The Real Fight: Superfights vs. Divisional Integrity

Historical Precedent

When Couture fought Liddell, for the first time, he was dropping from heavyweight down to light heavyweight. Randy had lost his title at HW and when he beat Chuck for the interim LHW belt, it was in dramatic fashion. The change in divisions without a doubt had an effect.

While it wasn’t considered a “superfight,” at the time it set an early precedent for what was to come. It also set the stage for the trilogy between the two fighters, which helped lead to the meteoric rise in popularity of the UFC.

Another fight that generated glimmers of a superfight was the fight between Jens Pulver and BJ Penn, back at the TUF 5 finale. Despite the history between the two, what would constitute this as a possible superfight?

Penn has been fighting in the welterweight division and this was his return to the lightweight division. Sure the bad blood between the two was a huge factor in selling the fight but the change in divisions was also a big dynamic, albeit subtle.

Another possible superfight, in retrospect, was when Couture came out of retirement to fight Tim Sylvia for the Heavyweight belt. Of course it being Randy Couture made the fight huge, also the fact that he was coming out of retirement.

On top of that he was fighting a man considerably larger than himself. But what about the fact that Couture was coming back to fight at Heavyweight.

If he had come back to fight at light heavyweight, the division he last fought at, would it have generated as much attention?

Coincidentally, these two are the only fighters to have held the belt in two different divisions.

It’s obvious that when a fight involves the divisional changes by a fighter it launches the fight into a different atmosphere. The difference in those examples was that the fighter was not affecting more then one divisional landscape; they were clearly in one division or another.

So what’s the drawback to a superfight?

While the upside to the “superfight” concept is obvious the downside is more subtle. If you look past the shine of the “St. Pierre vs. Penn” fight you will see two divisions left in limbo: the lightweight division and the welterweight division.

The last time BJ Penn fought in the LW division, and defended his belt, was at UFC 84. That was back in May of this year. The next possible lightweight fight for Penn would be a few months after his fight with GSP, which is Jan. 31.

That puts a potential LW title fight off until April of May of 2009, almost a year after his last defense of the belt. The official UFC rule states they can schedule a fight to crown an interim champion after one year.

Regardless, should a division go almost a whole year without seeing its champion defend the belt?

People will make the argument that BJ Penn is far superior to anyone in the LW division and a No. 1 contender didn’t emerge until Kenny Florian beat Joe Stevenson.

While that may hold up in court of law, doesn’t the evidence more accurately suggest that Penn should vacate the lighter division all together and make the welterweight division his permanent home?

St. Pierre, on the other hand, last defended his WW title back at UFC 87, in August, so his time in between will look less egregious. Also, he is technically defending his belt against Penn, while Penn is not defending his.

But we already have a clear No. 1 contender in the WW division in Thiago Alves, who will now be on the shelf for up to six months. While Alves has stated that he wants to fight again, and not wait around, will the UFC risk losing a legitimate No. 1 contender by letting him fight again.

And what about that “GSP vs. Silva” superfight? When exactly would that happen? Hopefully not right after his fight with Penn. If the UFC overlooked Alves in favor of the superfight, it would certainly be the largest affront to divisional integrity to date. Also, if Penn does win and has two belts, whom will he fight first…Alves or Florian?

One last example offered is the potential crime that could happen to Gabriel Gonzaga. He has looked impressive in his last two fights, albeit it against no-name fighters.

But from a divisional perspective, he is probably one fight away from getting a title shot. A fight with Couture or the loser of Nog-Mir would certainly make divisional sense. But why let sense get in the way?

Instead ,the UFC could offer the No. 1 contender spot to the Liddell-Couture winner. Is Gonzaga falling victim to the same sword the slighted Fabricio Werdum: marketing, and ultimately money?  If the Heavyweight division’s shenanigans play out, Gonzaga won’t be looking at a title shot until 2010. S – so much for divisional integrity.

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