Title shots: unworthy and worthy
After praising the future and capability of UFC up-and-comer Brock Lesnar, it appears that I may have spoken too soon.
It appears as though my views that Lesnar was in fact an up-and-comer were way off key. A huge announcement from the UFC this past week announced the return of UFC Heavyweight Champion, Randy Couture, and that he will be taking on Lesnar at UFC 91 for the title.
I don't know what the bigger story here is: the fact that Couture and the UFC are ending their legal battles and we get to see “the Natural” back in the cage, or that a fighter with a 1-1 UFC record is getting a title shot, when the 18 other guys in the heavyweight division all have more wins than Lesnar.
This just blows my mind. It's a big slap in the face to the current interim champ (Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira), and top challengers such as Fabricio Werdum, who has won two fights in a row, and Frank Mir, who is currently considered the top contender.
I can't blame the UFC here from a business stand point, as this fight is huge. It is expected to be the highest grossing fight in UFC history, they are hitting the jackpot. However, this just goes to show the money-hungry business that the UFC is, and the fact that making money is a lot more important then having loyalty, respect, and honour for the other fighters in the division.
From one undeserving title contender, to a very, very deserving one: Rashad Evans.
If you didn't catch UFC 88, the main event was a fight for the ages, Evans out struck the Iceman and put him to sleep in the second round with a vicious overhand right that sounded more like a car crash then a punch.
The win puts Evans at 14-0-1 with notable wins recorded over Michael Bisping and Chuck Liddell in his last two fights. In the crazy, mixed up Light Heavyweight division, this means a lot. A win over Chuck Liddell gives you instant credibility. Simply stated, the main reason that Evans deserves a shot at Forrest Griffins title is because Chuck was going to get a title shot if he had won. Since the opposite occurred, it is only right that Evans gets the shot, and deservedly so.
The Evans/Griffin matchup solidifies the fact that The Ultimate Fighter reality show fighters are for real. The non-TUF fighters better start respecting them a little more, or they could end up in another galaxy, like Chuck Liddell did.
And to end this off, the world of MMA lost a pioneer this past week when the body of former UFC Champion Evan Tanner was found dead. It's a huge loss to the MMA world as Tanner was a huge fan favourite and is said to be one of the nicest fighters outside the cage as well.
“Believe in yourself. Believe in our own potential for greatness. Believe that you can change the world. It is something that is within each of us.”
-Evan Michael Tanner 1971-2008
It appears as though my views that Lesnar was in fact an up-and-comer were way off key. A huge announcement from the UFC this past week announced the return of UFC Heavyweight Champion, Randy Couture, and that he will be taking on Lesnar at UFC 91 for the title.
I don't know what the bigger story here is: the fact that Couture and the UFC are ending their legal battles and we get to see “the Natural” back in the cage, or that a fighter with a 1-1 UFC record is getting a title shot, when the 18 other guys in the heavyweight division all have more wins than Lesnar.
This just blows my mind. It's a big slap in the face to the current interim champ (Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira), and top challengers such as Fabricio Werdum, who has won two fights in a row, and Frank Mir, who is currently considered the top contender.
I can't blame the UFC here from a business stand point, as this fight is huge. It is expected to be the highest grossing fight in UFC history, they are hitting the jackpot. However, this just goes to show the money-hungry business that the UFC is, and the fact that making money is a lot more important then having loyalty, respect, and honour for the other fighters in the division.
From one undeserving title contender, to a very, very deserving one: Rashad Evans.
If you didn't catch UFC 88, the main event was a fight for the ages, Evans out struck the Iceman and put him to sleep in the second round with a vicious overhand right that sounded more like a car crash then a punch.
The win puts Evans at 14-0-1 with notable wins recorded over Michael Bisping and Chuck Liddell in his last two fights. In the crazy, mixed up Light Heavyweight division, this means a lot. A win over Chuck Liddell gives you instant credibility. Simply stated, the main reason that Evans deserves a shot at Forrest Griffins title is because Chuck was going to get a title shot if he had won. Since the opposite occurred, it is only right that Evans gets the shot, and deservedly so.
The Evans/Griffin matchup solidifies the fact that The Ultimate Fighter reality show fighters are for real. The non-TUF fighters better start respecting them a little more, or they could end up in another galaxy, like Chuck Liddell did.
And to end this off, the world of MMA lost a pioneer this past week when the body of former UFC Champion Evan Tanner was found dead. It's a huge loss to the MMA world as Tanner was a huge fan favourite and is said to be one of the nicest fighters outside the cage as well.
“Believe in yourself. Believe in our own potential for greatness. Believe that you can change the world. It is something that is within each of us.”
-Evan Michael Tanner 1971-2008
