Independent World MMA Rankings – November 27, 2009
By Zach Arnold | November 27, 2009
From the office of the Independent World MMA Rankings
November 27, 2009: The November 2009 Independent World MMA Rankings have been released. These rankings are independent of any single MMA media outlet or sanctioning body, and are published on multiple web sites.
In addition to the numerous MMA web sites that publish the Independent World MMA Rankings, you can also access the rankings at any time by going to www.IndependentWorldMMARankings.com.
Some of the best and most knowledgeable MMA writers from across the MMA media landscape have come together to form one independent voting panel. These voting panel members are, in alphabetical order: Zach Arnold (Fight Opinion); Nicholas Bailey (MMA Ratings); Jared Barnes (Freelance); Jordan Breen (Sherdog); Jim Genia (Full Contact Fighter, MMA Memories, and MMA Journalist Blog); Jesse Holland (MMA Mania); Robert Joyner (Freelance); Todd Martin (CBS Sports); Jim Murphy (The Savage Science); Zac Robinson (Sports by the Numbers MMA); Leland Roling (Bloody Elbow); Michael David Smith (AOL Fanhouse); Jonathan Snowden (Heavy.com); Joshua Stein (MMA Opinion); Ivan Trembow (Freelance); and Dave Walsh (Total MMA and Head Kick Legend).
Note: Due to the fact that he has not competed in the welterweight division for over one year and has no plans to do so in the foreseeable future, Jake Shields is no longer eligible to be ranked in the welterweight division. He is, however, eligible to be ranked in the middleweight division.
Note: Due to the fact that he has moved to the light heavyweight division and has no plans to fight at heavyweight in the foreseeable future, Randy Couture is no longer eligible to be ranked in the
heavyweight division. He is, however, eligible to be ranked in the light heavyweight division.
November 2009 Independent World MMA Rankings
Ballots collected on November 24, 2009
Heavyweight Rankings (206 to 265 lbs.)
1. Fedor Emelianenko (31-1, 1 No Contest)
2. Brock Lesnar (4-1)
3. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-5-1, 1 No Contest)
4. Frank Mir (12-4)
5. Shane Carwin (11-0)
6. Brett Rogers (10-1)
7. Alistair Overeem (31-11, 1 No Contest)
8. Junior dos Santos (9-1)
9. Cain Velasquez (7-0)
10. Fabricio Werdum (13-4-1)
Light Heavyweight Rankings (186 to 205 lbs.)
1. Lyoto Machida (16-0)
2. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (18-4)
3. Rashad Evans (13-1-1)
4. Quinton Jackson (30-7)
5. Anderson Silva (25-4)
6. Gegard Mousasi (27-2-1)
7. Forrest Griffin (17-6)
8. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (18-3)
9. Dan Henderson (25-7)
10. Thiago Silva (14-1)
Middleweight Rankings (171 to 185 lbs.)
1. Anderson Silva (25-4)
2. Nathan Marquardt (29-8-2)
3. Dan Henderson (25-7)
4. Vitor Belfort (19-8)
5. Demian Maia (11-1)
6. Jake Shields (24-4-1)
7. Chael Sonnen (24-10-1)
8. Yushin Okami (23-5)
9. Robbie Lawler (16-5, 1 No Contest)
10. Jorge Santiago (21-8)
Welterweight Rankings (156 to 170 lbs.)
1. Georges St. Pierre (19-2)
2. Jon Fitch (19-3, 1 No Contest)
3. Thiago Alves (16-6)
4. Josh Koscheck (14-4)
5. Matt Hughes (43-7)
6. Dan Hardy (23-6)
7. Paulo Thiago (12-1)
8. Mike Swick (14-3)
9. Carlos Condit (24-5)
10. Marius Zaromskis (13-3)
Lightweight Rankings (146 to 155 lbs.)
1. B.J. Penn (14-5-1)
2. Shinya Aoki (22-4, 1 No Contest)
3. Eddie Alvarez (19-2)
4. Kenny Florian (11-4)
5. Tatsuya Kawajiri (25-5-2)
6. Diego Sanchez (21-2)
7. Gray Maynard (8-0, 1 No Contest)
8. Frankie Edgar (10-1)
9. Joachim Hansen (19-8-1)
10. Mizuto Hirota (12-3-1)
Featherweight Rankings (136 to 145 lbs.)
1. Jose Aldo (16-1)
2. Mike Brown (22-5)
3. Urijah Faber (22-3)
4. Hatsu Hioki (20-4-2)
5. Bibiano Fernandes (7-2)
6. Raphael Assuncao (14-1)
7. “Lion” Takeshi Inoue (17-3)
8. Wagnney Fabiano (12-2)
9. Manny Gamburyan (10-4)
10. Michihiro Omigawa (8-8-1)
Bantamweight Rankings (126 to 135 lbs.)
1. Brian Bowles (8-0)
2. Miguel Torres (37-2)
3. Takeya Mizugaki (12-3-2)
4. Masakatsu Ueda (10-0-2)
5. Dominick Cruz (14-1)
6. Akitoshi Tamura (14-7-2)
7. Joseph Benavidez (10-1)
8. Damacio Page (12-4)
9. Rani Yahya (15-4)
10. Will Ribeiro (10-2)
The Independent World MMA Rankings are tabulated on a monthly basis in each of the top seven weight classes of MMA, from heavyweight to bantamweight, with fighters receiving ten points for a first-place vote, nine points for a second-place vote, and so on.
The rankings are based purely on the votes of the members of the voting panel, with nobody’s vote counting more than anybody else’s vote, and no computerized voting.
The voters are instructed to vote primarily based on fighters’ actual accomplishments in the cage/ring (the quality of opposition that they’ve actually beaten), not based on a broad, subjective perception of which fighters would theoretically win fantasy match-ups.
Inactivity: Fighters who have not fought in the past 12 months are not eligible to be ranked, and will regain their eligibility the next time they fight.
Disciplinary Suspensions: Fighters who are currently serving disciplinary suspensions, or who have been denied a license for drug test or disciplinary reasons, are not eligible to be ranked.
Changing Weight Classes: When a fighter announces that he is leaving one weight class in order to fight in another weight class, the fighter is not eligible to be ranked in the new weight class until he has his first fight in the new weight class.
Catch Weight Fights: When fights are contested at weights that are in between the limits of the various weight classes, they are considered to be in the higher weight class. The weight limits for each weight class are listed at the top of the rankings for each weight class.
Special thanks to Eric Kamander, Zach Arnold, and Joshua Stein for their invaluable help with this project, and special thanks to Garrett Bailey for designing our logo.
Topics: Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 66 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
A call for donations (but not for me)
By Zach Arnold | November 26, 2009
Please read this and assist in any way you possibly can.
Topics: Media, Zach Arnold | No Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Three media notes on UFC that will cause a mixed reaction
By Zach Arnold | November 25, 2009
First, this morning on ESPN’s news ticker (which airs on all their main television channels), they ran with a headline that said that Houston Alexander told KEZO-FM 92.3 (Z-92) that he would be fighting Kimbo Slice on December 5th in Las Vegas. Now, this match has been (if you are a hardcore MMA fan) one of the worst kept secrets in the world, but it was supposed to be a secret nevertheless because of all the teases UFC has made on The Ultimate Fighter about whether or not Kimbo would return to the tournament as a fighter replacement.
Making ESPN’s news item interesting is that on the Todd n Tyler radio show page, they use the following news teaser:
“Our UFC fighter buddy who’s fighting a guy whose name we can’t legally say yet., but it’s a big fight on Spike TV, Saturday December 5th.”
So the radio show doesn’t actually say who it is, but ESPN attributes the news item to them during their Houston Alexander interview. (Listen to the interview here.) The catch is that ESPN’s report is based on Sherdog’s report. Read the Sherdog item to see how it plays off the radio show teaser.
Second, there was recently a radio discussion about how low the PPV buyrate will be for Survivor Series, which used to be one of WWE’s biggest events of the year. The discussion, for a second, turned to last weekend’s UFC 106 PPV event:
BRYAN ALVAREZ: “God, you know what sucks is they can’t even blame it on UFC because that Tito buyrate ain’t going to be all that good.”
DAVE MELTZER: “No, but it doesn’t help when you have both on the same [weekend], but no no, the Tito buyrate isn’t going to be big either, I don’t think. That one I actually have a handle on, and so far… I mean I don’t have a good handle on it, but it ain’t going to be that big.”
Third, a media note related to the second item. MMA Junkie has a news item that says: UFC 106 draws 10,529 attendees (6,631 paid) for $3 million gate. What’s striking about that number is that Dana White gave out the 10,529 number at the post-fight press conference and given the $3 million gate, it made some sense that the paid number would be a good portion of the overall attendance figure. However, 6,631 paid for a crowd size of 10,529 is the type of number that should be alarming as far as UFC shows in Las Vegas is concerned.
A lesson you learn quickly as a promoter is that tickets = currency. If you give tickets out to charities or to potential sponsors and it helps you make some business in-roads, that’s acceptable. But when you have to comp. at least a third of your show, look out. The message it sends to fans who pay for tickets is this — why should we buy tickets early when we can get free or discounted ones near show time? Even more disheartening about the MMA Junkie report is while the paid gate of $3 million is respectable, the face value of the comps was $2.3 million dollars. Simple math says that the value of each paid ticket was around $450 and the value of each comp ticket was close to $600. What it indicates is that fans are not buying the more expensive seats and that UFC needs to start adjusting to the marketplace by lowering the cost of premium seats. They don’t need to discount every seat price, since they still do command good money for the tickets they sell. What’s interesting about this situation is that Dana White has been asked by a few reporters (including Yahoo writer and ESPN radio host Steve Cofield) if he would ever lower ticket prices like promoters did for the Shane Mosley/Antonio Margarito fight at the Staples Center last January and White’s response was one of those “all options on the table” responses, but the delivery of it made you feel like it wasn’t something that would be seriously considered. Well, given the amount of injuries with top stars and several top fighters taking time off, something has to give here for UFC. I’m not sure what the right answer is, but it’s an answer that the company really needs to sit down and take some time to analyze. The numbers from the UFC 106 show are a warning sign of things to come, despite how cursed the show was from the beginning.
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 63 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
DREAM vs. Sengoku announced for Dynamite 12/31 Saitama Super Arena event
By Zach Arnold | November 25, 2009
Color me shocked, except I’m not. Double main-event will be Masato in his retirement match against Andy Souwer and Hidehiko Yoshida vs. Satoshi Ishii. That’s at least the current plan at the moment, anyhow.
The story on Ishii is that he’s currently in Las Vegas training, so he wasn’t around to do media interviews.
The plan is still, apparently, to do 18 ~ 19 matches on the card. Possible matches being floated around include Mizuto Hirota vs. Eddie Alvarez, Akihiro Gono vs. Hayato “Mach” Sakurai, Sanae Kikuta vs. Kiyoshi Tamura, and Yoshihiro Nakao vs. Mirko Cro Cop.
As far as the impact on the American MMA scene is concerned, it’s probably minimal at best. With that said, Strikeforce has a big show on January 30th in Florida and given the co-promotion that exists between Strikeforce and DREAM, there may be some foreign talent who choose to work on the NYE show instead of the 1/30 Florida event.
Topics: DREAM, Japan, K-1, Media, MMA, Sengoku, Zach Arnold | 9 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Ben Saunders and Mike Swick have a war of words online
By Zach Arnold | November 24, 2009
I guess there’s interest in the two having a re-match.
I used to be a Swick fan and respect him, but I feel I got to experience part of the underground rumors as for how AKA tends to be a bit arrogant. KOS was nice to me at the fights for UFC 106. So I got no problems with him, Fitch never did nothing, so no problems. I didn’t even say what’s up to Bob at UFC 106 fights cause the post ufc 99 remarks. Dave Camerillo actualy said what’s up and was nice, even though he was in the mix of things after my fight with Swick. But I was respectful back. I mean I can’t say it’s real serious or anything now. I don’t lose sleep or anything, I don’t hate any of them. It’s just not how I am, and I feel treat people the way you want to be treated. If you want to be disrespectful then I won’t respect you is all. Now Swick is saying it’s not true. But I know what I heard, maybe you guys didn’t think I would hear it, or feel bad about it now. Maybe it was just over excited post fight comments, so small and insignificant to you that you don’t remember. But I wouldn’t make it up. I am not really even to mad anymore, but I do remember how pissed I was and agitated after that fight because of it. Before that incident even happened all I kept thinking were the positives of my situation and try to not get worked up over it. It really got to me after they did that and it lit a fire in me that lasted a few weeks. Including me picturing Swicks face before and during the Marcus Davis fight. I am dissapointed with my fight with Swick and would love a rematch. But I am not trying to Hype a rematch. And didn’t expect to do a call out for one and get it. Just expressed my interest in it when asked if i would like one, and know it will happen sometime even if not as soon as I would like. There is a lot of good match ups for me in the WW division. I’m here to fight anyone.
It was just Swick and his cornermen at UFC 99 that did it. So I am not saying the whole team or school or anything about that. I am just saying i have heard stories around and I felt I experienced a bit of it first hand. Trying to emphasize that they felt I got “Knocked Out’ as opposed to being “TKO’ed” and then laughing about it is pretty lame. So Strong words or not, its how I feel.
Mike Swick in reply:
Dude don’t put words in my mouth. I came in your locker after the fight and hung out with you for 30 minutes watching the rest of the fights. I wasn’t even hanging out with my team. I had a lot of respect for you before this fight and after. I was just talking about you during my UFC party the other night saying how cool you are and how much potential you have. I didn’t hear anyone of my team say anything about you getting knocked the &*%$ out and if I did they know it would piss me off people off because I don’t disrespect people. I have been a martial artist since I was 8 and believe in respect and honor. You can talk to any former opponent I have ever had and none will tell you I was disrespectful before or after the fight.
If your just trying to hype a rematch then just ask for one. If the UFC wants to do it I will sign. You don’t have to try and make me look disrespectful on the internet.
Saunders, what you are saying about our post fight is 100% inaccurate. I was totally cool to you and still think your a really cool dude.
No one from my Team disrespected you in anyway and would never say what you thought they said. 100% respect from me bro.
Really Saunders? Just read your interview. Your gonna try and make me look disrespectful then say you were injured for our fight?
If you want a rematch just ask the UFC. If they want to do it I will sign that contract ASAP…
While you are reading those two go at it with each other, I have an article that you can read here talking about UFC dealing with overexposure problems right now.
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 13 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Should Tito Ortiz have won the decision at UFC 106?
By Zach Arnold | November 23, 2009
If Jordan Breen thinks MMA judge Glenn Trowbridge is the most dangerous man in the sport, then what will he think about fellow MMA writers who thought Tito Ortiz should have won the decision against Forrest Griffin on Saturday night?
Ortiz didn’t win on the score cards Saturday night, but MMA writers Josh Gross (Sports Illustrated) and Carlos Arias (Orange County Register) believe that he should have.
I had Tito winning the first and second. Griffin obviously took the third.
@titoortiz This is Carlos from OC Register. You won the 1st and 2nd rounds and lost the 3rd. You should have got the dec. Everybody knows it.
Dana has to go w/you and Forrest on TUF 11. That will be huge ratings and set up the rubbermatch. Good luck homie. You’ll get him.
If the tone from Carlos towards Tito is a little off-setting to you, the reality is that it seems to be pretty much the norm amongst the bigger ‘mainstream’ MMA writers. When I was going over the video of the post-fight press conference for UFC 106 on Saturday night, the media sure acted like fans. There was an audible cheer and whooping going on when Dana said that Antonio Rogerio Nogueira won a Knockout of the Night bonus.
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 64 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Will Shane McMahon really buy a piece of UFC?
By Zach Arnold | November 22, 2009
Jonathan Snowden says it’s a possibility:
There was plenty of buzz about former WWE Vice President Shane McMahon. McMahon, were he to come into the company, would help the UFC secure international marketing and television deals, similar to the work he did for his father’s company. The holdup is Shane’s desire to buy in to the company. Zuffa has been loathe to add a partner in the past, but with the struggling real estate market, the time may be right for the Fertittas to add a new partner.
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 60 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
(UFC 106) A question or two about the Nevada State Athletic Commission
By Zach Arnold | November 22, 2009
We know fighters tend to exaggerate certain things when they speak in public (shocking, I know). However, something has been bothering me ever since the end of the UFC 106 show on Saturday night. In the post-fight interviews, we had Forrest Griffin admitting he had a foot injury (broken foot) and Tito Ortiz claiming that he had bulging disc issues and a “skull fracture,” whatever that means.
Even if the fighters are overplaying the severity of the injuries they suffered during training, the fact remains that both guys were hurt going into Saturday’s fight. These are injuries that, if I was a doctor, I would take a look at and seriously considering preventing one or both guys from doing the fight.
Which ultimately leads me to the following: If the Nevada athletic commission, in theory, is supposed to protect the fighters and promote fighter safety, then why did they allow either fighter to partake in Saturday’s night bouts if the injuries are remotely as serious as being mentioned? Just because fighters readily admit after bouts that they had something wrong with them physically does not mean that it absolves the athletic commission from being possibly derelict in its duties. What if a serious injury had happened to Ortiz during the UFC 106 fight that damaged his ability to fight in the future or live a normal life and it was later revealed that he went into the fight with a spinal injury? Would anyone care about the role of the athletic commission in terms of inspecting fighters before a big event like this?
As an athletic commission, you are either there to protect the fighters or you are not. Half-assing it may be done around the country, but it’s not an acceptable standard of judgment in my book.
Anyone else in the media interested in writing about this topic?
Related: UFC 106 turns into an embarrassment for the Nevada State Athletic Commission
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 44 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Andre Ward defeats Mikkel Kessler in Oakland on Saturday night
By Zach Arnold | November 21, 2009
- Boxing Scene: Andre Ward punishes Mikkel Kessler, captures WBA belt
- Associated Press: Ward achieves stunning victory
- Scott Christ: Despite dirty tactics, Ward frustrated, outboxed, and outclassed Mikkel Kessler
- Cliff Rold: Ward owns Kessler, puts U.S. back in the Super Six
- Fanhouse: Youth trumps experience and ring generalship on Saturday night
Topics: Boxing, Media, Zach Arnold | 6 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
UFC 11/21 Las Vegas, Nevada
By Zach Arnold | November 21, 2009
Venue: Mandalay Bay Events Center
Broadcast: Pay Per View
Dark matches
- Lightweights (155 pounds): George Sotiropoulos vs. Jason Dent
- Welterweights (170 pounds): Brock Larson vs. Brian Foster
- Middleweights (185 pounds): Kendall Grove vs. Jake Rosholt
- Welterweights (170 pounds): Ben Saunders vs. Marcus Davis
Main card
- Welterweights (170 pounds): Amir Sadollah vs. Phil Baroni
- Welterweights (170 pounds): Josh Koscheck vs. Anthony Johnson
- Light Heavyweights (205 pounds): Tito Ortiz vs. Forrest Griffin
Event results: MMA Opinion | USA Today | Sherdog | MMA Torch | Bloody Elbow
Someone want to explain by Marcus Davis vs. Ben Saunders, which aired on Spike TV, is on the PPV?
Reaction
“Tito is startlingly slow. It looks like he’s fighting submerged in the same invisible liquid that suspends Ed Herman in the cage.
No more talk about Tito’s success not passing. Today, guys can use butterfly, wallwalk, just get back up if you don’t get dominant position.
Two minutes until we hear about whatever the latest Tito Ortiz injury is. Bring on the neck injury.
Tito can’t counter, and his takedowns are always go forward and explode, so throwing volume at him kills him. Easy pickings at this point.
Also, Glenn Trowbridge’s Ortiz scorecard reaffirms why he’s the most dangerous man in MMA since the evaporation of Dalby Shirley. (scores were 30-27, 29-28 for Forrest, Trowbridge had it 29-28 for Tito.)”
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 30 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
(Boxing) Mikkel Kessler vs. Andre Ward in Oakland
By Zach Arnold | November 21, 2009
Outside of “The Big Game” at 4:30 PM when Cal takes on Stanford in college football, the biggest sporting event this weekend in the Bay Area is Mikkel Kessler vs. Andre Ward at Oracle Arena (Alameda Coliseum) in Oakland. Dan Goossen, promoter, said that the fight will start at around 7:20 PM in order to make sure that fans can come from the football game to go see the fight.
One of the stories heading into this fight was the issue of judges, as Kessler’s camp wanted an international judge. Sure enough, that demand was met. Another issue was whether or not Joe Cortez would be the referee. He will not be in this fight.
There are a few boxing writers who think Ward could pull off the upset here. Ward has become a media darling in Northern California media circles (like the Oakland Tribune). Al Bernstein on Chronicle Live on Comcast Sportsnet Bay Area this week said that the way Ward could pull of a win over Kessler is to “throw junk” at him and constantly change things up, similar to what Pedro Martinez did to the Dodgers in the baseball playoffs this year. Carl Froch thinks Kessler will win. The betting line has tightened since the fight was announced — Kessler is around a -190 favorite and Ward is around a +160 underdog.
Gus Johnson will be the play-by-play man for the fight on Showtime.
TK Stewart at Boxing Scene has an article saying that the Super Six Tournament has been a cherry on the top of the proverbial sundae of boxing’s revitalization. The LA Times reports that Pacquiao-Cotto did 1.25 million PPV buys.
- The Sweet Science: Today we will see how Andre Ward handles the moment
- Fanhouse: Kessler has big edge in experience vs. Ward
- Sportingo: Why KO king Mikkel Kessler is favorite to Ward off all Super Six opposition
- ESPN: Andre Ward writes off Kessler’s advantages ahead of Super Six fight
- Charles Jay: Expect the fight to go into the late rounds
- 15 Rounds: Q & A with Mikkel Kessler
Topics: Boxing, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 9 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Sengoku: We won’t run Ariake Colosseum because of a ‘scheduling conflict’
By Zach Arnold | November 19, 2009
When we last spoke on this topic, we addressed the Playboy report that Don Quijote balked at the idea of how much the price tag was going to be for the Sengoku NYE event at Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo. For a mid-sized arena, it’s not that outrageously expensive to run.
Nevertheless, the public face today from Sengoku management is that they are trying to find a new building for a NYE show (so much for the K-1 working relationship) at a different arena. The stated reason? A ‘scheduling conflict’ due to what they claim is an amateur wrestling event booked for the same day at the building. Yeah.
The company maintains publicly that there is ‘great interest’ for the Hidehiko Yoshida/Satoshi Ishii match-up and that the cancelation of the Ariake Colosseum booking was a good thing because the fight will be popular enough to draw more than what they initially planned for. Management claims they will announce a new venue for the show.
Keep in mind this is a company that never gives out attendance figures for any of their shows, whether it’s Saitama Super Arena or Ryogoku Kokugikan. Kokugikan is about the same size as Ariake Colosseum.
Topics: Japan, Media, MMA, Sengoku, Zach Arnold | 5 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Jose Aldo’s win over Mike Brown opens the door for Faber to return as king of WEC
By Zach Arnold | November 19, 2009
After watching Wednesday’s night Featherweight title change, tell me if you agree or disagree (and why, in a respectful reply) with the following premise:
– Mike Brown is kryptonite to Urijah Faber.
– Jose Aldo is kryptonite to Mike Brown.
– Urijah Faber could be kryptonite to Jose Aldo.
It’s a very interesting situation right now in the WEC. Jose Aldo not only won, but he won in pretty convincing fashion against Mike Brown. It almost felt anti-climactic. I don’t know if that was because the crowd didn’t really enthusiastically cheer or boo either fighter, but there was a strange feel during the fight. I was very excited going into this fight and coming out of it, I’m impressed with Aldo but I’m not sure how the general public feels.
The most impressive thing about Jose Aldo’s performance is that he fought a slower pace in the early round, but when he hit punches he was very crisp and right on target. Brown tried to buy some time by pushing him against the cage but in the end it really didn’t seem like Brown was all that comfortable with Aldo on the ground. Aldo said going into the fight that if it went to the ground that he would be comfortable with that and he wasn’t lying at all.
The Featherweight division sets up as follows: Aldo will likely defend the title against a challenger shortly and the promotion needs him to win that initial defense. Urijah Faber has a fight with Raphael Assuncao, which he should win but it’s not a gimme fight. If we are to believe Reed Harris and accept that WEC will run a PPV in the Spring, wouldn’t a fight featuring Faber and Aldo make the most sense? Faber’s the one guy in the WEC right now who people will pay to watch and given how impressive Jose Aldo is as a fighter, it shouldn’t be that difficult of a fight to sell.
Other WEC show notes: I thought the TV announcing was very suspect tonight, which is not something I normally say. I like Frank Mir’s energy and knowledge he brings to the broadcasts, but he plays favorites a lot of times and some of the things he said left me scratching my head. Such as thinking Rob McCullough won his fight, which he didn’t… Mike Chiappetta summed it up best: “That wasn’t a great call from Harris & Mir. Almost no reaction to a title change.”
The top-level depth in WEC right now is becoming more established, which is a good thing. However, the lower portion of the company’s roster is all scrambled up. I know Chris Horodecki is coming in soon, so that should help bolster the roster.
Topics: Media, MMA, WEC, Zach Arnold | 32 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |