UFC 84: Why the Lightweights Outweigh the Big Boys
By Josh Stein on Apr 21, 2008
I know that there is plenty going on for the Ultimate Fighting Championship right now, but I think that it’s about time we look ahead (besides, there will be plenty of articles written on Serra vs. St. Pierre, and I’ll talk about the aftermath soon).
Still, I’m willing to look past the Serra vs. St. Pierre matchup because I want to aware that the best matchup the UFC has promised this year is coming, and while there’s been some talk, it’s not getting the credibility it deserves, and part of that is political, and all of it is crap.
If you’re still not aware of which fight I’m talking about, I’m talking about UFC 84′s main event: Sean Sherk vs. BJ Penn. It’s going to be a war, and everybody knows that this is going to a challenge for both fighters, because of how perfectly their skill sets match up.
I’m a bit BJ biased, because I think that Sherk is guilty of steroid use, and I think that BJ is, pound for pound, one of the greatest warriors in this sport. When BJ steps in with Sherk, though, he’ll be stepping in with a fighter that is, realistically speaking, the ultimate sparkplug.
Both of these guys have come down from 170 and have run the 155 pound division both have fought way above that weight class. Since Dana reestablished the division and brought these two warriors into it, the two are undefeated, and both have wins over top guys in other organizations. Penn choked out Takanori Gomi. Sherk beat Nick Diaz.
This is, without a doubt, a top fight for me. While I do think that it’s questionable whether or not they are the top two guys in the division (which could be argued all sorts of ways, with the chaos of Gomi, Diaz, KJ Noons and all of the other players who are making this division so much fun to watch) they are certainly the top two guys in the Octagon, and they are two fighters that many would have liked to see fight in the 170 pound division a long time ago, when they made up the top tier of that division with Georges St. Pierre and Matt Hughes.
My technical analysis of these two fighters and their matchup will come soon, but I do think that this is the greatest fight of the year thus far, as far as the quality of the two fighters stepping into the cage.
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I love BJ for his stand up. His BJJ is definitely a given, not hype. He has unbelievable flexibility. (( Expect to hear and read about Penn’s cardio ad-nauseum from now until UFC84 and Sherk’s Herculean strength along with his superior takedown abilities. Yawn ))
This card is going to be great because, either Keith Jardine is going to UD or TKO Wanderlei Silva or Silva will pummel Jardine. Either way, it’s going to be great. I like Tito win or lose, he’s one of those guys who I enjoy watching getting another L on his record. Something about him. He can either pull an upset and give Machida his first L or simply lose and exit the UFC which everyone expects. There’s no denying the numbers that he brings in for a UFC PPV.
IMHO, the lightweight division is definitely the most exciting division, with the Light Heavyweight coming in second. I think they offer more exciting match-ups and the best mix of strikers, bjj experts, grapplers, and of course wrestlers.
Josh, there’s a strong chance that Kenny Florian and Roger Huerta will be facing off at UFC 86 on August 9th. That fight has all the potential of becoming a Fight of The Year. While I think Brock Lesnar is an entertaining competitor for his size and speed alone, I now think there’s a reason to purchase this pay-per-view.
although i agree that this will be an epic fight, i think anderson silva v. dan henderson had the greatest net talent.
UFC 84 really is a do or die state of affairs for the “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz. Tito was, and still is in some respects, one of the sports most entertaining and talented competitors. Who could forget Tito flipping Ken Shamrock the double bird after a victory against a fighter from the Lions Den, (although probably not as insulting if Ken knew those fingers would someday explore every nook and cranny of Jenna Jamison) or when Tito gestured as though he was digging Shamrocks grave after his victory which ultimately sent Shamrock into retirement. Brutal! I remember him grabbing the attention of UFC fans when he started static with Rashad Evans in the stands at the MGM and Tito was only there as a spectator. Even when Tito is in his finest suit he wants to fight. That’s entertainment. But lately his bizarre decisions have cost him a tremendous amount of creditability with his fans. Challenging Dana White to a fight only to puss out at the very last minute was not a respectable move. Going on “The Apprentice” and proclaiming himself a “Business man” is ridiculous. Tito your fans don’t consider you a business man. As if your success in the UFC was all part of a grand business model strategy. Negative! You are a fighter, you might, or might not, have business sense but you made it to where you are by having Dana White tell you to beat the guy opposite you in the cage to a pulp. Like Clint Eastwood to his chimp Clyde in “Every Which Way But Loose”. Now we have to listen to whine about how Dana is unfair and you’re are not paid what you are worth. Always a bride’s maid never a bride. Stop being a bitch and get in the f*&@ing cage Tito. I want you to win, hell I got money on you to win. Please, just do what you do best and beat the snot out of Machida. Right turn Clyde.
I agree with Brandt and Curtis on this one, and I look forward to Brandt’s article.
While I knew Lyoto was going to win this weekend, I will say that I find his style of standup really bad for the sport, because everyone seems to think it’s acceptable not to engage your opponent.
This isn’t boxing. Fans should be pissed when a fighter runs away for three rounds and gets a decision win. When Andrei did it, he apologize to his fans, and he should have. Why doesn’t Lyoto apologize and, more importantly, why doesn’t anybody care that he doesn’t apologize?