Zanth13, on Jul 27 2009, 04:22 PM, said:
Contest....
Which will be the next champ to be dethroned!!!!!!
It may just be the fan-boy in me, but I don't see any of the non-heavyweight champions losing for the next year at least. That's an absolute murderer's row of champions there.
Lesnar's the most vulnerable - a significant threat (more so than Mir) will be up in the form of Cain or Shane within the year. I still think Big Nog could take him.
Anderson's probably going to retire first. Marquardt's the best threat in there now - as dreamy as Maia's grappling is, but that's it pretty much until Leites finds his heart again. If the 195 division opens up, Silva might move there or a bunch of guys from 205 might move down to avoid Machida. Mousasi would be a very credible threat to Machida in the next year. Jon Jones in two years is going to be an absolute beast.
Other than Fitch and Alves, I don't see anyone else in the UFC at 170 making a credible title run. Nick Diaz needs to sharply improve his wrestling and never fight below 170 again, but otherwise has the skill package to possibly threaten GSP.
Penn should wipe the mat with Florian. Sanchez is going to be the biggest 155 he'll face, but he should get by him as well. Aoki, Alvarez, Hansen and possibly Calvacante are yet to come over. Otherwise, 155 is going to be a continuous cycle of throwing fresh meat into the grinder with Maynard, Edgar and Fisher.
I survived the Permian and all I got was this t-shirt.