Could Santos' failed test save the division?

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                                Could Santos' failed test save the division?

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"The 145-pound weight class, I don't think it's time to throw that out to the garbage," Coker said. "I feel we still have some great fighters at 145, and a lot of girls who maybe haven't been around for a while are going to be motivated to come back because 'Cyborg' isn't going to be there.

"I heard that [White] had said something to the fact of, 'Well, with her out, what's the division?' But there are girls out there ... we can bring in to fight at 145. If that's not the case, I'm sure we'll evaluate it and make a business decision. But I don't think that determination has been made."

One possibility? Gina Carano, whose fighting career has been put on hold due to her upcoming big-screen debut and starring role in the Steven Soderbergh-directed "Haywire," which hits theaters on Jan. 20. Carano twice has been rumored to be coming back from a two-years-plus layoff, but the plans never materialized.

"I think Gina Carano is definitely someone who would like to fight again at some point," Coker said.


Additionally, though she's slotted to drop a weight class and fight champ Miesha Tate for her bantamweight title at a March 3 Strikeforce event, Olympian and undefeated top prospect Ronda Rousey could return to the featherweight division.


"Ronda, her original plan was to fight Miesha ... take a couple fights, and come back up and fight at 145 because I think she's a little more comfortable at 145," Coker said. "So to say there won't be any 145-pound weight class, I think that's premature."



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well, however it turns out... it's TERRIBLE for the sport right now

(and especially the fledgling womens divisions).

Bailx - well, however it turns out... it's TERRIBLE for the sport right now

(and especially the fledgling womens divisions).

I think so. Cyborg chased everyone out of the 145lb. division, with her out it opens up for the competition again.

So let's keep a dead 145 division around for the possibility that Gina may grace us with her presence once again? No thanks. Kill the division off for now and build up 135. Once 135 is deep, you can add 145. From her interview with AH, it seems that Gina's future in MMA depends solely on her financial security; it's her backup plan.

145 is not deep enough to warrant its own division.

Cyborg should be paid to sit out for awhile, she's that far ahead of everyone else and she deserves it.

stonepony - Gina is in such a power position right now (like Fedor was back when Zuffa was waving the huge contract). She's got all the exposure, especially with the movie. She can offer to come back, if the money is right. She'll end up with the title, and they'll be promoting the hell out of her, and that will get her in to another big movie.


I think Gina still has fights left on her EXISTING contract.

FoxNewb11 - I think so. Cyborg chased everyone out of the 145lb. division, with her out it opens up for the competition again.

Isnt that weird? The division becoming stronger/bigger because the strongest and biggest left? Makes it pretty weak imo Phone Post

DMCN - 
FoxNewb11 - I think so. Cyborg chased everyone out of the 145lb. division, with her out it opens up for the competition again.
Isnt that weird? The division becoming stronger/bigger because the strongest and biggest left? Makes it pretty weak imo <img src="/images/phone/apple.png" alt="Phone Post" border="0" style="vertical-align:middle;"/>


It's only weird if you ignore the reason she was the biggest and the strongest.

For me, it really doesn't help the division at all.  Cyborg was pretty much the only interesting thing about women's MMA. 

thefaint - 
DMCN - 
FoxNewb11 - I think so. Cyborg chased everyone out of the 145lb. division, with her out it opens up for the competition again.
Isnt that weird? The division becoming stronger/bigger because the strongest and biggest left? Makes it pretty weak imo <img src="/images/phone/apple.png" alt="Phone Post" border="0" style="vertical-align:middle;"/>




It's only weird if you ignore the reason she was the biggest and the strongest.


 Yeah, because she got caught doing what the others are probably doing too.

stonepony - ]Didn't know that. She still has all the leverage. Don't expect her to return unless they sweeten the deal.


I agree with you.

DMCN - 
FoxNewb11 - I think so. Cyborg chased everyone out of the 145lb. division, with her out it opens up for the competition again.
Isnt that weird? The division becoming stronger/bigger because the strongest and biggest left? Makes it pretty weak imo <img src="/images/phone/apple.png" alt="Phone Post" border="0" style="vertical-align:middle;"/>

What makes a strong division? One dominant fighter or several on a more equal footing? I say the latter.

stonepony - 
UGCTT_Zaph - 
thefaint - 
DMCN - 
FoxNewb11 - I think so. Cyborg chased everyone out of the 145lb. division, with her out it opens up for the competition again.
Isnt that weird? The division becoming stronger/bigger because the strongest and biggest left? Makes it pretty weak imo <img src="/images/phone/apple.png" alt="Phone Post" border="0" style="vertical-align:middle;"/>




It's only weird if you ignore the reason she was the biggest and the strongest.


 Yeah, because she got caught doing what the others are probably doing too.

When was the last time you got your eyes checked buddy? I don't doubt plenty of WMMA fighters are doing something to cut weight when they need to, because it's much more difficult for female fighters, but you have to be blind as hell to think they're eating the kind of horse-meat that Mr.Santos has been eating.



 If steroid users could be identified with eyes, there would be no need for tests.   Steroids don't automatically make people look like Cris Cyborg.

FoxNewb11 - I think so. Cyborg chased everyone out of the 145lb. division, with her out it opens up for the competition again.


 It was always open and still is.  There are swimming records set by East German swimmers roided to their kiesters in the Cold War that still stand and no clean athlete will ever beat them.  There's Jarmila Kratochvilova's 800m record - ditto.  Women still swim and run at the Olympics; if you have a talent you want to showcase it.  You don't let cheaters chase you away.

stonepony - 
White347LX - Cyborg should be paid to sit out for awhile, she's that far ahead of everyone else and she deserves it.
You obviously haven't been paying attention the last couple days.



She got popped for roids, right? Testing hot once out of how many times isn't the end of the road for her. If she tests clean from now on then I have no problem with her paying the price and moving on after this.

Diesel67 - 
FoxNewb11 - I think so. Cyborg chased everyone out of the 145lb. division, with her out it opens up for the competition again.

 It was always open and still is.  There are swimming records set by East German swimmers roided to their kiesters in the Cold War that still stand and no clean athlete will ever beat them.  There's Jarmila Kratochvilova's 800m record - ditto.  Women still swim and run at the Olympics; if you have a talent you want to showcase it.  You don't let cheaters chase you away.

Competition between individuals is different than competing against a tape measure or a clock, but I'd guess (since I don't follow swimming/track) that once they cleared out the East Germans the events became more competitive and thereby more compelling to watch.

FoxNewb11 - 
DMCN - 
FoxNewb11 - I think so. Cyborg chased everyone out of the 145lb. division, with her out it opens up for the competition again.
Isnt that weird? The division becoming stronger/bigger because the strongest and biggest left? Makes it pretty weak imo <img src="/images/phone/apple.png" alt="Phone Post" border="0" style="vertical-align:middle;"/>


What makes a strong division? One dominant fighter or several on a more equal footing? I say the latter.

When Mike Tyson was steamrolling everyone he was the biggest draw in sports. Floyd Mayweather is currently the biggest draw, and is 42-0. More than a million people paid to see him against Victor Ortiz, a fighter no one thought had a chance.

sevenwithcheese - 
FoxNewb11 - 
DMCN - 
FoxNewb11 - I think so. Cyborg chased everyone out of the 145lb. division, with her out it opens up for the competition again.
Isnt that weird? The division becoming stronger/bigger because the strongest and biggest left? Makes it pretty weak imo <img src="/images/phone/apple.png" alt="Phone Post" border="0" style="vertical-align:middle;"/>

What makes a strong division? One dominant fighter or several on a more equal footing? I say the latter.
When Mike Tyson was steamrolling everyone he was the biggest draw in sports. Floyd Mayweather is currently the biggest draw, and is 42-0. More than a million people paid to see him against Victor Ortiz, a fighter no one thought had a chance.

Wasn't it more interesting say, when you had Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman and Ken Norton around at the same time?

 Dainty little females shouldn't compete in combat sports.  Girls who always defied society's imposed gender roles should - IF they're not cheating.