We’ve all had time to digest the night in Toronto, with mixed feelings coming out regarding the future paths of the fighters involved. Here, we analyse the fights and reprocussions for those involved.
As predicted, GSP retained his welterweight championship against Jake Shields, executing his game plan very effectively. While he didn’t have it all his own way, like in his recent fights (with two judges giving two rounds to shields) he has now effectively cleared out the welterweight division. Joe Silva and Dana White have a job on their hands now. What can they do with GSP? There is literally now welterweight left for him to fight. The closest we can see is Nick Diaz, and a superfight between the two would undoubtedly be popular and sell well, but should Zuffa be ok with unifying a title so soon after the purchase of Strikeforce. Being that GSP will more than Likely walk all over Diaz any way, will strikeforce be really that happy to devalue itself so early also? I don’t think so.
Indeed the only natural progression for GSP now is to look to Anderson Silva. St Pierre’s body is not built for middleweight, so this would have to be a one off. He walks around at 185, so fighting at that level would have him at a massive disadvantage, but he really does need to challenge himself, as continual textbook decision victories will not go down well with mainstream audiences, and eventually see his stock lower. Silva, of course would be a huge favourite, but he and GSP are really the only two uber-dominant fighters in the world today and the only two real pound for pound claimants. Jon Jones will get there too, but its early days for him.
The Main arguement for UFC not holding this fight is that they lose one superstar. The loser will have a major reputation dent. I presume Dana would prefer that to be the Brazillian Approaching 40, but thats the less likely option.
While we love seeing GSP win, being one of our favourite fighters and role models for the sport, we can’t help but think the longer it goes on, the worse it is for welterwieght MMA.
Jose Aldo cememted his position atop the featherweight division, as expected, but questions must be raised about his inability for finish the fight. He is not the master game-planner that GSP is, and was not entirely dominant at every point, with Hominick showing more than most thought he would. Aldo should hold this belt for a while, and the featherweights of WEC begin the process of stepping onto a larger stage.
Most important result of the night, and certainly a bitter-sweet one, was Machida earning Knockout of the night honours for his wonderful destruction of Randy Couture. It is fitting that coutoure’s career would end, in not in a victory, but in a knockout from a truly wonderful martial artist in truly wonderful style. Randy has been an amazing ambassador for the sport, but it is Machida, laying to rest the ghosts of his last 2 (or arguably 3) fights who will carry the flag forward. A little early to say he is ready to challenge the likes of Jones again, but that knockout will have fans begging for more high profile fights. We’ll be doing a proper tribute to Randy Couture shortly, as a paragraph is not a fitting way to honour the great man, but for now, we have to Marvel in Lyoto Machida’s crane kick (make’s me feel cool even typing it!). Expect Karate clubs to be seeing a membership increase this week!
In all, I loved UFC 129. Most of our bets came off (apart from Aldo to win by KO and a few of the lower card ones), so we’re a few quid up. Remember, mma-stuff.co.uk readers can get a FREE £20 BET
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