Situation in a division of welterweights UFC

Correctness to a division

Despite Dena White's numerous announcements about superfight with George Saint-Pierre's involvement, the invincible champion of UFC in a light-middleweight weight doesn't hurry to be beyond the weight category. Now, in addition to own desire to fight with equal on a weight and overall dimensions, for this aspiration played also Anderson Silva's unexpected defeat in a title duel against Chris Ueydman. I will remind that the revenge in between will take place only on December 28, 2013.

It is worth marking, however, that in comparison with the Spider of ZhSP is more sincere concerning the intentions. Even at the very beginning of talks to the Brazilian it told about a duel that superfight will be only "cherry on a pie" — some kind of ending of career which can end both a victory, and defeat, and before it is better to appear in more familiar conditions. And this desire is quite natural. Now the Canadian is 32 years old – "bloody sports" it is possible to call him the veteran hardly, nevertheless it benefited seven of the last eight fights by the unanimous decision, i.e. carried out all five rounds in a cell. If you remember, practically after each fight it seemed that Saint-Pierre battled to army of newcomers, instead of fought with one person – the abundance of hematomas and injuries on a face of the champion strikes still. Besides, long time it couldn't appear because of an injury. Then evil tongues already started writing-off it. At last, in recent years – as well as many other champions – Saint-Pierre carried out no more than two fights in a year, and even at all on one. All these facts say that the Canadian protects health, and it isn't unreasonable. At present in it the healthy pragmatism and a real assessment of the forces and opportunities seems, than everyone can far brag not.

Saint-Pierre's following fight will carry out on November 16 within UFC 167 against Johnny Hendrix. Hendrix won six victories in the last six fights, having inflicted defeats, among other, to such fighters, as Josh Koshchek, Martin Kampman and Carlos Kondit. It is represented, as this fight becomes for the Canadian the real test, especially considering that the American already proved that is able to complete fights ahead of schedule.

Thus, it is possible to call a present stage of career of ZhSP fight for holding at peak for final superfight which becomes more or less clear if in December the Spider overcomes Ueydman. However such deal hardly is a reason for concern as in a queue for a title stands more many interesting and worthy frames of which it will be a question below.

Two steps away from a belt

Carlos Kondit managed to prove as the fighter, capable to compete with any of the first ten a rating of a division.  However the limit to its opportunities was designated by present champion George Saint-Pierre and the applicant for a title Johnny Hendrix.  Despite it, the Born Murderer and now on the big account in the organization.  It is represented that a lot of things will depend on result of the following fight:  whether will be able to interrupt Kondit a period of failures and again to try the luck in a title duel, will show a duel with Martin Kampman, planned for August 28 of this year.

As for Kampman, last year he lost a knockout to the same Hendrix that alienated him from claims for a belt even taking into account three victories in a row before this defeat.

Way upward

Among other, undoubtedly, once Rory selects McDonald. Yes, its fight against Jack Ellenberg was scarified and recognized sad, however stability of performances (from 16 fights Ares lost only one – to Carlos Kondita in June, 2010) and the deserved third place in a rating of a division allow us to suppose that this athlete still can surprise with much the audience and has good chances of a title duel.

On the contrary, in the last fight Robbie Loler pleased fans of the mixed single combats. Besides that the 31-year-old fighter at last won two victories in a row, he was again marked by a spectacular knockout thanks to what it was fixed in the first ten a division. In this regard it would be very interesting to see Loler and McDonald's opposition to learn, whose claims for peak are more well-grounded.

It is necessary to mention and about the Russian fighter of the mixed style Adlan Amagova. Borz knocked out Keith Berri within Strikeforce in August, 2012 and benefited the first fight under the auspices of UFC, having overcome Chris Sponga's unanimous decision. The master of the Brazilian ju-jitsu Anthony Uoldburger becomes the following rival of the Russian, and fight within the show UFC 166 will take place on October 19. Let's hope that Amagov will be able to continue the victorious series and to become one of leaders of a division.

What's next?

Very foggy the situation of Brazilian Demian Maya is represented. In the last six duels Maya underwent two defeats – from Mark Munyosa and Chris Ueydman respectively. It can say that at present this fighter isn't ready to transition to the highest level, however successful restoration after an injury and a possible duel with Jack Shields, expected approximately in the fall of this year, can change this tendency.

Also there is no determinancy and in a case with Tarek Saffedin. Having won four victories in a row in Strikeforce, the Belgian athlete already was going to carry out the first duel within UFC against Robbie Loler, but was stimulated to act because of an injury. Exact periods of restoration while are unknown, however the eighth line item in a division rating even prior to performances allows to think that Saffedin's following fight will draw great attention of admirers of MMA.

Possible losses

The former champion of UFC in lightweight and once the applicant for an organization title in light-middleweight weight Bee-Jay Penn since February, 2011 couldn't win any victory, having undergone two defeats and having finished one fight in a draw. Penn already declared leaving on pension, however again returned and lost to Rory McDonald in December, 2012. After that Dan White's defeats again I advised to the master of BDD to hang up gloves on a nail, but about a final decision of the fighter while it isn't known. Quite recently the challenge to Penn was thrown down by the Russian fighter Habib Nurmagomedov, however the native of the Hawaiian Islandsrefused. What decision will be accepted by Penn, will show only time, but very much it wouldn't be desirable that memory of so skillful fighter communicated with a train of defeats in the career end.

Having lost in March, 2013 to George Saint-Pierre, Nick Diaz declared possible withdrawal from sports. Nevertheless the previous track record of the scandalous fighter can force bosses of the organization not to hurry the former champion of Strikeforce in a light-middleweight weight to say goodbye with the oktagony. It is represented that Diaz can remain in the organization as changeover if any of the main thing a card or even a title duel is stimulated to refuse battle.

Thirty-five-year-old Josh Koshchek also can't find the solid soil under feet yet: in the last five fights he won only two victories, and over the fighters far from the first ten a division. Probably, the last injury because of which Koshchek couldn't battle to Demian Maya, is a signal that time came to finish.

Rustam Nabiullin

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