The UFC light heavyweight division has long been deemed the deepest and most popular division in the organization. Since the two year reign of Chuck Liddell as the division’s champion, which ended in May of 2007 by the hands of Quinton Jackson, the 205 pound division has seen four different champions. Jackson is the only one of those to successfully defend his belt.
That says quite a lot about the level of competition.
However, the meteoric rise of Lyoto Machida to championship status has serious implications for the fan favorite of UFC divisions.
Machida has gone through his career without the feeling of losing. Not only has he never lost a fight, he has never lost a single round. His run did not stop when he faced Rashad Evans at UFC 98 to gain the title.
Not since Chuck Liddell has the division seen someone run through the competition like Machida has. That being said, the potential many see in Machida, sees the champion flying well over the successes of “The Iceman”, which may pose a threat to the division’s competition.
Yet that is not the only factor in the division’s potential problems in the future regarding the level of competition.
Earlier this week, former UFC and Pride champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson announced via a blog on his website that he would no longer be fighting, as he pursues a career on the silver screen.
Dana White took the news with a laid back, unconcerned attitude, yet the decision by Jackson has serious implications for the division.
The light heavyweight picture rounds out with Forrest Griffin, Thiago Silva, Rashad Evans, Mauricio Rua, and, if he hangs at 205 long enough, Anderson Silva at the top of the list.
However, Anderson Silva refuses to fight Lyoto Machida. Dana White will probably not be able to make that fight happen considering Silva does not need to win that belt to stay atop the pound for pound list.
Yet another problem is the fact that two of the men listed above have already fought, and lost, to Lyoto Machida. Rua is fighting Machida at UFC 104. If he is to lose, the UFC may have to settle for unwarranted rematches.
Rashad Evans was brutalized by Machida, and was supposed to have the opportunity to rebound against Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. The winner of that fight would undoubtedly receive a title shot, especially if “Rampage” hailed victorious.
However, that fight is not in the picture for the moment, and early rumor has suggested that Thiago Silva will fight Rashad Evans for the number one contendership.
Yet, whoever wins that fight will be entering a fight with Machida (assuming he wins at UFC 104) with a serious chip on his shoulder. Machida tore both Evans and Silva apart, and it is hard to imagine that either would be ready for a rematch by early spring of 2010.
The UFC would have a difficult time promoting either of those fighters in a rematch as neither gave Machida a problem during their first bout.
While each of those fighters are extremely talented, and Thiago Silva showed his resilience by destroying Keith Jardine at UFC 102, neither are at the point where they can really challenge the champion. In a year or two, either of those men could be champion, especially Thiago Silva, who is still very young and has a hunger for that belt that is similar to that of Machida’s.
This whole scenario could have been put off for the moment with “Rampage” Jackson still in the picture. If Jackson fought Evans and pulled off a victory, that would leave the UFC with a clear contender, and one who hadn’t lost to Machida before.
Yet, it seems that fight is not to be, considering Jackson’s decision to leave for a career as an actor.
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