MMA HQ - Mixed Martial Arts News and Analysis

We finally have another contributor here at MMA HQ. Several of you have written articles once or twice in the past and today MMA HQ reader Drehog has sent in a very interesting article regarding the current state of the UFC Light Heavyweight division after what happened this past weekend at UFC 76. Enjoy the article and, again, I welcome contributions from any and all readers. If you have something you want to write about and get off your chest just email me with your story.

First off, a little about me: IÂ’ am a math teacher in a small Christian school in West Virginia, and I have been following MMA (mostly, but not exclusively, the UFC) pretty heavily for the last year and a half. I have seen every UFC event since the Gracie/Hughes fight at UFC 60 with the exception of three events and I have gone back and watched a lot of the older events also. I’Â’m a loyal reader of MMAHQ, but I donÂ’t usually post comments. After the events of Saturday night (which I didn’Â’t watch live), I feel like trying my hand at writing some commentary which Dr. J has agreed to post on his site.

Here is how I would rank the Light Heavyweight division in the UFC right now:

1. Quinton “”Rampage”” Jackson
2. Who
3. the
4. heck
5. knows
6. what
7. order
8. the rest
9. should be
10. anymore ???

In mathematics, we teach that if A>B and B>C then A>C. ItÂ’’s a little thing called the “transitive property.” Unfortunately, at this point there is no easy way to rank everyone below Jackson right now. Who should be the next challenger for Jackson? Most people thought it was going to be “Mauricio “Shogun”” Rua, but he just lost to Forrest Griffin. So should it be Forrest? Well, he lost to Keith Jardine. So then it’Â’s Jardine then, right? But didn’Â’t he get destroyed by Houston Alexander? I don’Â’t think anyone honestly feels that Houston Alexander should be the #1 contender right now, do they? What about Wanderlei Silva? Well, he’Â’s 2-3 in his last 5 fights and has noÂ’t fought since February. We havenÂ’’t even dealt with Rashad Evans or Tito Ortiz yet, either.

So, what should happen? Since Jackson will be out until early 2008 with a hand injury, there is plenty of time for a clear cut contender to emerge for the title shot. I propose that the UFC change up there format and go back to the “tournament” style of days gone by. (I know it will never happen, but it’s my article so hear me out). But instead of having it all in one day, split it up over 3 consecutive events. Here is my proposed bracket for event #1:

(1) Dan Henderson Vs. (8) Houston Alexander
(4) Forrest Griffin Vs. (5) Keith Jardine

(3) Shogun Rua Vs. (6) Rashad Evans
(2) Wanderlei Silva Vs. (7) Chuck Liddell

Event #1 would obviously be an all light-heavyweight card. Fighters like Tito and Ryoto Machida could be on the undercard. Events #2 and #3 would have other fights to fill in the holes on the card (Couture vs. Nogueira anyone?).

I think something like this would be draw HUGE attention and excitement to the UFC, and we would definitely have a clear-cut contender for Jackson’Â’s belt when it iÂ’s all said and done. I know that my rankings can be debated ad nauseam, but thatÂ’’s not the main point here. Something needs to be done. I know that Dana White will not change the UFC’Â’s model right now, but I think a shake up is in order. Let 2008 be the year of the tournaments. Either that or give us Randy Couture vs. Quinton Jackson!