Yes Couture has Toney next.

 

Shogun is on record right after the Machida fight saying fighting Couture is a dream fight for him.

 

 

As for Couture getting the fight dolamite, he got a title shot after coming out of retirement and the UFC puts fights together to sale tickets and PPV's, they care nothing about rankings or "whats fair"

 

I disagree that the UFC disregards rankings. Of course, there is the business side and the UFC wants to put together exciting fights. They also, however, continually have #1 contender bouts and give the winner the title shot (Kos, Sonnen, Hardy just this past year got their shots from #1 contender bouts).

 

As to fair; as I like to tell my students "Fair is an opinion metric." What Dana White thinks is fair may be different from you and I. I can't think of the last championship match up in which I thought the guy getting the shot was "unfair". I guess maybe Couture getting the shot at Tim Sylvia, but Couture was considered a top guy at 205 and pound for pound at that time and he went up to fight Sylvia. Was there a more qualified guy at heavyweight in the UFC for that fight (I really don't remember- the heavyweight division seemed really soft then)?

Agreed. I can never seem to pass up watching Captain America in action. I can not stand to watch Machida fight for some reason.

 

Machida is the most boring fighter in UFC history. He had a couple of nice KO's there that got everyone fired up about him, but other than that he's never been that impressive to me, unless they've started scoring points for elusiveness.

 

I hope he never gets back into the title picture.

 

Shogun's KO was awesome. Machida loaded up for a straight left and Shogun planted, moved his head just a little to the left and came with the big right and nailed him. Machida was really close on his punch. I don't think TV does just to the speed and reflexes the top level fighters possess. I remember boxing around with a friend of mind once who was decent at it. I never boxed, so I was just messing around. He was so quick with his jab I couldn't defend it. He'd snap off a jab and by the time I reacted to pull my gloves up and in to my face, I'd already be popped. So, I can't imagine what the speed would be like with a world-class MMA fighter. Even their kicks are snapped off really fast. It's fun to watch.

 

Sorry, got sidetracked there.

As long as Couture is winning, I think a title shot is validated. His track record speaks for itself. He's a competitor. He hasn't lost since dropping back to 205 and there is no clear cut guy in that division that everyone thinks deserves a title shot.

 

Personally, I think the Rampage/Rashad winner makes the most sense and would probably be the most deserving at this point. But, until Couture hits the wall, and until he loses at 205, I can't say that he isn't deserving of a title shot.

 

In all honesty, the most deserving challenger at 205 is Anderson Silva.

Rampage/Evans winner should get the next shot without a doubt. They are clearly the top 2 after Shogun and Machida. After Couture beats James Toney, I would like to see him fight Jon Jones for a title shot after Shogun vs Rampage/Evans granted that neither of them lose before then.

 

I think Anderson is going to fight Sonnen and then Belfort before moving up for good. So I think it will still be a while before he ever enters the 205 title picture.

As long as Couture is winning, I think a title shot is validated. His track record speaks for itself. He's a competitor. He hasn't lost since dropping back to 205 and there is no clear cut guy in that division that everyone thinks deserves a title shot.

 

Personally, I think the Rampage/Rashad winner makes the most sense and would probably be the most deserving at this point. But, until Couture hits the wall, and until he loses at 205, I can't say that he isn't deserving of a title shot.

 

In all honesty, the most deserving challenger at 205 is Anderson Silva.

 

Who has he beat at 205 to deserve a shot?

 

Who has Couture beat at 205 in the past 2 years to deserve a sot?

Who has he beat at 205 to deserve a shot?

 

This was refering to Anderson Silva, who beat Forrest Griffen-former champ at 205.

 

I'm not sure that there is a guy that overwhelmingly deserves the shot. The Rampage/ Evans winner makes some sense, but Rua took Rampage's head off last time these guys fought and Evans couldn't beat Machida.

 

The most deserving, IMO, is still Machida- he beat Rua and lost to him, why not give him a rematch like he gave Rua?

 

The biggest money fight, if you want the PPV buys is obviously Rua/ Silva, IMO.

 

It looks like a crapshoot!!!

Who has he beat at 205 to deserve a shot?

 

Who has Couture beat at 205 in the past 2 years to deserve a sot?

 

Rampage - Wanderlei Silva, Keith Jardine

 

Rashad - Lyoto Machida (L), Thiago Silva

 

Silva - James Irvin, Forrest Griffin

 

Couture - Brandon Vera, Mark Coleman

 

 

That's the last two fights for everyone except Silva. For him, I listed his 205 pound victories. But, if you want to take it a step further, he finished Dan Henderson early in the second, and dismantled Rich Franklin twice. Both guys who are pretty decent LHW's.

 

Of every potential challenger JD, who do you think would be the most likely guy to beat Shogun?

This was refering to Anderson Silva, who beat Forrest Griffen-former champ at 205.

 

I'm not sure that there is a guy that overwhelmingly deserves the shot. The Rampage/ Evans winner makes some sense, but Rua took Rampage's head off last time these guys fought and Evans couldn't beat Machida.

 

The most deserving, IMO, is still Machida- he beat Rua and lost to him, why not give him a rematch like he gave Rua?

 

The biggest money fight, if you want the PPV buys is obviously Rua/ Silva, IMO.

 

It looks like a crapshoot!!!

 

I will not buy another Machida/Shogun fight unless they put some real good fights on the card. At least, I won't buy it right now...maybe down the road. In my mind, Shogun has beaten him twice. I don't need to see it a third time.

I will not buy another Machida/Shogun fight unless they put some real good fights on the card. At least, I won't buy it right now...maybe down the road. In my mind, Shogun has beaten him twice. I don't need to see it a third time.

 

:thumb:

Rampage - Wanderlei Silva, Keith Jardine

 

Rashad - Lyoto Machida (L), Thiago Silva

 

Silva - James Irvin, Forrest Griffin

 

Couture - Brandon Vera, Mark Coleman

 

 

That's the last two fights for everyone except Silva. For him, I listed his 205 pound victories. But, if you want to take it a step further, he finished Dan Henderson early in the second, and dismantled Rich Franklin twice. Both guys who are pretty decent LHW's.

 

Of every potential challenger JD, who do you think would be the most likely guy to beat Shogun?

 

 

Winner of Rashad/Rampage.

 

As for Silva, I'll give you Henderson as a good fighter and I like Forrest but he is not elite.......and Rich Franklin is one of the most overrated fighters of ALL time.

Insida MMA confirmed that Dana will give the winner of Rashad/Rampage the title shot against Rua.

I'm aware that you hate Anderson Silva, but it's laughable to say that Rampage or Rashad would be a bigger threat to Shogun than Silva would.

 

Rampage has won his last two against an over-the-hill Wanderlei Silva and a mid-level LHW in Keith Jardine. A common opponent...Rampage lost to a five round decision to Forrest. Silva sent him running out of the arena crying like a baby. Forrest was done after the third knockdown.

 

Come on. This notion that Silva needs to "climb the ladder" at 205 is absurd.

 

Regardless, Silva is obviously fighting Sonnen later this summer, so he's not in the picture at this point. And, the Rashad/Rampage winner makes the most sense.

 

But, if and when Silva moves up, anything more than one fight prior to a title shot would be a waste of time, IMO. Personally, I think he should get an immediate shot. That's what the majority want to see.

 

We never got to see Liddell vs. Silva or Shogun when the Iceman was in his prime because of PRIDE. Now that Dana has the means to make the megafights everyone wants to see, he's not doing it. He's letting Silva toil away in a division that he long ago outclassed, while the opportunity for superfights slip away as time passes. It's pitiful.

Seriously? Rashad Evans? Even after what Machida did to him? Who would pay to see that fight anyway? Everybody wants to see Silva/Shogun. That fight is where the huge money is at, and it's the only fight that makes sense.

One thing is certain...we wouldn't have to worry about a lackluster effort from Silva. A healthy Shogun will press the action against anyone. I really hope we get to see this fight while both guys are still at a high level. Even if Shogun loses his belt, if he's healthy that's the guy I'd most want to see Silva face.

One thing is certain...we wouldn't have to worry about a lackluster effort from Silva. A healthy Shogun will press the action against anyone. I really hope we get to see this fight while both guys are still at a high level. Even if Shogun loses his belt, if he's healthy that's the guy I'd most want to see Silva face.

 

:thumb: I just can't see the vast majority of MMA fans wanting to see anyone fight Shogun other than Silva, deservingly or not. If being the #1 pound for pound most dominant fighter over the last 3 years isn't deserving of a shot, then I certainly don't know what is. Especially considering Silva's been more dominant at light heavyweight. Can you imagine the numbers for a PPV like this?