UFC 100 Analysis: Looking to the Future (Welterweights)

UFC 100 is bringing two huge fights on the main card in the Welterweight division.  

First is the championship fight between Georges St. Pierre and Thiago Alves. Although this fight is huge and could change a lot for the division, it is being underscored (read under-promoted) by the Heavyweight rematch between Mir & Lesnar and the seeming grudge match between TUF coaches Dan "Hendo" Henderson and Michael "The Count" Bisping.

First let's talk about GSP vs. Alves—GSP has devoured the Welterweight division and everyone is talking about a GSP vs. Silva fight at a catchweight, but he has to get by a very strong Thiago Alves.

Let's not forget that Thiago broke out last year and completely overpowered Matt Hughes (I know I know, hes old, etc. etc.) and that is NOT an easy feat. At the same time, GSP has gotten through just about everyone in the division and literally destroyed BJ Penn in their last fight. Thiago is good, but I can't see him beating GSP.  

At UFC 100 you also have a very big fight in the Welterweight division between Jon Fitch (who went to a ridiculous five round decision with GSP) and Paulo Thiago, a much lesser known fighter in the UFC but who is officially 11-0 with wins by KO and submission (although submissions were seven of those).  

Paulo Thiago is no one to take lightly, and I sincerely hope that Fitch is ready for it.  I feel that the UFC organization is trying to set up the winner to become the next challenger for the title, but if Fitch wins, what do we end up with? Answer: Same fight as the last challenger to GSP's Title. The real reason for writing this article is to talk about the other "next contenders".  

Here is my list:

Martin Kampmann, Mike Swick, Karo Parisyan, Josh Koscheck, Dan Hardy, Chris Lytle.

First I'd like to offer a fight between Dan Hardy and Chris Lytle and take them off the list; only the winner should really be on there. But both of them had AWESOME fights at UFC 99 and I like their styles.

Martin Kampmann is a beast at 170 and was quite successful at 185 also. He took out Carlos Condit without too much worry, and he's just a bigger and better match up for GSP or Thiago Alves.  

I know he hasn't had as many fights at 170, and he just turned down a fight for UFC Fight Night (looking to fight bigger names), but he really deserves to fight Koscheck or someone and get his chance to fight for the title.

Mike Swick has just gone to 4-0 in the UFC Welterweight division, and I don't know who else he needs to fight to get a shot, maybe Karo or Josh Koscheck. He's been improving in each of his fights and seems like he's on the right road for a title.

Either way, Dana White said it best, he's not going to create any super-fight for a Champion who hasn't "cleared out a division."

My vote—GSP vs. Fitch II. Then after Kampann wins another fight, let him fight GSP and then GSP will have officially "cleared out the division."

My Final Word for the Wary: If Thiago Alves wins, GSP should fight winner of Fitch vs. Thiago and that winner gets next shot at title.