The UFC's Lightweight Conundrum

For my inaugural post on this blog I've decided to take a look at the problems facing the UFC in their attempt to fully reinstate the lightweight division.



October 14th 2006 marked the UFC's first lightweight title fight in almost four years. The belt had been vacated by Jens Pulver when he walked away from the UFC and eventually wound up becoming defunct. However, no belt didn't necessarily mean no lightweight division. In fact, despite the UFC's assertions surrounding the Sherk/Florian fight and The Ultimate Fighter 5 that they were creating an exciting new division, throughout 2004 the lightweight division was one of the UFC's finest. Yves Edwards, Josh Thompson and Hermes Franca were three of the of the most enjoyable fighters to watch even though they were constantly buried on the undercard. Besides mixing it up with one another and putting on a trio of great fights, culminating in an Edwards/Thompson clash that some felt should have been a title fight, the 155 pound trio took care of a number of other contenders in convincing fashion. Thompson/Franca was as close a fight as the UFC has ever seen and perhaps one the best fights to ever go the distance. Edwards/Thompson and Franca/Caol Uno both delivered spectacular knockouts utilizing techniques not seen in MMA before or since (Edwards' jumping high kick from behind and Franca slamming Uno face first into the mat during a trip takedown respectively). Regardless of those thrilling performances the UFC, for whatever reason, decided not to promote the lightweight division and it became effectively nonexistent for almost two years.



Now with more airtime to fill both on PPVs and Spike the UFC has made an attempt to sell the public a product from it's promotional scrap heap and it appears that perhaps they may be shocked to realize how much deterioration has taken place. The championship picture in particular looks to have a myriad of problems and the task of promoting fighters that casual fans are inexplicably disinterested in may see the division in trouble sooner rather than later. Toss in a large dose of plain bad luck and even a stalwart defender of the little guys can start to feel nervous.



The Ultimate Fighter 5 was a great vehicle for getting unheralded fighters face time despite concerns over less than the best ratings. Deserving fighters like Nick Diaz, Manny Gamburyan and Joe Lauzon showed the world what they were capable of and Jens Pulver and BJ Penn were reintroduced as UFC lightweight contenders. Sadly at the same time Sean Sherk, a nigh undefeatable but also unwatchable lightweight, captured the reinstated lightweight title in his trademark ponderous ground and pound style. Five round title fights also have the disadvantage of tagging an extra ten minutes onto the back end of Sherk's remarkably uneventful fights. This was on true display as the normally electrifying Franca was stifled in Sherk's first title defence. That's when things really fell apart. The Ultimate Fighter 5 finale proved to be bittersweet with Penn roundly whipping Pulver and looking like a serious contender for the title while Gamburyan's career was put on hold once again due to a shoulder injury that allowed Diaz to escape with the win in their fight. Just when the lightweight division seemed truly poised to take off again with Penn as potential future champ and talented young contenders like Diaz and Lauzon on the rise it has now come crashing back to earth. Following their title fight Sherk and Franca both tested positive for illegal steroids sullying the lightweight title before it truly got a chance to gain any measure of prestige.



However, the news is not all bad. Although the steroid situation will likely see Franca out of the UFC it will hopefully see Sherk stripped of the title. If that is the case we should have the pleasure of seasoned veterans like Penn contending with the UFC's promising crop of youngsters like Roger Huerta or Thiago Tavares along with the TUF alumni. The recent pillaging of PRIDE's larger weight divisions may also foreshadow the import of fighters like Takanori Gomi and Gilbert Melendez to bolster the division's ranks. The UFC still needs to work on their promotional skills as they are wisely promoting Huerta on the next UFC PPV while at the same time making the not so wise decision to bury the Clay Guida - Marcus Aurelio fight at the bottom of the card. With fights like Nate Diaz vs. Junior Assuncao on the horizon and a wealth of emerging young competitiors it is vital that the UFC put this steroid controversy behind them and stick with the lightweights in a way that they have failed to do in the past. There are veritable stars at 155 pounds and development is the simple key to making the most of this second chance.

- Vanilla Thunder