UFC Title pictures: Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight
The FightStalker.com UFC Rankings only go so far to determine who the number one contender in each division truly is; match ups are the key. In order for someone to prove they’re the number one contender, they have to earn it. So it below is an in depth look at the future dominoes that could far in the UFC future. Remember, this isn’t a divisional breakdown. This is a look at the CURRENT title picture.
Heavyweight Division
Champion: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Interim); Randy Couture
Top Contenders: Brandon Vera, Fabricio Werdum, Heath Herring, Cheick Kongo
Dark horse: Andrei Arlovski
The division was dealt a (yet another) major blow with the announcement of Tim Sylvia’s exit. While the former champion isn’t the most popular, a rematch with Nogueira brought an intrigue that is has been lacking in the Randy Couture-less division.
Its looking more and more like the rumored fight between Fabricio Werdum and Brandon Vera at UFC 85 in London (June 7) will become a number one contender match up. While neither makes for a very exciting option to face the champion, it’s about all the division can muster at this point. The biggest downside of all is that the title wouldn’t be defended until August or September at the earliest.
One outside possibility lies in the return of Andrei Arlovski. It has been rumored that Zuffa is interested in bring the former champion back, and a guaranteed title shot would be a good incentive. As an added bonus, an Arlovski return could capitalize on all the bad press the UFC received for placing the former champion on the undercard of UFC 82. This isn’t likely, but it is possible.
Those with dreams of Randy Couture’s return or a Fedor signing shouldn’t hold there breath. For one, Couture’s return is growing more and more unlikely, and Fedor’s signing is heading down the same path. Not only that, but even if Fedor were to sign, it’s not a sure bet he would be given a title shot in his debut; Pride fighters have had a notoriously bad reputation of struggling in their first UFC fight. To make matters worse, Couture has been quoted as saying he wouldn’t return even if Zuffa were able to sign the Russian.
Light Heavyweight
Champion: Quinton “Rampage” Jackson
Top Contenders: Forrest Griffin, Keith Jardine, Chuck Liddell, Rashad Evans
Dark Horse: Lyota Machida
The start of the Ultimate Fighter means more than a new wave of middleweight contenders, it signifies the beginning-of-the-end for Forrest Griffin-Rampage Jackson saga. The light heavyweight title hasn’t been defended since September of 2007. Since then, the division has become muddled with contenders and pretenders alike.
Forrest aside, the rest of the division will start working itself out with match ups of Liddell-Evans and Jardine-Silva. Depending on who holds the title and how impressive the winners of the aforementioned match ups are will determine who gets a shot at the title. For instance, a Liddell-Jackson rematch would be more intriguing further down the road, but a Liddell-Griffin could happen before the end of the year if the former Ultimate Fighter champ can seize the title.
An outside chance for an opportunity resides in Lyota Machida. He simply refuses to lose. A victory over Tito would give the Brazilian a big push, but most likely wouldn’t put him in the title hemisphere just yet. It would take lackluster victories in both contenders fights and/or an injury to see Machida in a title situation before the end of the year. For Machida, 2009 might just me the year for the Brazilian.
NEXT WEEK: Middleweight, Welterweight and Lightweight Divisions
April 9, 2008 at 10:06 pm
[...] UFC Title Pictures: Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight [...]
April 10, 2008 at 12:16 am
Pretty good article, but I’d like to see what Frank Mir does in his next fight or two. I think he’s back.
April 11, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Very true. Mir has a shot if he can reel off a couple big wins. Problem with Mir is, he’s probably won’t get the opportunity to fight those big opponents soon enough to get his a title shot in the near future. Still, with the way the division is set up, it’s anybody’s game. According to MMAweekly’s rumor’s section, he’s unofficially scheduled to fight Justin McCully. McCully’s tough, but not an upper tier fighter.