his legal issues. He also stated that Jackson is signed to fight an opponent already, so I'm guessing it's Wanderlei. This time, I'm picking Jackson to win the fight. I want to see Franklin against some of the big boys of the LHW division. Machida, Shogun, Wandy, Rampage, Chuck, etc..I want to know how he compares.
Well Shogun's wikipedia says: I agree I think most likely Sokoudjou would wreck Jardine, and that is what I want lol, and Jardine is a big enough name it would get Sokoudjou into the running, and hopefully get Jardine out of bigger name fights. Forrest/Jackson 2 would have been sick to have right away. I wanted the fight to go on that night, just because of how close it was. It didn't feel decisive enough. I'd like to see Franklin fight those guys too.
Shogun just called out Franklin and Rashad, but he won't get a shot at either, imo. He is supposed to be fighting at the NYE show, and Chuck should be good to go by then. I think that is a possible matchup that could be made. Sokoudjou wants Shogun bad, though. I want to see that matchup.
I think that you have to give Evans the go ahead in the title fight here. If they was going to give Chuck Liddell a title fight for beating Evans, then it would seem very unfair to not give an undefeated Evans the title fight with his win over Liddell. He is undefeated with wins over Liddell, Bisping, Bonnar, and on the TUF he beat Jardine. So he has beaten some very good competition during his stint. Plus it would be intriguing for the show, because you have TUF 1 winner vs TUF 2 winner for a title fight. Helps lead into making TUF that much more watched of a show. So from all angles, there is much more reason for an Evans title fight, than a Machida fight. Rampage shouldn't get another title fight just yet, he lost, I don't see how on earth people could think that was a questionable decision. In a loaded division like that, Evans is much more deserving right now than Rampage is. I think like any other fighter, Rampage should have to get back in line for his title fight after loosing.
you know if Rampage has 5-6 title defences and lost a decision, then yeah maybe first crack at getting it back. But he didn't and there's too much talent in the division.
