The future of the UFC MW division?

Okay so this division was looking piss poor about a year ago but now several challengers have emerged, fighters have come back/debuted and new fighters are estalishing themselves. The champion A Silva has put in a series of destructive performances that has made him the number one MW world and a top 5 P4P fighter (lets not go into this again) and apart from 2 or 3 rounds has looked unstoppable in the UFC. Right now there are three likely challengers in Nate, Hendo and Belfort. Since the first two are rematches, the fight Dana is pushing is the Belfort-Silva fight. The problem the UFC might have is how Silva has 3 fights left on his contract (after that we assume he goes to boxing and fights RJJ) and so it is a possiblity that he retires as the UFC MW champion, especially since he is only likely to fight twice at MW (Belfort and the winner of Nate/Hendo) and possibly once at a higher weight (Couture, Mir, Lesner, Shogun, Wandy Machida???) The fight people are ruiling out for the time being is the GSP-Silva fight. GSP doesn't seem interested at the momment but after a few more wins I think he will come around since he cleaned out WW. Only problem he has at MW is that his training partner, Nate is also going for the title.

So if Silva retires what happens? Do they create an interim title in hope that Silva returns? Do they have a major MW tourtument to determine the new champion? If so who is in it, I can think of a few obvious fighters but who else?

Belfort
Hendo
Nate
Reljic
Cote
Okami
Sexyama
Sonnen/Maia/Bisping (you know the UFC will want him here)

No Silva has only 3 fights or whatever and I guess one will be a defence, I think its a real tough decision who to give it to. For me I think Belfort is the man to beat him, but I think Hendo will worm his way to a shot because of the situation with his contract and his age.

I think Nate vs Belfort for the number 1 contender. Two of my favorite and two of the most exciting fighers at Mw. I think Belfort takes it... I think Silva could retire on a fight for title against the winner of this.

As far as the lower ranked contenders go Reljic is making his return soon enough so we will see how he goes. I think he has a bright future but is a good few fights away from a title. Id like to see him vs Belcher if Belcher wins his next one.

Wandy is going to be a contender. Id like to see him fight Okami because that would clear up wether Okami diserves to be in with top guys. If Wandy wins against Okami or another top Mw I think it puts him in for a rubbermatch with Hendo..

It has become a really exciting devision but I think once Anderson hangs em up or once Belfort beats him we could see another dominant Mw champ.

http://www.411mania.com/MMA/news/116865/[VIDEO]-Dan-Henderson-Talks-About-Fighting-Outside-Of-The-UFC.htm

Thats Hendo and he seems to understand he won't get the shot and Belfort is most likely. Nate vs Hendo then and I think (hope) that Nate will take this. So thats an eliminater fight. Sonnen vs Okami is happening as well, I really hopes Sonnen dry-humps Okami to submission because I don't like Okami at all. Thats a lower level elimanter fight. Then there is Bisping-Kang but I doubt either will make an significant impact and Belcher vs Goviea which is another elimanter fight. So I say Wandy should fight sexyama next and then possibly Cote or a higher opponents. I think Reljic might need a warm up fight just so he can get another fight in the UFC under his belt, get in the right shape, avoid ring rust ect. Injuries and a fluke loss are possibilities but we need to see what he is made of. So possibly Reljic vs Quarry. Now all the UFC need to do is sign Filhio and possibly Manhoef and they look set for a very competitive MW division.

Guys like Dan Miller, Jake Rosholt, CB Dollaway and Tom Lawler have some potentiol as well but they all need to improve. Miller was outclassed by Sonnen, Rosholt needs to stop making amateaur mistakes, Dollway needs to learn how to defend subs and Lawler also needs to stop making mistakes. The KO he suffered against Bader (on TUF) was from an abysmal mistake.

I think out of those guys Rosholt actually has the most potentiol, excellent wrestler, good subs, improving striking, good gas tank and a good athlete. He jumped out of a pool forwards and backwards!

Interesting, Maby he will settle for a fight with Nate, I think all those eliminators are interesting, Kang has showed some real potential despite a bad loss on his Debut, If he wipes the floor with Bisping he is on his way to being back in the mix.

Belcher vs Goviea is a good one, Both can bang and are big Mw's, Gouveia rocked Marquardt a couple of times I think, They both have a few good wins under there belt so this is like you say a lower level eliminator, Look forward to that. There is a bit of life about the Mw devision now, It was kind of dead for a while. I dont think Manhoef would fit into UFC, any thinking fighter or with a decent cornerman will just take him down, Its a shame because he is so exciting. Filho will surely be on his way to UFC though. His last win wasnt good but 2 wins in a row and im sure they will be interested.

Reljic vs Quarry would be great as well, that has good fight written all over it! I forget when Reljic is back but I think its towards the end of the year.

Palhares is fighting Sakara at TUF 10 he is going to be in with the mix if he beats him. Id love UFC to set up Filho vs Palhares that would be a great matchup! Both two Stocky BJJ specialists!

Wandy vs Sexyama makes sence, But I think Wandy isnt going to get an "easy" fight. Not that Sexyama is easy Its just he is bearly top 10 and Wand is used to higher profile fights, I think Cote would make sence (whens he due back?) Maby the looser of Nate vs Hendo? Because Wand is off till 2010 anyway.

I still see Belfort cleaning up. I think Nates Punch resistance and slightly slower hands would give Belfort the edge, Hendo hasnt the Gas tank anymore, I hate to say it but I think Hendo is on his way out. Not that he has got drastically worse but his cardio is looking bad, Wand vs Belfort 2 is bearly worth mentioning, Belfort is just bigger stronger and faster.. and more improtantly throws hard strights down the middle which is Wandys biggest problem having such and open guard. (Figher stats are clearly wrong Belfort is only listed at 6" with a 73" inch reach... he looked bigger than Rich and bigger than Wandy for sure)
Anyway Belfot will come out top here.

I hope Reljic can live up to his potential because style wise he would make for a great fight with Vitor.

I think Sexyama would KO Wandi Ben his striking is very underrated as people are more interested in his sexiness which is understandable.....

I think Wandi vs Leben would be good and Cote who is back next year would be a good fight for the loser of Hendo vs Nate out of all the fighters around the MW scene i really feel sorry for Okami he just isn't exciting although he 7-1 in the UFC he will never get a shot unless he starts stopping fighters.

I actually think Cote is a tough fight for Wandy, reason being is Cote has the best chin in the sport and powerful hands with good takedown defence as well. Cote is probably bigger and stronger as well and possibly hungrier. Wandy is still explosive but one shot from Cote could see Wandy KOed.

I think Wandy vs Sexyama would be a good fight, they should make it in Japan because Wandy is huge there and so that could be considered a big fight. I think Sexyama is the Wandys "Jardine" a fight that to get back on track for the axe murderer. Sexyama is no joke, even though I still think he lost to Belcher he can pack a punch and is an exciting fighter. I would proberly pick Wandy but I wouldn't be suprised at all if Sexyama won.

Belcher vs Goviea is a good fight as well, for Belcher to win this he needs to do fight the same as he did against Sexyama, leg kick the hell out of Goviea. Jardine did the same when they fought, Goviea is quite dangerous, standing and on the ground but Belcher can win this.


Palahaeres should be able to beat Sakara. Sakara has improved to be fair to him, he is quite dangerous on the feet, but Palaheres has better wrestling and BJJ than Leities and so should take this. He is up there, as long as his striking improves he could be a force.

Im not so sure Belfort can beat Silva, Silva has a massive reach advantage. This is destined to stay on the feet and with these guys it takes just one quick flurry. What makes Nate so dangerous is his many tools and training camp, im sure jackson will make sure Nate doesn't make mistakes against the other three. Its getting really exciting in this division.

I think Belfort will beat Anderson Silva.

I think Hendo will beat Nate Marquadt.

Then i see Hendo beating Belfort to win the title. Making one defense, and then hanging up the gloves.

I think that sets up a tournament, not a four man tournament held over two nights (semi-finals one night then 3 months later the two finalists meet).

Marquadt, Vitor, Filho(i believe he will be in the UFC by then) and Shogun(i think he might drop down after Machida beats him) would be my pick for the four entrants, with Vitor and Shogun meeting in the final in what promises to be a war.

I hope to see Bisping fight and get knocked out by (but not just by), Vitor, Wandi, Shogun, Filho and Cote