Now that Chael rematch is done, it is time for the UFC to take charge of this division.
Anderson needs to relinquish the title so that the division can move on. He has already proven that no one can touch him there. No one will ever forget it.
But now he needs to leave the belt & division behind and wind down his career with superfight after superfight.
That is the only thing that will keep him motivated and will cement him in a class never to be reached again.
Jones, GSP, Rashad, Henderson (at 205 if Dan beats Jones)to just name a few that would keep him busy for a year or two...
But Middleweight should be over. If he just keeps beating the MDWTS they throw at him with no real appeal or interest, then it will be a totally insignificant division that no one will care to watch.
I know I would care to continue watching Anderson rack up highlight reel finishes. That being said there are plenty of interesting fights at MW for Anderson.
Bisping- Interesting in the fact that everyone wants to see Mike shut up in a brutal fashion.
Rashad- See the Bisping theory.
Lombard- Has the strength and ability to cause Anderson problems.
Belcher- Well-rounded, would be an interesting fight.
Look dude.. I want there to be real challenges for him at MDWT but there just isn't.
I love Belchar and think he's awesome...But i don't see him doing shit to Silva..
Bisping would literally be a circus...not worth the money to market it.
Rashad I think could beat him actually...
Lombard is going to get destroyed...he's been fighting JV and Silva is the most elite fighter ever in the most elite organization..
I am done watching Anderson in this division.. I would kill to watch him against other greats from other weight classes
Oh I hear you for sure. Obviously there are a litany of dynamite fights at LHW. Bones, Shogun, (dont think either would agree to it but it could possibly be the best fight of all time)Rampage, Hendo rematch, maybe Gustaffson and Thiago Silva. I just dont think that its going to happen. There are enough "contenders" regardless of whether or not they have a legitimate chance of beating him.
op could be onto something. i have thought about the question of has anderson become bigger than the mw belt? or any belt really. kind of like boxing where the belts hardly matter at all. at this point maybe anderson could give up the belt and just take 1 or 2 fights a year at mw or lhw maybe even ww. i guess it really depends on how much anderson himself cares about the belt.
giving up the belt would free him up for a whole lot of options. maybe even fighting in other orgs round the world not being tied down to the legalities of being a ufc champ
Why would he move up? Look at what has happen to fedor, everyone was talking about how he was the GOAT. He loses a couple fights and instantly everyone said he was washed up, over rated and no good. Say Silva does move up and loses. The same thing would happen to him
Bumpy Johnson - op could be onto something. i have thought about the question of has anderson become bigger than the mw belt? or any belt really. kind of like boxing where the belts hardly matter at all. at this point maybe anderson could give up the belt and just take 1 or 2 fights a year at mw or lhw maybe even ww. i guess it really depends on how much anderson himself cares about the belt.
giving up the belt would free him up for a whole lot of options. maybe even fighting in other orgs round the world not being tied down to the legalities of being a ufc champ
That simply just makes no sense, you ask every fighter why they do this n they all say the same answer...to be the champ. Why would someone give up there championship belt just for shits n giggles. First no other org is ganna throw money at him like the UFC. Second no other org has enough good competitors to face him like the UFC. An third boxing belts dont mean shit cuz there are so many of them, as to the UFC there arent. When you hold that belt, that means at 185 pounds your the best fighter in the world at that weight
people say those things because since 05 fedor has only fought 1 or 2 meaninful fights. anderson doesnt fall into that category accept the haters everybody knows this
http://www.fightline.com/fl/news/2012/0710/549304/rashad-evans/
Rashad Evans Has 'No Plans To Drop To 185,' Says His Manager
Bumpy Johnson - people say those things because since 05 fedor has only fought 1 or 2 meaninful fights. anderson doesnt fall into that category accept the haters everybody knows this
Yes just like everyone also knows no champion in there right mind is ganna give up the belt for nothing, let alone walk away from the ufc for nothing