Throwdowns > Completed

Views
11
Comments
20
  • July 10, 2008 09:51 AM ET

Most prestigious belt to win in the UFC.

The Prodigy is Hawaiian for #1 (117-155-23) vs You want to play a game? (891-263-54)
7
Votes
5
Votes
7
Votes
5
Votes


Lots of weightclasses, lots of belts. So which one comes with the most prestige? In boxing it was and probably remains the Heavyweight belt. In the UFC however the most prestigous belt is......

The Light Heavyweight Belt.

First let's take a look at the talent at that weight:
Forrest Griffin
Rampage Jackson
Mauricio "Shogun" Rua
Ryoto "Lyoto" Machida
Wanderlei Silva
Rashad Evans
Dan Henderson
Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou
Houston Alexander
Thiago Silva

And this division is so deep, these guys are moving up to fight in it:
Anderson Silva
Michael "The Count" Bisping

It's the belt everyone wants to have, heck even HW's move down to try and grab it. Brandon Vera is moving down to fight at 205.

Here's a list of folks who have held it:
Frank Shamrock
Tito Ortiz
Randy Couture
Vitor Belfort
Chuck
Rampage
Forrest

This weightclass is the deepest (talent wise) and this belt more so then any has more meaning associated with it. You have to beat the best of the best to hold this belt. Their aren't really any "gimmies" at this weight class. Winning other belts is awesome don't get me wrong, but the best one is the LHW. Think I am wrong? Then throwdown!!!!!!!!!!!!!


You might want to rethink that statement

"And this division is so deep, these guys are moving up to fight in it:
Anderson Silva
Michael "The Count" Bisping "

No Silva is moving up beacuse he needs someone to beat on that MIGHT make him sweat. and Bisping is moving DOWN to the middleweight class.

Vera is moving down beacuse he cannot handle the big guys anymore and is not willing to sacrifice his CHIN anymore - he also knows he has NO chance vs Nog

and of the 5 classes I think that Div has the most UNTESTED champion of them all BY FAR- I love Forrest and his last two fights were over top 5 world wide talent- but of the 5 he scares people the LEAST by a large margin.

My Pick? The LIGHTWEIGHT crown- as you should know.

other than the HWY div is there a non-UFC name out there like Urijah Faber - who if he walks INTO your div becomes a top contender?

There is 2 of the 6 top pound for pound fighters in the WORLD

Clay Guida
Joe Stevenson
Tyson Griffin
Thiago Tavares
Roger Huerta
Kenny Florian
Sean Sherk
Hermes Franca

Plus Vitor Ribeiro is out there as well

You do NOT have a better div in the UFC (Houston Alexander? Really?)


I kinda figured with you taking it, you were going to bring up the Bisping deal, and I actually meant something different, but its early where I am. I give you half a point there. Vera can handle the big guys just fine, he has always had a goal to fight and hold belts at both.

Suddenly because Forrest won the belt, he is the most untested? I don't see that. I mean granted Forrest hasn't had the number of fights some of the other guys have, but he has had some wars in the Octagon. Had I made this before the fight you could not ahve made that argument.

This division is so close talent wise it's not even funny. You bring up depth at the LW division, however the champs in that division are dominating the competiton and having to move up in weight to find better opposistion. If the LW belt is more prestigous then why is BJ going after the WW belt?

To answer your question, I say yes. Ever heard of Vladimir Matyushenko, he is ranked at number 2 in a ton of peoples minds in the LHW division. Or how about Brian Stann? He is ranked top ten.

In reality regardless of the talent, a LW belt will never hold the alure the LHW belt does. Those guys are too small to take the prestige.


You have a fighter moving OUT of your div and I get HALF a point?

"Suddenly because Forrest won the belt, he is the most untested? I don't see that"

So out of BJ Penn, GSP, Silva, and Nog - who is weaker right now that FG? Who of those four would you think is NOT a top 3 fighter in the WORLD at thier class- becasue FG was ranked #6 at his weight class - only NOG is not considered the KING of his weight class because of Fedor and Randy.

please, I need another TD there- TELL me whose throne is LESS Secure than FG right now- True Rampage is the Man and FG also beat Shogun- but top of your head- can you name 3 fighters off the top of your head that you would bet lunch on that could beat him?

I can - Chuck, Rampage, Henderson - easy

Name me 3 fighters that you could do that 2 in ANY other Div - and don;t say Randy,Fedor, and Andre for Nog

BJ is going after GSP because GSP WHIPPED HIS A%% - If GSP balloned up to 205- BJ would STILL try to run him down to avenge that loss- and if Matt Hughes decides to try SUMO - BJ is going to start eating a LOT of rice after the GSP fight!

Vladimir Matyushenko - Right
Sherdog - not top 10
Dustin James - not top 10

IFL Hack?


I get your point about Forrest, but in the MW division it's dominated by Silva. In the WW it's dominated by GSP, in the LW it's dominated by BJ. Are those tougher belts to get if your a fighter at that weight? absofreakinlutley. I don't think I am trying to say it's not.

What I am trying to say and have said is that regardless of the talent and cmon your telling me the LW division has more talent then LHW? That's insane, plus you keep brining up guys outside the UFC, which is outside the realm of this TD. This TD is about which belt holds more prestige, not which group has more talent. I named the names that I did, because even casual fans, know who Forrest, Rampage, Chuck, and Wanderlei are.

First there's the fact that Lidell is one of the most popular fighters all time. He held that belt, and in many "casual" fans eyes he was the man to beat. Well the belt has changed hands , but tons of folks still see it as the belt to hold to be the baddest man on the planet.

In any fight sport the LW belts have never been prestigous because those guys are always seen as too small to whoop on everyone in the world. At LHW they are seen as big enough to take on anyone and win.


You are missing you own point you said
Most prestigious title- if your CHAMPION is disrespected or not considered the TRUE title holder- then how can you claim the prestige is there?

and other than Ribeiro- who is unsigned EVERY fighter I listed is a UFC fighter or under the Zuffa owned banner- YOU brought up a IFC fighter- who can;t even pay the bills right now.

"In any fight sport the LW belts have never been prestigous because those guys are always seen as too small to whoop on everyone in the world"

People like YOU and THEM are the reason Boxing is dead- If I have a chance to watch Huerta/Penn or Evans/Shogun - I will SHOOT you if you touch my remote to change it to the LHW fight

Lets see what the UFC thinks

UFC 87 - HALF the MAIN card is LW fights - the ONLY LWT bout is the curtain jerker
UFC 86 - Yes the ME was Rampage/FG but 2 of the 5 main fights- LW
(and the bonus fight they showed? Also LW
UFC 85 -Neither Class on Main Card

how about the Fight Nights? Free TV is where you want to SHOW OFF the BEST fights

13 - ME was Lightweight - 3 of 6 were LW 2 were LHW
12 - ME was Lightweight - 5 of 6 were ALL LW
11- ME was Lightweight - 2 of 4 were LW

Comments (20) Add A Comment

July 10, 2008  10:12 AM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

figured it would be you....I told everyone me and you would battle MMA tds all year long...should be good

July 10, 2008  10:21 AM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

I hope its ok that we do- I like the UFC TDs with you

and of course

Lets not forget

http://fannation.com/groups/show/42866

Ground and Pound!

July 10, 2008  10:47 AM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

I think it's the LHW, has been so for a long time.

I'm surprised David chose LW, because for me the 2nd choice would be the WW.

But waiting to hear all the arguments from both sides.

July 10, 2008  10:48 AM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

hard to argue against light heavy.. but please prodigy when talking about good and great fighters.. never ever include bisping.. he is awful.. i really think dana just hypes this guy for a bigger fan base in the u.k.

July 10, 2008  11:13 AM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

Don;t make me TD you on Vladimir Matyushenko Being a top 2 fighter

His nickname is The Janitor!!!

He got KOed by Arlovski - Beat DOWN by Tito

His BEST win last few years is Boetsch - and he just got PUNKED by Matt Hamill

July 10, 2008  11:31 AM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

Matyushenko isn't a top 2, 3, 4, 5, 6... fighter.

But David, let's also be honest.

He's on an 8 fight winning streak. 21-3 overall.

And has beaten some very solid guys:

- Carlos Barreto
- Pedro Rizzo
- Antonio Rogerio "Minotouro" Nogueira
- Yuki Kondo

His main problem right now is that he's getting old (born in 1971, just checked it).

July 10, 2008  11:34 AM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

Look at when he BEAT Nog and Rizzo

and name me 5 people in the ENTIRE IFL that is ranked top 20

I'll take DREAM over them as an organization

July 10, 2008  11:51 AM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

i can send u links where he is ranked in the top ten...if u need me too

July 10, 2008  12:17 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

im lost.

July 10, 2008  12:20 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

Well, IFL is pretty washed up nowadays, they're broke... so that is unfair, haha :)

July 10, 2008  12:20 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

Both DREAM and WVR (Sengoku) are clearly better than the IFL right now. Bigger names, better production values, etc etc etc

July 10, 2008  12:21 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

And, just to make things clear, I don't think Matyushenko is a top 10 fighter right now. Maybe some years ago, but clearly not now.

Just to keep things in perspective.

July 10, 2008  12:34 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

I'm going to have to go with The Prodigy by a hair

July 10, 2008  12:35 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

I would love to see the Spider in the LHW division, I would take him over Forrest and Jackson

July 10, 2008  12:52 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

it depends on the year ...with who they push in fights, plus a ton of those LW came from the TUF show, which gives them name recognition...a LW belt will never be precieved to be better then a Heavier weight class

July 10, 2008  01:02 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

I'm going to have to give my vote to David. I know nothing about the UFC...would like to learn, and David kinda persuaded me to his choice more.

Vote to the right

July 10, 2008  01:58 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

I'm going to have to give my vote to David. I know nothing about the UFC...would like to learn, and David kinda persuaded me to his choice more.

Vote to the right

dyhard is Up North 7/10-7/13 | 07/10/08, 01:02 PM
Report Offensive Comment

than why vote and ruin what was a good td with good arguments by both. if you know nothing about the ufc i bet you still know who chuck liddell is or ken shamrock or tito ortiz. all lhw. david did make a great argument, but with the ufc tghe money is in the ppv shows and if i am not mistaken their top 5 takes were all with lhw being the main event.

July 10, 2008  03:15 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

ufc's 205 division is loaded with top 10 fighters
whereas most of the top ten lightweights are in japan right now

205 has always been mma's glamor division

July 10, 2008  06:44 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

As a person who is not a big fan I can tell you that the light heavyweight division seems to have more hype around it and prestige. Those are the biggest names and usually regarded as the best by the public whether if its true or not.

 
July 11, 2008  01:04 AM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

David I like your arguements for the LW class, but I do think the prestige is at the LHW class I have been watching UFC from the beginning and I couldn't even tell you who has been LW champ other than BJ Penn and Sherk. Where as the LHW title has been held by some very good fighters.

Prodigy though I wouldn't have put Houston Alexander's name up there with the best in the division though yeah he has power but he is like a turtle on his back once taken off his feet, and the Bisping comment was totally weak that guy knew he was given a christmas present in his fight with Hamil. Then he couldn't get out of LHW fast enough.

Comment

Remember to keep your posts clean. Profanity will get filtered, and offensive comments will be removed.


Leaderboard

  Fan W L T Win %
1 DetroitFan* BS: Start Stanton! 132 9 7 91.6%
2 Porkins 138 13 1 91.1%
3 Baun-ded=PUCKHEAD 52 5 1 90.5%
4 The Ram 138 17 4 88.1%
5 Foosball 70 9 2 87.7%
6 Philly-- www.sportsnoise.com 74 11 4 85.4%
7 Hyped78 114 19 5 84.4%
8 Dookie: Here We Go Steelers 117 19 8 84.0%
9 [The] Coach 97 18 5 82.9%
10 BSchwartz07 129 27 6 81.5%

Truth & Rumors

MOST POPULAR

  1. 1
    Witness: Pacman was yelling at girlfriend
    Views
    12685
    Comments
    1786
  2. 2
    Red flag on Teixeira
    Views
    8875
    Comments
    472
  3. 3
    Why Andruw Jones won't join Dodgers
    Views
    40551
    Comments
    81
  4. 4
    Browns DE trash talks Giants RB
    Views
    7390
    Comments
    77
  5. 5
    Huskies eyeing Mizzou's Pinkel?
    Views
    7286
    Comments
    69

Weekly Most Active Users

Comments + Blog Posts + Throwdowns

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9

Message Boards

  1. MMA > Fight Club

    Would you rather see Arlovski…
    Views
    561
    Replies
    6

  2. NCAAF > General NCAAF

    Around the Table
    Views
    116
    Replies
    52

  3. NCAAF > General NCAAF

    Who's got the best tailgate…
    Views
    57
    Replies
    13

Blogs

SI.com

Swimsuit

Melissa HaroMelissa Haro
Will Ferrel & Heidi KlumWill Ferrel & Heidi Klum

SI Photos

Did You See That?Did You See That?
NFL's Quadruple ThreatsNFL's Quadruple Threats