Fight Write

Yesterday, a friend and I were discussing the state of the UFC, particularly GSP.  Both he and I have a great deal of respect and admiration for the current UFC welterweight champ, not only for his talents inside the Octagon, but also because of the respect and professionalism he’s brought to the sport.   “You know what? I kind of want Dan Hardy to win,” he said. Cheer for whichever fighter you want to, I don’t care, but I was surprised, given our mutual admiration for the champion, by his response.  ”It’s not because I don’t like GSP, I just would like to see the upset.  I want to see him move up a weight class and he can’t do that without relinquishing the belt.”  While I’m of the opinion that completely clearing out the division is the way to do it, we both agreed seeing GSP move up a weight class could create some great fights at both welterweight & middleweight.

Now, anyone who’s ever watched any sport knows that an upset can happen on any given day or night, so I am not implying that BJ Penn, GSP, and Anderson Silva are invincible, unbeatable champs in their three respective divisions (here’s looking at you, Matt Serra).  However, they have been incredibly dominant and do not look to be slowing down any time soon.  With the recent reports of GSP putting on some weight for a possible jump and Anderson Silva proving he can hang at 205, fight fans should get excited about the match-up possibilities:

1. St.-Pierre vs. Anderson Silva at MW - One of the biggest fights in UFC history between arguably the two best PFP fighters in the world
2. St.-Pierre vs. Henderson (providing Hendo returns to the UFC) - the best aspiring Olympic wrestler vs. the former Olympic wrestler
3. St. Pierre vs. Marquardt - MMA aficionadi can berate me for being a “nOOb” for all I care, but it’s a fight I think would be fun
4. Silva vs. Couture - The Future Legend vs. The Living (and currently fighting)Legend
5. Silva vs. Rua - After Rua’s performance against Silva’s boy Machida, the potential for this fight got bigger
6. Silva vs. Lil Nog - I threw this one in because, pending his performance against Luis Cane, Lil Nog’s jiu jitsu may be a good ground-game foil to Silva (not saying Silva is a slouch on the mat)

Aside from those fights that’d directly involve GSP or Silva, it’d also create more room and match ups for title contenders within the divisions they’d be leaving.  Referring to my previous post about the injuries and departures of several high profile fighters, this reshuffling of GSP & Silva into new weight classes could create newer stars and more high-profile fights for the future.