UFC 146 Results: Lopsided Heavyweight Bouts Prove Division Needs Daniel Cormier

Dana White has hinted that Daniel Cormier may be a better fit for the UFC's 205-pound division, but that would be a wasted opportunity to inject the heavyweight division with some much-needed life.

Jon Jones' stardom and the Dan Henderson bout are enough for the light heavyweight division right now. The heavyweights aren't in as good of shape.

At UFC 146, Junior Dos Santos mowed through an overmatched Frank Mir, Cain Velasquez was equally as dominant over Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva and Alistair Overeem is suspended for a failed drug test based on unusually high testosterone levels.

That pretty much leads us back to a quick rematch with Dos Santos and Velasquez in the immediate title picture. It's what I would have preferred to see at UFC 146 instead of the demolition of Mir, but I acknowledge that ideally it isn't the best matchup for fans.

After all, Dos Santos just knocked out Velasquez in November.

These limited options are exactly why the UFC needs Cormier at heavyweight. He comes to the organization with talent and, most importantly, credibility.

He just defeated Josh Barnett in the finals of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix on May 19, so he is somewhat in the forefront of the minds of MMA fans. 

Cormier has fast hands, some power and elite wrestling skills. He may be the only heavyweight in the world with the ability to take Dos Santos to the mat.

It's possible Junior will flatten him the way he has all but one of his past opponents (he hasn't lost a fight since 2007, and that wasn't in UFC competition), but the point is we haven't seen that yet.

Cormier is a relative newcomer to the sport with only 10 fights, but he is 33 years old. White must be careful not to wait too long to capitalize on Cormier's buzz.

He is currently listed at 5'11", 238 pounds by Sherdog, if White encourages him to lose over 30 pounds, and he fizzles out at 205, it'll be a huge waste. Even if he decides to go at the heavyweights after that, his reputation and appeal will be tarnished. 

The time is now, and the best division for him in the UFC is heavyweight. The big boys need him more than the light heavyweights do.

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