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Locomotion · 08-05-2012, 11:44

After a very long period of Jon Fitch and Josh Koscheck being the main gatekeepers to a shot at the seemingly unbeatable GSP, the Welterweight division seems to have finally opened up with some serious new contenders.

The timing seems unfortunate due to GSP's injury but since the GSP Condit fight looks to be pencilled in for around November, surely no one wants to see Johnny Hendricks wait til 3-4 months after that fight to see him fight for the belt. Especially when you've got (probably) 3 other very legitimate contenders waiting in the wings.

What matches would you like to see between now and when GSP and Condit undispute the title?

The 3 other potential contenders I was talking about which seem to have emerged would be Ellenberger, MacDonald and Kampmann. Since Kampmann and Ellenberger are fighting in 3 weeks, doesn't it just make sense to book Rory MacDonald Vs Johnny Hendricks rather than having Hendricks wait almost a year for a shot at the belt and have MacDonald blast through another unranked opponent?

JoeyJJ · 08-05-2012, 12:17

I just don't see how Hendricks is being touted as Number 1, I know he beat Kos and Fitch however I still think he needs to win another fight Kos doesn't seem as good these days and it was a very close fight. Be it McDonald or anyone else I think he needs 1 more decent win. His post fight interview seems he is happy to wait for his 'Million dollar' shot.

**Logical Fallacy** · 08-05-2012, 14:03

I think the only reason it appears to have opened up is because GSP is injured.

Were he fighting fit he'd have two mores wins on his record by now.

MrStuffins · 08-05-2012, 15:40

All the others are just scrambling around to be the No.2 WW in the world. None of these guys, including Condit, has a chance of getting near beating GSP!

Locomotion · 08-05-2012, 15:46

Then again, there's also Nick Diaz to consider if he gets through his suspension issues.

Reckon Rory McDonald would have the best chance against GSP but don't think their bromance would ever let them fight each other.

MrStuffins · 08-05-2012, 15:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locomotion

Then again, there's also Nick Diaz to consider if he gets through his suspension issues.

Reckon Rory McDonald would have the best chance against GSP but don't think their bromance would ever let them fight each other.

I agree with this. Rory is looking like a beast! I'd like to see a rematch between he and Carlos Condit.

Ush1 · 08-05-2012, 16:17

How bout Nick Diaz takin' revenge for his brother on MacDonald?

Kev M · 08-05-2012, 17:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ush1

How bout Nick Diaz takin' revenge for his brother on MacDonald?

Yeah I think this would be a great fight.

I think Diaz has the best chance of beating GSP right now, but the Condit fight had to go and ruin all that

. Diaz can definitely stand with GSP, and is probably better off his back than anyone in the division.

MrStuffins · 08-05-2012, 17:16

He definitely has the tools. It's one of those situations isn't it? Condit got the better of Diaz but I don't think Condit has what it takes to beat GSP.

And although I don't think Diaz would beat him either, he definitely possesses the tools!

threeball · 08-05-2012, 17:59

McDonald will be kept well away from a contender spot until GSP decides to move on so that fight will never happen. Hendricks seems to be in 3rd spot at the moment after the Koscheck fight (who seems to be losing his relevance in the UFC).

Long layoff for Hendricks and for Condit until GSP comes back which is unfair on both of them. Think McDonald would beat them both but he won't be paired up for the above reason. Koscheck could be his next opponent which could see McDonald handing him his cards.

Arawn · 08-05-2012, 18:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrStuffins

All the others are just scrambling around to be the No.2 WW in the world. None of these guys, including Condit, has a chance of getting near beating GSP!

stranger things have happened

TechnoPool · 08-05-2012, 19:18

GSP is different beast now compared to then.

MrStuffins · 08-05-2012, 19:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arawn

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrStuffins

All the others are just scrambling around to be the No.2 WW in the world. None of these guys, including Condit, has a chance of getting near beating GSP!

stranger things have happened

Very true but if that happens the victor's reign will be temporary, as it was with Matt Serra!

*El Guapo!* · 08-05-2012, 20:22

The question is how fit will GSP be when he comes back. He's had a long lay off and it'll be interesting to see if he comes back better than ever or if it has affected him at all. He trains like an animal though and he's a very intelligent fighter.
At the minute, in the WW division I don't think there's anybody who could touch GSP. And I'm not just saying that because I'm a fan. But the thing with this division is there's a lot of young up and coming fighters who are still improving and will be biting at the heels of GSP in the future. People like John Hathaway, Rory McDonald, Kampmann, Rick Story (although he has had a setback with a couple of losses). Jake Ellenberger--who I believe has the tools to beat GSP. I'm not saying any of these guys could beat GSP tomorrow but they're improving. Then there's Maia who's moved to ww. It'll be interesting to see how he get on at the weight.
I'll be keeping an eye on John Maguire too. He's only had a couple of fights in the UFC so far but he really impressed me with his "gypsy jiu-jitsu" the last time.
All in all it's an exciting division and even though it's a bit messy at the minute it's definitely got some cracking fights up ahead.

Xlami · 09-05-2012, 00:09

How Conduit has a belt around his waist is a joke. He's an absolute flash in the pan, boring fighter who happens to be very good at implementing a gameplan. He begged Dana not to match him with Semtex, and he's already been beaten by Ellenberger and 20 seconds away from losing to McDonald in my opinion. Whatever about the rest of the contenders Conduit has pulled the wool over a lot of eyes to be where he is.

08-05-2012, 11:44	#1
Locomotion Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 132 Adverts \| Friends	UFC Welterweight Division After a very long period of Jon Fitch and Josh Koscheck being the main gatekeepers to a shot at the seemingly unbeatable GSP, the Welterweight division seems to have finally opened up with some serious new contenders. The timing seems unfortunate due to GSP's injury but since the GSP Condit fight looks to be pencilled in for around November, surely no one wants to see Johnny Hendricks wait til 3-4 months after that fight to see him fight for the belt. Especially when you've got (probably) 3 other very legitimate contenders waiting in the wings. What matches would you like to see between now and when GSP and Condit undispute the title? The 3 other potential contenders I was talking about which seem to have emerged would be Ellenberger, MacDonald and Kampmann. Since Kampmann and Ellenberger are fighting in 3 weeks, doesn't it just make sense to book Rory MacDonald Vs Johnny Hendricks rather than having Hendricks wait almost a year for a shot at the belt and have MacDonald blast through another unranked opponent?

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08-05-2012, 12:17	#2
JoeyJJ Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,577 Adverts \| Friends	I just don't see how Hendricks is being touted as Number 1, I know he beat Kos and Fitch however I still think he needs to win another fight Kos doesn't seem as good these days and it was a very close fight. Be it McDonald or anyone else I think he needs 1 more decent win. His post fight interview seems he is happy to wait for his 'Million dollar' shot.

08-05-2012, 14:03	#3
Logical Fallacy Moderator Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Praying for rain...praying for tidal waves. Posts: 5,807 Adverts \| Friends Mod: Electronic Music & DJ'ing	I think the only reason it appears to have opened up is because GSP is injured. Were he fighting fit he'd have two mores wins on his record by now.

08-05-2012, 15:40	#4
MrStuffins Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 13,296 Adverts \| Friends	All the others are just scrambling around to be the No.2 WW in the world. None of these guys, including Condit, has a chance of getting near beating GSP!

08-05-2012, 15:46	#5
Locomotion Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 132 Adverts \| Friends	Then again, there's also Nick Diaz to consider if he gets through his suspension issues. Reckon Rory McDonald would have the best chance against GSP but don't think their bromance would ever let them fight each other.

08-05-2012, 16:17	#7
Ush1 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 5,836 Adverts \| Friends	How bout Nick Diaz takin' revenge for his brother on MacDonald?

08-05-2012, 17:16	#9
MrStuffins Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 13,296 Adverts \| Friends	He definitely has the tools. It's one of those situations isn't it? Condit got the better of Diaz but I don't think Condit has what it takes to beat GSP. And although I don't think Diaz would beat him either, he definitely possesses the tools!

08-05-2012, 17:59	#10
threeball Registered User Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 146 Adverts \| Friends	McDonald will be kept well away from a contender spot until GSP decides to move on so that fight will never happen. Hendricks seems to be in 3rd spot at the moment after the Koscheck fight (who seems to be losing his relevance in the UFC). Long layoff for Hendricks and for Condit until GSP comes back which is unfair on both of them. Think McDonald would beat them both but he won't be paired up for the above reason. Koscheck could be his next opponent which could see McDonald handing him his cards.

08-05-2012, 19:18	#12
TechnoPool Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Calgary Posts: 1,710 Adverts \| Friends	GSP is different beast now compared to then.

08-05-2012, 20:22	#14
El Guapo! Formerly Dean09 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Dublin Posts: 6,428 Adverts \| Friends	The question is how fit will GSP be when he comes back. He's had a long lay off and it'll be interesting to see if he comes back better than ever or if it has affected him at all. He trains like an animal though and he's a very intelligent fighter. At the minute, in the WW division I don't think there's anybody who could touch GSP. And I'm not just saying that because I'm a fan. But the thing with this division is there's a lot of young up and coming fighters who are still improving and will be biting at the heels of GSP in the future. People like John Hathaway, Rory McDonald, Kampmann, Rick Story (although he has had a setback with a couple of losses). Jake Ellenberger--who I believe has the tools to beat GSP. I'm not saying any of these guys could beat GSP tomorrow but they're improving. Then there's Maia who's moved to ww. It'll be interesting to see how he get on at the weight. I'll be keeping an eye on John Maguire too. He's only had a couple of fights in the UFC so far but he really impressed me with his "gypsy jiu-jitsu" the last time. All in all it's an exciting division and even though it's a bit messy at the minute it's definitely got some cracking fights up ahead.

09-05-2012, 00:09	#15
Xlami Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 554 Adverts \| Friends	How Conduit has a belt around his waist is a joke. He's an absolute flash in the pan, boring fighter who happens to be very good at implementing a gameplan. He begged Dana not to match him with Semtex, and he's already been beaten by Ellenberger and 20 seconds away from losing to McDonald in my opinion. Whatever about the rest of the contenders Conduit has pulled the wool over a lot of eyes to be where he is.