In Team UFC’s Number 1 Suckup’s latest “Mailbag” column, the aforementioned writer says UFC President Dana White is:
thinking of leaving a welterweight division in the WEC and moving the WEC’s 185-pound and 205-pound fighters to the UFC.
Dropping the WEC’s two highest weight classes and moving the fighters over to the UFC’s ranks is a very interesting idea. While White has long maintained that the WEC and UFC are two separate entities, he has also maintained that the WEC will highlight the lighter weightclass fighters.
When Zuffa purchased the WEC they immediately dropped the 255 lb. limit heavyweight division and the UFC purchased several of the fighters contracts. Where Zuffa to put the WEC on a further diet, the UFC could pick up some much needed help in the middleweight division.
Fighters like Chael Sonnen, Paulo Filho, and Bryan Baker would make excellent additions and instantly give the UFC two new fighters would could contend for the title against Anderson Silva. The deeper UFC light heavyweight division would look to pickup Doug Marshall, Brian Stann, Steve Cantwell and Mark Munoz. While none of these fighters would realistically be top contenders right away, they could provide much needed matchup potential for existing UFC fighters down the road.
Personally, I think it would be a great move on the UFC’s part and the WEC wouldn’t miss the two weightlcasses in the least. What do you think? Good idea or bad?
Loading ...
I voted no on this.. It seems to me that the UFC is more interested in releasing fighters than signing fighters. I just dont get it, they release guys who are in the top 10 best in the world for their div. If your trying to be the #1 org. it seems to me that you would want to keep the best guys.
I wouldnt be surprised if they released Franklin and Okami then signed Sonnen and Filho, then dump Wanderlei and Liddell and replace them with Marshall and Stann…. they already cleaned out the HW div, maybe theyre planning to nab Kimbo from Elite or something…
WTF is going on in the UFC???
if thats the case that they want to move the bigger guys over then maybe they should just scrap WEC all together, add a feather weight division to UFC and bring them all over. part of the thing with the UFC is they know they can sell a card full of TUF alum and no name fighters with one big fight and people will still buy it. im ok with watching lower level fighters (i will watch just about anyone fight, i just like to watch MMA) but for the people who wont get behind a B or C level card the UFC is going to need to start figuring out a good balance before companies like Affliction start taking all there revenue.
QUESTION GUYS!! Cote or Almeida???????????? man its a tough call.. what do you guys think??
you know i gotta go with Pat, i never picked against him till the McFedries fight and he finished Mcfedries right quick so i’ll never bet against him again. i got round 2 TKO, i think Almeida will take him down and control him for most of round 1 and Cote will come out and knock Almeidas head off at the start of round 2.
I could definately see that happening RJ, there are alot of reasons to think Cote could win. I think the most important thing is that Cote has been fighting steadily in the UFC for a while now. He stopped his last 3 opponents by KO in the first round, McFedries, Grove and Jason Day, no slouches.. Plus i read this article earlier this week where hes talking about how hes free of all injuries, he feels stronger and faster than ever and hes in the best shape of his life.. and i believe him man.. hes definately proven that..
I didnt realize how long it has been since Almeida was out of commission, he stopped fighting in like 2004. Now he came back feb this year and got a SIX FIGHT CONTRACT with the UFC and submitted Yundt in the first min of the fight!. Wow, thats pretty impressive man, looks like the UFC believes in this guy..
ofcourse Yundt was a tune up fight, so Almeida showed he hasnt lost a step in his ground game. Cote is primarily a striker, hes got power and hes tough as nails, his only susceptibility is the ground game. Not to say its weak, but hes just not at the top of the heap in terms of BJJ and Almeida IS.
yeah if Almeida doesnt slap on a deep submission very early i think Cote will touch that chin and the highlight reel will be enough to give him a title shot. if people see Cote win by brutal KO or Almeida win by crazy submission you can bet your asss they’ll be next for Anderson, it dosent seem like there in a big rush to put Anderson vs. Okami together and i think Silva has a better shot at beating Cote and Almeida then Okami.
WTF?? i just heard on an AD for UFC 86: “Cote and Almeida fight for a title shot” ??? whats that all about? Okami must be pissed if he hears that on TV.
Cotes looking good but i think he should have to get past Okami before he gets a shot, or maybe if he beats Almeida he could get the next shot at Anderson after Okami.
Almeida has had 1 fight in the past 4 years lol no way he should get a title shot yet.
yeah i noticed that too, but it changes some of the ads say “to take one step closer to a title shot” and the other one say “for a shot at the middle weight title” im wondering if there worried about the Okami fight.
I would be SHOCKED if Almeida was offered a title shot even if he beats Cote. I think theyre sand bagging Okami too man..
yeah man i love Silva and i’ll be pissed if he loses, but that doesnt mean i dont want him to fight anyone dangerous ya know.