Fighters Only

Issue 077

July 2011

The big debate: Henderson vs Jones, Overeem vs Velasquez, Randy vs Fedor? Yes please to all. Following Zuffa’s buyout, all of the above could well become a reality, but is now the right time?

YES

Mayhem Miller

Team Quest 24-7 middleweight contender

From a fighter’s perspective it could go either way. It takes away some negotiating leverage for some guys but at the same time makes bigger matchups, making the sport grow which means bigger pay days. Personally, it’s gonna be a fantastic thing for me because I already have an extensive fan-base which I cultivated separately from the UFC and I can draw a crowd, so I’m going to help Zuffa make more money. Now I can call out names and fight all those guys. Nick Diaz was always whining about fighting GSP and now the merger’s come through it seems like he doesn’t even wanna fight. That’s stupid! I don’t care about him anymore, I’ve got bigger fish to fry. I can punch Bisping in his face, I can avenge the loss to Chael Sonnen, I can make my way up to fight Anderson Silva. I don’t have to turn my mouth off anymore.

NO

Jon Anik

Host of ESPN’s MMA Live

While I’m all for the crowning of true ‘world’ champions in MMA, I’m not sure unification bouts between UFC and Strikeforce champions are the best way to find out. Look at the difference in recent title-defense competition between UFC champion Georges St Pierre and Strikeforce king Nick Diaz. While GSP hasn’t dropped a single round against consensus top-10 welterweights Jon Fitch, Josh Koscheck and Thiago Alves, Diaz has faced Evangelista Santos and KJ Noons both of whom aren’t even top 15 in the world. Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez has had stiffer competition than Diaz and therefore has a stronger case for a UFC title shot, but he isn’t as deserving as Anthony Pettis or Jim Miller. Universal champions would be a boon for MMA. I’m confident that scenario will unfold when Strikeforce is folded (an eventuality) and its top fighters are merged into the UFC.