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[ILuvGSP'sTights]

Would a Grand Prix Revive the UFC's Welterweight*Division? - Bloody Elbow

Michael Rome pointed out that UFC 103 left Georges St. Pierre with no legit challengers immediately after the event:

Here is where we stand. Georges St. Pierre is the champion, and he's aiming for a return early in 2010. Martin Kampmann is out as a contender, Thiago Alves just lost, Jon Fitch lost much worse, Matt Hughes has lost twice, Mike Swick is a pretty unimpressive 9-1 in the UFC, and Josh Koscheck just came off a loss with a gimme win over Frank Trigg.

There's a young class of welterweights that could eventually be contenders if they shore up holes in their game. This class includes Anthony Johnson, Paul Daley, Dustin Hazelett,...

I don't really know what the answer is. I've long advocated for St. Pierre to try his hand at middleweight, though it's clear that there are a number of people opposed to him moving up in weight. He could potentially try his hand against Michael Bisping or Wanderlei Silva while the contenders at 170 sort themselves out, like Anderson did against Forrest Griffin. I'm not opposed to rematches for Fitch and Alves, but they have to win a few in impressive fashion to earn those rematches.

Josh Gross proposes a solution:

Nearly every legitimate threat to St. Pierre resides in the UFC, and most have already lost to the champ. (The only top-tier welterweight who doesn't is Shields, and the dangerous Californian recently moved up to 185 pounds, where he'll fight Jason Miller on Strikeforce's Nov. 7 card.)

It's no wonder then that welterweight, notwithstanding a deep pool of talented fighters, feels so muddled and unappealing right now.

So I'm proposing something that should but won't happen. The UFC would benefit greatly from occasionally putting together Pride Grand Prix-style tournaments to establish No. 1 contenders. And I can't think of a division more perfect for this than 170 pounds, especially with St. Pierre about to re-enter the gym after injuring his groin this summer against Thiago Alves.

Tournaments are an easy promotional tool: Just set up the brackets and let 'em go. With the names the UFC could plug into a four- or eight-man event (played out over multiple shows; none of this multi-fight in one night stuff), and with credibility that would be bestowed on the winner, it makes sense. Mix and match Jon Fitch, Josh Koscheck, Mike Swick, Thiago Alves, Matt Hughes, Dan Hardy, Dustin Hazelett, Anthony Johnson, Paul Daley, Martin Kampmann, Ricardo Almeida and the many others. Sounds fun, no?

I have to second that emotion.

There is nothing like the drama and unpredictability of a Grand Prix style tournament to revive a fighter's fortunes. If Jon Fitch or Thiago Alves or even Frank Trigg or Phil Baroni were to roar through a field as stacked as would be assembled from the UFC's welterweight division there would be great interest in seeing a re-match with GSP. I guarantee it.

Fighters like Shogun Rua, Mirko Cro Cop, Takanori Gomi owe much of their reputations to their triumphs in the tournament format. Mark Coleman's career got a ten year boost from his comeback win in the 2000 PRIDE GP. Gegard Mousasi vaulted to pre-eminence with a tournament win.

If the UFC wants to keep the pool of challengers filled for their seemingly invincible champs there is no better way to do it than by holding a tournament to determine the #1 contender.

[divele]

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[KevoOnTheRadio]

Great idea in theory, but what happens when Kos gets matched up with Swick. Those AKA guys just refuse to fight each other

[SWIFTboy]

Originally Posted by KevoOnTheRadio

Great idea in theory, but what happens when Kos gets matched up with Swick. Those AKA guys just refuse to fight each other

I was thinking the exact opposite. In the context of a tournament bracket, they might actually be willing to fight each other, as long as they aren't matched up in the first round.

I think this idea is perfect, and that the UFC with their marketing capabilities could do ALOT with this. I also think it has absolutely NO chance of happening.

I think Fitch would come out on top, btw.

[gbpics]

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GB Pics

[Sniggles]

Originally Posted by KevoOnTheRadio

Great idea in theory, but what happens when Kos gets matched up with Swick. Those AKA guys just refuse to fight each other

Congrats on loss out of the tournament to them then. Fill it in with someone who lost or an up and comer.


A UFC tournament would be pretty bad ass and nostalgic. It would give an interesting storyline to UFC events. Would also create the solution of filling several events to perhaps increase the amount. But highly unlikely.

[dan the man 67]

Originally Posted by ILuvGSP'sTights

Would a Grand Prix Revive the UFC's Welterweight*Division? - Bloody Elbow

"Jon Fitch lost much worse....."

What does that mean? Since losing to GSP, he won against Gono and Paulo Thiago. IMO, he should get the next fight (after GSP destroys the winner of Swick/Hardy, if that is indeed what the UFC has planned).

[beau420]

I've suggested this idea before, I've seen it suggested before and the UFC won't do it.

I love tournaments and I love when a fighter fights twice in 1 night, like in old UFC, Pride, current K-1, there is an American org that did it recently in Aruba or somewhere in the Caribbean. With the UFC the way it is now, I doubt it will happen. Dana doesn't seem to like the idea....I think he's still pissed off about Chuck losing against Rampage in Pride....or pissed about making the $250,000 bet and welshing on it.

People can suggest it all they want, I would love to see it, but highly doubt it will ever happen. The sport has evolved beyond that and why have a fighter fight 2 or 3 times in one night, when you can make more money by having 2 or 3 shows.

Some fighters and managers will say that the game has changed and the preparation and gameplan for every fight is much greater now than it used to be. I am sure the UFC can find the fighters to do it, they have the numbers in their roster.

What they could do is start the tourney with 16 fighters, have them all just fight once a night, then continue the tournament 3 or 4 UFC's later. But I doubt they will. contenders are ranked by popularity, not style, skill or accomplishments.....it's not right, but that's the way it is....that is what history has shown me.

[kalebarker]

Originally Posted by dan the man 67

"Jon Fitch lost much worse....."

What does that mean? Since losing to GSP, he won against Gono and Paulo Thiago. IMO, he should get the next fight (after GSP destroys the winner of Swick/Hardy, if that is indeed what the UFC has planned).

He talking about Alves and Fitch in their fight against GSP.