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A year and a half ago MMA's heavyweight division was brimming with prospects, proven talent and veterans at the top of their games. Now after the decline and fall of Fedor Emelianenko, Brock Lesnar, Cain Velasquez and others, the division looks to be on the down swing again.
Nov 14, 2011 - New UFC heavyweight champ Junior dos Santos has crushed the previously undefeated Cain Velasquez, amid rumors both men were dealing with serious injuries. Having seen how diminished Velasquez -- pudgy, slow, tentative -- appeared on his return from a year off for rotator cuff surgery, fans are right to worry that dos Santos won't be the same when he returns from knee surgery for a torn meniscus.
While the division is certainly still strong, it's dramatically diminished from its all-time peak a mere 20 months ago. In 2010 we had a superstar UFC champ that was universally feared. We had a still-undefeated legend ruling in Strikeforce. We had a bevy of up and coming prospects and a strong roster of formidable and well-known veterans. Today, not so much.
Sixteen months ago MMA's heavyweight division was the hottest division in mixed martial arts. Superstar champion Brock Lesnar was not only the biggest popular attraction in the sport's history, he also had a fearsome aura of intimidation. In June 2010, when Brock Lesnar said he was the baddest, people believed him.
Sure he'd survived a scary bout of diverticulitis, but he was ramping up for his return to the Octagon and anticipation was running high.
And sure Lesnar had lost one fight at that point, a kneebar submission to Frank Mir in his second pro fight, but as of June, 2010, Brock Lesnar had physically dominated every opponent he'd been locked in the cage with.
It wasn't just Lesnar either, rising contenders Shane Carwin,Velasquez, dos Santos, The Ultimate Fighter winner Roy Nelson and Brendan Schaub were all building momentum and winning fights.
Outside the UFC, long-time Pride champion Fedor Emelianenko was still undefeated. Strikeforce had built a heavyweight division around Fedor that many felt was as good or better than the UFC's. Fighters like Alistair Overeem, Josh Barnett, Fabricio Werdum and Andrei Arlovski had fans buzzing with excitement at the prospect of a Strikeforce heavyweight tournament.
Time changes everything.
Today Brock Lesnar has survived not just the removal of about a foot of his colon after a diverticulitis relapse necessitated surgery, but also two in-cage thrashings that have dramatically diminished his mystique. He got past Shane Carwin at UFC 116, but not before Carwin showed Lesnar is decidedly uncomfortable when he gets hit. At UFC 121, Cain Velasquez finished what Carwin started and not only made Lesnar look flinchy when punched, he definitively beat him by TKO.
Unfortunately, Velasquez was unable to quickly capitalize on the momentum due to a very serious rotator cuff injury. According to reports, Cain endured a 90% tear of his right rotator cuff which required surgery and kept him out of the cage for nearly a year. When he returned he was not the same fighter. Possibly due to a minor knee sprain a few weeks before the fight, but more ominously it could be that his shoulder still isn't the same and never will be. That kind of rotator cuff tear has been the end of many an athletic career.
As for Lesnar, he is still a very compelling attraction to fans, but there's no denying that the aura of invincibility has been destroyed. He'll have a chance to redeem himself against Alistair Overeem at UFC 141.
Dos Santos is one of the few heavyweights whose reputation and prospects have only improved in the last year and a half, but a serious knee injury could change everything. Former light heavyweight champ Mauricio Rua is a walking, make that limping, cautionary tale for what knee injuries and surgery can do to a fighter.
Fedor Emelianenko's career and reputation are in tatters after three straight losses. Thanks to the overly aggressive negotiating tactics of his management which destroyed his working relationship with Zuffa (who bought Strikeforce in April, 2011), Fedor's next fight probably won't even be aired in the U.S. At age 35 and with a scorched Earth relationship with the UFC there's almost no chance of Fedor returning to the top of the sport.
Shane Carwin's been brought low by a vicious trifecta of age (36), injuries and a brutal, brutal loss to dos Santos at UFC 131. He endured a serious neck surgery after nearly taking the title at UFC 116 and just recently he's announced that he'll be going under the knife for back surgery.
Nelson is another victim of JDS, but unlike Carwin, he at least looked competitive against dos Santos. It was Nelson's listless performance against Frank Mir at UFC 130 that really sunk him as a viable contender. Nelson got back on track against Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic at UFC 137 but beating the aging Cro Cop is only so impressive.
As for Schaub, he's plenty young (28) and talented enough to bounce back from his shocking KO loss to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira but it will take at least a year for him to rebuild the 4-straight-win momentum he had going into that bout. If he'd beaten Big Nog, Schaub was a lock for a title shot.
Then there's the carnage that is the Strikeforce heavyweight Grand Prix. Fedor and Arlovski lost in the first round, Arlovski has lost so much that he's been bumped down to the MMA minor leagues and it's doubtful he ever returns. The "Fedor-slayer" Fabricio Werdum lost to Overeem in the quarter-final round and made both fighters look bad in the process.
The new talent that has come into the division more recently is distinctly limited: Dave Herman, who had to sit out his second UFC fight at UFC 136 due to a failed drug test; Travis Browne, whose turgid performance at UFC 135 did anything but get fans talking; and Daniel Cormier, who's very talented but very very small for the division.
It just goes to show that in the ultra-dangerous world of MMA change is the only constant.
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Comments
cause fighting Overeem for #1 contendership is such a decline / fall
dude got sick from circumstances he has no control over, and that is him falling off the map?
nice try, but your tripe about how Lesnar is uncomfortable being hit seems like false dichotomy. These are big strong heavyweights no one should like getting hit by them, and if you get hit and don’t go down you must be Roy Nelson (he took the JDS uppercut, the cro cop head kick, etc)
¬_¬
by ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ on Nov 14, 2011 8:25 AM PST reply actions
so you think Lesnar's performance against Cain
is the kind of thing that sells tickets? “See the giant man cower and cringe like a small child when he gets hit.”
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Nate Wilcox on Nov 14, 2011 8:40 AM PST up reply actions
As opposed to the Velasquez faceplant?
flinchy > unconscious
I am the WAMMA Light-Heavyweight Champion
Now with more defenses than Fedor
by Reality_Jockey on Nov 14, 2011 9:10 AM PST up reply actions
I'm not sure how bringing up another fighter
whose reputation has taken a big hit helps your case. The whole division is down from its 2010 peak. It’s not in Death Valley, but there for a minute it was on Mount Everest.
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Nate Wilcox on Nov 14, 2011 9:12 AM PST up reply actions
Almost all big HW fights end badly for someone
The doom crying got old in 05.
There is almost always a huge HW fight on deck. and after the next 3/4 huge fights we’ll hear the same tired “HW division declining” right before the next 2-3 huge fights
I am the WAMMA Light-Heavyweight Champion
Now with more defenses than Fedor
by Reality_Jockey on Nov 14, 2011 9:36 AM PST up reply actions
what doom crying?
I’m trying to convey exactly how special a moment we had in 2009/2010.
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Nate Wilcox on Nov 14, 2011 9:40 AM PST up reply actions
Someone doesn't remember 09-10 very well
Brock’s buyrates were awesome… but the rest of the division was less stellar. Take out UFC 100 and mediocrity was the norm.
Mir, Kongo, Nog, Velasquez, Fedor, Barnett, Carwin, Werdum, Silva, Lesnar, Reem
damn near everyone put in some weak performances during this “golden age” or made a few trips to the can bin.
I am the WAMMA Light-Heavyweight Champion
Now with more defenses than Fedor
by Reality_Jockey on Nov 14, 2011 10:02 AM PST up reply actions
there's nothing comparable today
then UFC champ — superstar Brock Lesnar
now UFC champ — relatively unknown & injured JDS
then Strikeforce superstar — undefeated legend Fedor E.
Now — Fedor fighting in M-1, Strikeforce tourny in tatters
then rising prospects — JDS, Cain, Carwin, Reem, Duffee, Mitrione, Nelson
now — Travis Browne, Cormier
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Nate Wilcox on Nov 14, 2011 10:07 AM PST up reply actions
You are ignoring some big positives at HW though I think. Big Nog has a big win against Schaub and that was exciting, perhaps he will have another run in him. Daniel Cormier is emerging as a potential star at HW, Josh Barnett is looking like he could be a threat once again. The Brock Reem fight coming up should be amazing and do well on PPV. Kongo is on a bit of a run and developing a more well rounded game too. I think the division isn’t looking quite as strong as last year but is still stronger than most periods in MMA history.
"He's got a great package... and an unusual one!" Joe Rogan (of Lyoto Machida)
by crizzy on Nov 14, 2011 11:32 AM PST up reply actions
I'm not saying there's nothing to look forward to
the whole genesis of the article was just my looking back 18 months and going, “wow things were amazingly good there for a minute”
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Nate Wilcox on Nov 14, 2011 11:46 AM PST up reply actions
Just the fact that Brock was champ shows you how weak the division was
The amount of top-heavyweights today is unpresidented. I can’t see your angle at all, but than again I was never on the brock-hypetrain and don’t look back at the past years with nostalgia.
"It's just an abounded mineshaft! You just go climb aound in it!
by peseg on Nov 14, 2011 12:15 PM PST up reply actions
I'm talking about in terms of commercial appeal
it’s an objective fact that Lesnar is the most popular PPV attraction in UFC history.
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Nate Wilcox on Nov 14, 2011 12:17 PM PST up reply actions
I guess I see that perspective
but you cant blame that on a weak heavyweight-division. You have to blame a fanbase who’s more interested showtime-bussiness rather than fighting
"It's just an abounded mineshaft! You just go climb aound in it!
by peseg on Nov 14, 2011 1:02 PM PST up reply actions
Lesnar sells tickets regardless of how he performs
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
and I watch him cause I know he is steady improving, and I used to be a mark for pro wrestling
¬_¬
by ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ on Nov 14, 2011 9:57 AM PST up reply actions
steadily improving?
He showed real grace under fire against Herring and Couture. The flinchy-when-hit bit only started with Carwin. Maybe Carwin’s power put the fear of God in him, maybe it was the diverticulitis. who knows.
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Nate Wilcox on Nov 14, 2011 9:58 AM PST up reply actions
I saw Cain flinch when JDS gave him a stiff right jab
like Bas said, you have to drill strikes coming at you cause you are undoing reflex.
That arm triangle on Carwin isn’t a wrestling move, he picked that up in camp… etc etc etc
look long story short I expect more from you when you write, not 1023 words with 80 word that are tags at the end. Srsly at least have some sizzle with your steak. You are the one who makes me expect the bar to be so high! It’s kinda like how the local high end supermarket fell off with the bagels they make, they used to be bigger than a CD with copious toppings, now they are all small and skimpy with measly toppings.
¬_¬
by ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ on Nov 14, 2011 10:26 AM PST up reply actions
thanks
I guess
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Nate Wilcox on Nov 14, 2011 11:46 AM PST up reply actions
you are welcome
I guess
keep it real Nate, always!
even when keeping it real goes wrong
¬_¬
by ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ on Nov 14, 2011 1:59 PM PST up reply actions
bleh
by Rufford on Nov 14, 2011 4:51 PM PST up reply actions
nice try, but your tripe about how Lesnar is uncomfortable being hit seems like false dichotomy.
“Tripe” about Lesnar, I get it!
by Shaun32887 on Nov 14, 2011 10:21 AM PST up reply actions
lol
you had to stretch for that one.
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Nate Wilcox on Nov 14, 2011 11:46 AM PST up reply actions
also change is the only constant
not just in MMA
¬_¬
by ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ on Nov 14, 2011 8:26 AM PST reply actions
Same fighters as last year
I don’t see how that makes it go from stacked to thin
by RashadsLeftNipple on Nov 14, 2011 8:27 AM PST reply actions
I think its all perspective
Same fighters, more data, less assumptions.
by Body Triangle on Nov 14, 2011 8:37 AM PST up reply actions
Agreed....
seems like Nate has a decidedly negative angle on every single fighter in the division. But, it’s so negative that its clearly just been put together for the benefits of writing an interesting article. I don’t think even Nate believes that the future is really this glum.
He doesn’t mention the new guys like Stipe Miocic and Phil De Fries, doesn’t mention that if Ailistair Overeem beats Lesnar he could be a new super star in the division who has yet to conquer any of the big names in the division. There’s no mention of the fact that Jon Jones is destined for the Heavyweight division sometime in the near future. And how can he gloss over a talent like Daniel Cormier? I get it….it helps to prove your point Nate, but give the kid some credit. And we can’t be so quick to throw out guys like Mitrione and Schaub just for having one poor performance.
And when Werdum and Barnett make their way over it’ll just be the cherry on top. I’d say this division actually looks pretty deep.
Matt Janecek
MBA, 2011
An MBA on MMA: mixed martial arts thru the lens of business
mba-mma.blogspot.com
by mjanecek on Nov 14, 2011 8:43 AM PST up reply actions
I'm not saying its glum
I’m saying we’re down quite a bit from an incredible peak 18 months ago. Tweaked the article a little to explain my point.
The heavyweight division has historically been a dog so we’re still way above average, but 18 months ago we had it all. Superstar champ in the UFC, superstar champ outside the UFC, hot prospects, lots of veterans still in contention. Now everyone is less than they were. Every single fighter.
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Nate Wilcox on Nov 14, 2011 9:01 AM PST up reply actions
I see
so u wanted to touch on as many fighters in the division to show a down swing. I guess calling the division thin is what set me off.
Matt Janecek
MBA, 2011
An MBA on MMA: mixed martial arts thru the lens of business
mba-mma.blogspot.com
by mjanecek on Nov 14, 2011 9:29 AM PST up reply actions
I changed that
I was really trying to get across what an incredible all-time high we were at when both Brock and Fedor were on top and there was that whole new crop of up and comers (JDS, Cain, Carwin, Reem etc)
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Nate Wilcox on Nov 14, 2011 9:32 AM PST up reply actions
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
But, it’s so negative that its clearly just been put together for the benefits of writing an interesting article. I don’t think even Nate believes that the future is really this glum.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
¬_¬
by ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ on Nov 14, 2011 10:27 AM PST up reply actions
I didn't even say anything about the future at all
this piece is strictly a comparison between now and 18/20 months ago.
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Nate Wilcox on Nov 14, 2011 11:47 AM PST up reply actions
a likely story
¬_¬
by ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ on Nov 14, 2011 1:56 PM PST up reply actions
Every single fighter except Cormier, who has only seen his stock rise during the time period you are looking at and his opponent in the tournament, Barnett, who has reminded us why he was once the #2 fighter in the world.
It's that the world is basically a forced labor camp from which the workers, perfectly innocent, are led forth by lottery, a few each day, to be executed.
I don't think that's just the way I see it. I think that's the way it is. Are there alternative views? Yes. Will any of them stand close scrutiny? No.
by memitim on Nov 14, 2011 10:20 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
I don't accept Cormier as a legit heavyweight
for all his talent, he’s a blown up LHW.
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Nate Wilcox on Nov 14, 2011 11:47 AM PST up reply actions
Surely you know about how he almost died trying to cut weight?
Plus… if strength isn’t an issue (which it isn’t for Cormier), then I don’t see why heavyweight wouldn’t work for him. He’s fast, athletic, has a great gas tank, has power, and is super well rounded. Those are all the traits that made Fedor great in his prime, and he dominated heavyweight for 7 years.
Xtreme Couture- The best never rest! The girl in my av is Kari Sweets (you're welcome).
"I swear it upon Zeus an outstanding runner cannot be the equal of an average wrestler."
-Socrates
by ElliotMatheny on Nov 14, 2011 12:09 PM PST up reply actions
I know all about that
that still doesn’t make him big enough to hang at HW IMO.
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Nate Wilcox on Nov 14, 2011 12:17 PM PST up reply actions
He just beat up one of the biggest heavyweights in the division,
and it’s not like Brock or Carwin are much more nimble than Bigfoot anyways. I think that Cormier has the wrestling to fend off any and all big boys looking to take him down.
Xtreme Couture- The best never rest! The girl in my av is Kari Sweets (you're welcome).
"I swear it upon Zeus an outstanding runner cannot be the equal of an average wrestler."
-Socrates
by ElliotMatheny on Nov 14, 2011 4:27 PM PST up reply actions
He's a prospect for sure
and pretty much the only bright spot in the division to emerge post-2010.
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Nate Wilcox on Nov 14, 2011 5:05 PM PST up reply actions
Barnett’s reemergence is arguably an even better storyline. Fedor steps into the shadows and Barnett steps up.
What about Big Nog’s HUGE win, that isn’t a bright spot?
I think the Cain and JDS saga is set to be very interesting in coming years. I can see JDS holding the belt for a long time to come. His TDD is bulletproof and his striking is lethal. Who is going to beat him? Perhaps Reem (if he can get by Brock), but Reem looks MUCH slower than JDS.
I think if the pairing of fighters is smart, storylines like these just develop naturally. I like the future of the HW division myself.
"He's got a great package... and an unusual one!" Joe Rogan (of Lyoto Machida)
by crizzy on Nov 16, 2011 7:12 AM PST up reply actions
But he is a heavyweight. He just demolished one of the biggest HW’s in the division. He is competitive in the weight class, undefeated.
It's that the world is basically a forced labor camp from which the workers, perfectly innocent, are led forth by lottery, a few each day, to be executed.
I don't think that's just the way I see it. I think that's the way it is. Are there alternative views? Yes. Will any of them stand close scrutiny? No.
by memitim on Nov 14, 2011 12:56 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Fedor is 6’ and 230 lbs
Cormier is 5’11 245 lbs
by JasonHarris on Nov 14, 2011 1:42 PM PST up reply actions
touche
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Nate Wilcox on Nov 14, 2011 2:28 PM PST up reply actions
Maybe I'm just nit-picking
But when I hear the word stacked or thin I think of the quantity of quality fighters, which hasn’t changed. Sure the title picture is a little different, but there’s still a lot of good fighters and good matches to make.
JDS is a champ with a very fan friendly style. I assume the superstar champ out side of UFC is Allistair who is just as much a superstar as he was before. Barnett and Cormier are climbing up the ranks.
It just seems wrong to say the division is thin because some of the contenders have lost in the last year, cuz for every loss in the HW division, there is a HW fighter that won. That’s what happens when people are matched up against similarly ranked opponents…
by RashadsLeftNipple on Nov 14, 2011 9:17 AM PST reply actions
Amazing how EVERY year we get this article
04 05 06 07 08 09… every year
The HW division is always at this level. A couple big losses, some big fights coming up. Some fading names, some rising. A few reliable gatekeepers.
Can’t wait to read the late 2012 version
I am the WAMMA Light-Heavyweight Champion
Now with more defenses than Fedor
by Reality_Jockey on Nov 14, 2011 9:20 AM PST reply actions
nope
it was at an all-time high in 2009/2010.
It took a decade to build Fedor. Brock Lesnar was unique story due to his blend of NCAA cred and WWE exposure.
I’m hopeful we’ll see an even bigger peak but it won’t be in 2012.
There is zero chance of producing another Fedor for at least 5 years, if ever. I doubt there will ever be another fighter with Brock’s mix of credibility and popular appeal.
The crop of up and coming talent will probably (hopefully) be matched fairly soon but seriously you think the division is in better shape now than it was then?
Not even close and you know it.
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Nate Wilcox on Nov 14, 2011 9:35 AM PST up reply actions
also please point me to this same article from last year.
or the year before.
Or ever.
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Nate Wilcox on Nov 14, 2011 9:35 AM PST up reply actions
"The "Fedor-slayer" Fabricio Werdum lost to Overeem in the first round and made both fighters look bad in the process."
When did Overeem beat Werdum in the first round?
by No SOul to SELL on Nov 14, 2011 9:42 AM PST reply actions
first round of the tournament
I’ll change to quarter final round
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Nate Wilcox on Nov 14, 2011 9:46 AM PST up reply actions
Pointless article...
There was certainly a small amount of sense that went into this article. It’s very obvious that this is just another “filler” story. What certainly has NOT changed about the heavyweight division is the amount of QUALITY fighters that are in it. Did Nate forget that top heavyweights actually have to fight each other at some point or another? The heavyweight division was only “HOT” because there were many potential fights that hadn’t been made, and guess what…. we’ve gotten them, and we’ll get more soon. What did you expect to happen? We’re in the fight business. Thanks for reminding us that there’s a winner and loser to every fight, Nate.
by kid_sea on Nov 14, 2011 10:29 AM PST reply actions
the fundamental blow to the division
was the loss of Fedor as an undefeated legend and the loss of Brock as UFC champion.
We have nothing comparable in the division today. Not even close.
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Nate Wilcox on Nov 14, 2011 11:49 AM PST up reply actions
i've had a meniscectomies and an acl reconstruction...
and they don’t really compare. as far as knee injuries go, a torn meniscus is pretty minor and while painful and annoying, it usually doesn’t affect joint stability. even for a badly torn meniscus, junior should be back in the gym by six weeks.
acl reconstruction takes at least six months to recover and there’s always the nagging feeling in the back of the mind that the joint could go again.
so comparing jds and shogun is like apples and oranges.
by dr. ransom on Nov 14, 2011 11:04 AM PST reply actions
good info
thanks
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Nate Wilcox on Nov 14, 2011 11:48 AM PST up reply actions
I disagree-
I think that the Heavyweight division is in a great spot right now. The winner of Overeem/ Lesnar should be an exciting, marketable challenger for Dos, and down the pipe he has Frank Mir (who will likely repeat his win over Nog), the Strikeforce HW GP winner (likely Cormier, but Barnett would be an awesome matchup too), as well as some of the rising HW contenders.
Cain had a long layoff, but he’s still on the right side of 30 and should be able to come back. I think that a guy like Travis Browne could be fighting for a title with 3 or so good wins, and potentially Mitrione and Schaub could get back on the right track and be fighting for the title a few years from now.
Especially with the Strikeforce heavies coming into the UFC, I think now is better than ever for the 205+ division. Lots of fresh matchups, the rankings will finally sort themselves out, lineal titles will be unified… I’m excited.
Xtreme Couture- The best never rest! The girl in my av is Kari Sweets (you're welcome).
"I swear it upon Zeus an outstanding runner cannot be the equal of an average wrestler."
-Socrates
by ElliotMatheny on Nov 14, 2011 12:05 PM PST reply actions
Yes, but you're looking at it from a reality point of view.
That has never been kid’s forte.
2006 forever!
I am the WAMMA Light-Heavyweight Champion
Now with more defenses than Fedor
by Reality_Jockey on Nov 14, 2011 12:18 PM PST up reply actions
Did I say we weren't in a great spot right now?
No. I said that things had cooled off since the Brock/Fedor peak.
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Nate Wilcox on Nov 14, 2011 12:18 PM PST up reply actions
Cooled off, sure-
but ready to take right back off IMO. Brock/ Reem should still be huge, and the winner of that fight will be carrying ALOT of hype into a title shot against Junior.
I see Junior beating all comers at this point- I think he’ll be the first stable UFC heavyweight champ since Big Tim.
Xtreme Couture- The best never rest! The girl in my av is Kari Sweets (you're welcome).
"I swear it upon Zeus an outstanding runner cannot be the equal of an average wrestler."
-Socrates
by ElliotMatheny on Nov 14, 2011 4:29 PM PST up reply actions
I like the article.
Nate don’t listen to them. It was a good article. I totally understand what you are saying. When you go from a Heavyweight Champion of Tim Sylvia, Randy Couture to Brock Lesnar there was no comparison to how high the Heavyweight division was when Brock had the belt. There is not one Heavyweight on the roster that has the mass appeal of Brock Lesnar. Fedor had that mass appeal but has totally dropped off the planet. Overreem had so much hype that when Werdum and him fought it let a lot of air out of that balloon (I will say I don’t see Overreem being that great). He has been knocked out many times in his career and just ate a lot of Horse meat to get so big! I totally agree that looking at the landscape now is nowhere near as much fun as it was 18 months ago. We were all talking about Brock vs. Fedor and it was awesome. Don’t get me wrong I am stoked to see Brock vs. Overreem, but it is not the same after seeing Brock lose the way he did. Good Post!
by mmaforever on Nov 14, 2011 12:42 PM PST reply actions
thanks!
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Nate Wilcox on Nov 14, 2011 1:23 PM PST up reply actions
Ahhh yes
A good old “The sky is falling” article from Kid Nate. Haven’t seen one of these in a while since I stopped going to BE. Reminds me of the wonderful “UFC is in terrible shape and their business is declining” articles that got posted every few months contrary to any and all evidence.
I don’t know when there was ever any heat on Schaub (he came into UFC being KOed by Big Country and nobody ever really forgot it) and apparently this entire article is basically saying “Brock not champ = bad division”
The current champion is a KO artist who is undefeated in the UFC, Overeem was just added to the mix, Big Nog put himself back on the map with an impressive KO win, Brock is coming back into the division
Nevermind the fact that it’s 99% likely that Barnett, Cormier, and the rest of the talent in Strikeforce are going to be absorbed into the UFC soon.
About the only fighter who has fallen off the map is Fedor. Apparently Fedor no longer being top level is all it takes to make the division lose it’s luster. :P
by JasonHarris on Nov 14, 2011 1:23 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
How did it cool off if anything it got hotter.
We have a new exciting champ. I don’t think I have ever seen a boring performance from JDS. We just got to see the HW championship on cable! Overeem one of the most popular heavyweights in the whorl enter the UFC, and is about to fight the UFC’s largest draw. We also have Fabricio Werdum back in the UFC’s rank after defeating Fedor. Barnett and Cormier are coming up big in Strikeforce and before the year is over I bet both are in the UFC. Nog just put a “w” on his list in Brazil. We didn’t have anything special a few years ago. Brock was the big name. You had guys like JDS and Cain waiting in the wings to get a chance.
by Wyatt Elder on Nov 14, 2011 6:21 PM PST reply actions
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