Petrosyan188
17-04-2010, 21:55
This is an unexpected update, to say the least.
After all, UFC 112 (http://www.sherdog.com/events/UFC-112-Invincible-12184) was supposed to be fairly status quo, marked by two straightforward and easy title defenses for pound-for-pound stars Anderson Silva (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Anderson-Silva-1356) and B.J. Penn (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/B.J.-Penn-1307). In actuality, “The Spider” turned in a positively surreal performance, which sparked enormous debate over his psyche, desire to compete and status as the sport’s top fighter. As for Penn, a more-competitive-than-expected bout with Frankie Edgar (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Frankie-Edgar-14204) went from pleasantly surprising to all-out shocking when “The Prodigy” lost a unanimous decision on the scorecards.
Penn’s fall makes the lightweight division vastly more intriguing in the immediate future. For the first time in quite a while, there arises a legitimate debate as to who can call himself the true king of a particular weight class. Better still, three of these pound-for-pound entrants are in action in the next two weeks, including Dream lightweight champion Shinya Aoki (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Shinya-Aoki-10774), who meets Gilbert Melendez (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Gilbert-Melendez-5545) for the Strikeforce crown on April 17. Will we get lightweight clarity in Nashville, Tenn.?
1. Anderson Silva (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Anderson-Silva-1356) (26-4)
Silva’s victory over Demian Maia (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Demian-Maia-14637) at UFC 112 made some laugh. It made others foam at the mouth. It was yet another uninspiring performance from “The Spider,” though admittedly more bizarre than his five-round affair with Thales Leites (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Thales-Leites-8593) in April 2009. However, it was nonetheless a lopsided victory over another standout middleweight that reinforced the gulf between Silva and his foes at 185 pounds. The next move for Silva remains uncertain. Options range from intended UFC 112 challenger Vitor Belfort (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Vitor-Belfort-156) and the suddenly compelling Chael Sonnen (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Chael-Sonnen-4112) to 170-pound king Georges St. Pierre (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Georges-St.-Pierre-3500) and another 205-pound super fight. Fans can rest easy knowing the next step for the pound-for-pound king will include an elite opponent.
2. Georges St. Pierre (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Georges-St.-Pierre-3500) (20-2)
It is the kind of nitpicking that can only result when a fighter is as dominant as St. Pierre. After another complete performance at UFC 111, with his UFC welterweight title up for grabs, one would anticipate that GSP’s crushing of Dan Hardy (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Dan-Hardy-10629) would have impressed onlookers. Instead, in spite of particularly vicious armbar and kimura attempts that contorted the arm of “The Outlaw,” the MMA’s welterweight king has been disparaged as a safety-first top position wrestler, content to do just enough to win fights. Critiques aside, the constant stream of elite challengers will not stop for St. Pierre, whether they come from the ever-deep 170-pound division or courtesy of a move to 185 pounds.
3. Fedor Emelianenko (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Fedor-Emelianenko-1500) (31-1, 1 NC)
Emelianenko was supposed to embark on his next conquest for Strikeforce in April, this after he wiped out Brett Rogers (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Brett-Rogers-16048) in thrilling fashion in the promotion’s November CBS debut. However, a contract impasse between Strikeforce and M-1, Emelianenko’s representation, put the breaks on his appearance, which now looks more likely for June or July. In some ways, the delay may be a blessing in disguise. It will not buy Strikeforce a world of time, but if Emelianenko had fought and knocked off Fabricio Werdum (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Fabricio-Werdum-8390), as anticipated, it would have left the Russian with one last obvious foil -- Alistair Overeem (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Alistair-Overeem-461) -- as we entered the summer. Now, the obvious end of Strikeforce’s short heavyweight gallery is further off.
4. Lyoto Machida (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Lyoto-Machida-7513) (16-0)
After ripping through Thiago Silva (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Thiago-Silva-14396) and Rashad Evans (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Rashad-Evans-10200) in consecutive bouts in 2009, Machida had already ignited complaints about the inability of other light heavyweights to challenge him before he had even defended the UFC title. His October bout with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Mauricio-Rua-5707) vividly showed once again the folly of proclaiming any MMA fighter unbeatable, as Machida’s unanimous decision victory became the most debated and unpopular decision of the year. With the Rua rematch slated for May 8 at UFC 113 and a growing number of highly gifted 205-pound prospects in MMA, Machida’s road to dominating the light heavyweight division has quickly become a much taller task than previously anticipated.
sherdog
After all, UFC 112 (http://www.sherdog.com/events/UFC-112-Invincible-12184) was supposed to be fairly status quo, marked by two straightforward and easy title defenses for pound-for-pound stars Anderson Silva (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Anderson-Silva-1356) and B.J. Penn (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/B.J.-Penn-1307). In actuality, “The Spider” turned in a positively surreal performance, which sparked enormous debate over his psyche, desire to compete and status as the sport’s top fighter. As for Penn, a more-competitive-than-expected bout with Frankie Edgar (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Frankie-Edgar-14204) went from pleasantly surprising to all-out shocking when “The Prodigy” lost a unanimous decision on the scorecards.
Penn’s fall makes the lightweight division vastly more intriguing in the immediate future. For the first time in quite a while, there arises a legitimate debate as to who can call himself the true king of a particular weight class. Better still, three of these pound-for-pound entrants are in action in the next two weeks, including Dream lightweight champion Shinya Aoki (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Shinya-Aoki-10774), who meets Gilbert Melendez (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Gilbert-Melendez-5545) for the Strikeforce crown on April 17. Will we get lightweight clarity in Nashville, Tenn.?
1. Anderson Silva (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Anderson-Silva-1356) (26-4)
Silva’s victory over Demian Maia (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Demian-Maia-14637) at UFC 112 made some laugh. It made others foam at the mouth. It was yet another uninspiring performance from “The Spider,” though admittedly more bizarre than his five-round affair with Thales Leites (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Thales-Leites-8593) in April 2009. However, it was nonetheless a lopsided victory over another standout middleweight that reinforced the gulf between Silva and his foes at 185 pounds. The next move for Silva remains uncertain. Options range from intended UFC 112 challenger Vitor Belfort (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Vitor-Belfort-156) and the suddenly compelling Chael Sonnen (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Chael-Sonnen-4112) to 170-pound king Georges St. Pierre (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Georges-St.-Pierre-3500) and another 205-pound super fight. Fans can rest easy knowing the next step for the pound-for-pound king will include an elite opponent.
2. Georges St. Pierre (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Georges-St.-Pierre-3500) (20-2)
It is the kind of nitpicking that can only result when a fighter is as dominant as St. Pierre. After another complete performance at UFC 111, with his UFC welterweight title up for grabs, one would anticipate that GSP’s crushing of Dan Hardy (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Dan-Hardy-10629) would have impressed onlookers. Instead, in spite of particularly vicious armbar and kimura attempts that contorted the arm of “The Outlaw,” the MMA’s welterweight king has been disparaged as a safety-first top position wrestler, content to do just enough to win fights. Critiques aside, the constant stream of elite challengers will not stop for St. Pierre, whether they come from the ever-deep 170-pound division or courtesy of a move to 185 pounds.
3. Fedor Emelianenko (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Fedor-Emelianenko-1500) (31-1, 1 NC)
Emelianenko was supposed to embark on his next conquest for Strikeforce in April, this after he wiped out Brett Rogers (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Brett-Rogers-16048) in thrilling fashion in the promotion’s November CBS debut. However, a contract impasse between Strikeforce and M-1, Emelianenko’s representation, put the breaks on his appearance, which now looks more likely for June or July. In some ways, the delay may be a blessing in disguise. It will not buy Strikeforce a world of time, but if Emelianenko had fought and knocked off Fabricio Werdum (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Fabricio-Werdum-8390), as anticipated, it would have left the Russian with one last obvious foil -- Alistair Overeem (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Alistair-Overeem-461) -- as we entered the summer. Now, the obvious end of Strikeforce’s short heavyweight gallery is further off.
4. Lyoto Machida (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Lyoto-Machida-7513) (16-0)
After ripping through Thiago Silva (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Thiago-Silva-14396) and Rashad Evans (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Rashad-Evans-10200) in consecutive bouts in 2009, Machida had already ignited complaints about the inability of other light heavyweights to challenge him before he had even defended the UFC title. His October bout with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Mauricio-Rua-5707) vividly showed once again the folly of proclaiming any MMA fighter unbeatable, as Machida’s unanimous decision victory became the most debated and unpopular decision of the year. With the Rua rematch slated for May 8 at UFC 113 and a growing number of highly gifted 205-pound prospects in MMA, Machida’s road to dominating the light heavyweight division has quickly become a much taller task than previously anticipated.
sherdog