This isn't a post to say the division sucks, but before tonight it was
pretty much accepted that GSP, Hughes and Sanchez were at the top of
the hill with everybody else a distant second. What are the rankings
now and who is in line for title shots?
kos!
What tonight did was really open the door for guys like Karo and
Fitch....Koscheck too.
So does GSP get a rematch, or does hughes get the next title shot? Who
do either of those guys fight next if not for the belt?
I say Kos gets first crack at Serra.
i got one word for you
TOURNEMENT!!!!!!!
how about gsp vs fitch
1. Serra
2. GSP
3. Hughes
4. Karo
5. Koschek
6. Diego
7. Fitch
8. ?
9. ?
I can't think of anybody in the top ten that won't beat Serra.
Serra
GSP
Koscheck
Diego
Hughes
Fitch
Karo
?
9
I think Kos vs Hughes for the #1 contender. Let's start putting the TUF studs against the top guys.
Serra is the true, indisputable champ at 170, having just decisively beaten the previous true, indisputable champ at 170.
But paradoxically, I can't rank him #1, at least not yet.
This was Serra's very first win over a top ten opponent. That can't automatically make a guy leapfrog all the way to #1.
So paradoxically, while there is definitely a true champion at 170, there is no true #1.
1) Serra [this will be a short lived #1, but he's earned it]
2) Hughes [will be the one to knock Serra off the throne]
3) St. Pierre [give him a fight and he'll be ready to rule once again]
4) Kos [momentum from Diego fight, could beat Hughes]
5) Fitch [I've been on his bandwagon for a long time, his skills match up
well with the entire 170 lb. division]
6) Diego [poor striking exposed tonight, Fitch could outstrike him, too]
7) Karo [let's not forget]
8) Burkman [good skills, but big dropoff from the above fighters]
I don't know if you will agree with me or not everyone, but I think that GSP will be OK even in losing. He is young, explosive, and the UFC wants to promote him I am sure as he is a great spokesman for the sport.
I still think that he will come back better and when he regains the title, he will learn from this.
Diego was the biggest loser tonight, imo. He was on the cusp of
fighting for the belt , but his loss coupled with Serra's win knocked him
back at least a few slots.
PENN IS # 1
I'd say Hughes gets first crack at Serra and GSP fights Kos. The UFC would love to see Hughes/GSP win those bouts and have their rubber match for the title.
I don't see Kos getting the first crack at Serra because that match won't sell as much as the other combination.
I would personally like to see GSP get an immediate rematch and have Hughes/Koscheck for the next title shot after that.
Just like the 155 division was a mess after Gomi lost again.
hughes/serra seems like a no brainer at this point. they can really play up
the "bad blood" angle from tuf. the question is who gsp should fight in
the meantime. a third fight with hughes (the most likely scenario) or a
rematch with serra would both be marketable. i'd like to see gsp/
kosheck. the winner would clearly deserve a title shot. diego/fitch would
be a good fight to make as well. this division is stacked and it'll be hard
for one guy to dominate. the days of 4 and 5 successful title defenses are
over, especially in the 155 and 170 lb divisions.