So, here is the debate: is it better to have champions who are untouchable or have evenly matched weight classes where the belt can change hands twice a year? Is it better to have dynasties or competition?
I love it when a guy is amazingly dominant (for example, Roger Federer when he was in his prime winning everything in tennis, like AS and GSP now) and just kills everyone in spectacular fashion. But I also love it when there are a lot of great, close fights and a lot of parity. I think we're going to see a lot more guys dropping weight classes soon because of how dominant these guys have been. It's been fun to watch, a lot of people said GSP's fight with Alves was boring, but I loved it because of how he literally dominated every second and Alves couldn't do anything.
I can make an argument for both cases but for me I prefer dynasties, it makes the inevitable upset of a great champion that much more dramatic. I guess for me, that one time high is preferred to seeing less shocking victories more often. Like when Matt Hughes got KTFO by GSP after his long reign, was exciting. GSP getting KTFO by Matt Serra was very shocking. Those kinds of rocky like victories are more fun.
So the situation is changed a little bit. Lyoto Machida is still champion but some holes in his game have been exposed by Shogun, who gets a second chance in May. Brock Lesnar is still champion but might not be the same person if or when he returns to the UFC due to serious medical problems. Penn, GSP, and Silva still look absolutely untouchable in their respective weight classes.
Consecutive title defenses: Penn: 3 (Sherk, Florian, Sanchez) St. Pierre: 3 (Fitch, Penn, Alves) Silva: 5 (Marquardt, Franklin, Henderson, Cote, Leites) Machida: 1 (Rua) Lesnar: 1 (Mir)
Maybe it's cause Silva is so good but his opponents aren't nearly as impressive as Penn's or GSP's. That is, when you compare them to what they've done in their weight class prior to fighting the champ. Marquardt, at that time, wasn't nearly as impressive as he is now. Franklin and Hendo are quality opponents. Cote and Leities can't even come close to touching Silva.
apparantly GSP has added about 10lbs of muscle and is walking around at 195-196, he says if he can get to around 200+lbs he may have to move up a weight class. he's been sparing with mostly middle weights, light heavy weights and some heavy weights and he says he does well. meanwhile BJ is prepping himself to fight at 170lbs and by the time he does move up, GSP may be gone... we could see 2 dominant champions move up a weight class around the same time!
GSP>SILVA!!!!!! Honestly it would cool to see all 3 of those guys move up and dominate. silva @205, gsp@185, bj@170.
GSP would have Silva on his back so fast he wouldn't know what hit him.. and good luck getting back up when GSP has you on your ass. but yeah Silva moving up to 205 as well??? that'd be awesome to see. of course Machida would have to lose the belt and a rematch for the belt before he'd agree to that.
I think Silva would beat GSP at 185. He'll dominate the standup and Im sure they'll prepare him for the takedowns. Silva is downright scary...
I'd prefer competition, but then again, I thought that Machida was unbeatable and for all intents and purposes Rua beat him last match. So who's to say that the current champs are unbeatable?
The problem GSP would have moving up to fight Silva is the same problem BJ has moving up to fight GSP, weight differential. These guys weigh the same during official weigh-ins, but the actual fight weight is completely different. In the last fight with BJ vs. GSP, GSP outweighed him by 20lbs. That's a lot to overcome. Silva walks around naturally at 215, he'd have a significant weight advantage over GSP.
BJ will fight anybody!!! BJ PENN vs. Machida. BJ lost by close decision. 155 vs. 205? haha.... balls to the wall! BJ fought him too.. Didnt' beat around the bush... I dont know about BJ's entrance music....... LOL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsax3njvkHU
yeah but that was years ago, the sport has evolved by leaps and bounds as has the training. The older fighters who were dominant because of their natural talent can't get by on that any more, the gap between the very best and the rest is narrowing more and more IMO, even with the current dominant champs there are more and more ppl getting into participating in the sport. BJ cannot move up in weight and dominante like he once could, he'll beat the mediocre to good fighters, but he'll struggle and lose to the top shelf guys at 170 lbs. IMO. Just like GSP will not be as dominant at 185, but the difference is he's building his body up to be a big 185er and not making a quick jump up by not dropping weight. IF BJ were to train and commit to weighing 185 lbs through training and diet and then make the cut to 170 lbs and forget about going back to LW, then yeah he'd be right there with GSP. If he just half asses it, he'll get beat by the Thiago Alves etc at 170 lbs.
