Welterweight title scene if GSP vacates and moves to middleweight

B.J Penn vs Jon Fitch are fighting next week, the winner will most likely be the #1 contender in the division. So who should fight for the vacant title later in the year ?

Fitch has already beaten Thiago Alves(twice) and Paulo Thiago since he lost to GSP back in 08, and he's already made it clear that he wouldn't be interested in facing his AKA teammate Josh Koshcheck.Plus he defeated Diego Sanchez prior to the GSP fight.

B.J Penn has a win over Diego Sanchez too but it was at Lightweight.

So that leaves some interesting scenarios.

If Fitch wins next week

Fitch vs Carlos Condit
Fitch vs Shields ( depending on how he does vs GSP)
Fitch vs Hardy/Johnson winner
Fitch vs Kampman

If B.J wins

B.J vs Thiago Alves
B.J vs Shields
B.J vs Kampman
B.J vs Condit
B.J vs Hardy/ Johnson winner

Could be exciting times if GSP decides to move up

I gave my thoughts in about this in the other thread.

Deeznutz wrote:The biggest question will be against who? If Jake Sheilds beats GSP then there is no issue, Jake vs BJ-Fitch winner. But if GSP wins who knows with the Anderson "Super fight" talk. But that fight is also far from a done deal and the weight at which that fight would take place is also in question.
But assuming GSP wins and moves to MW, the likely canidates would be Chris Lytle(if he wins this weekend), Martin Kampmann(if he beats Sanchez) and Carlos Condit.

Thiago Alves has no chance of getting a title shot with a win ove Rick Story. Infact Story would be closer to a title shot with a win then Alves is. That would be 6 straight wins in the UFC for Story with the last 3 wins being over Hazlett, Hendricks and Alves. That's a pretty impressive run. Hazlett was once in the mix himself and Hendricks was undefeated a getting into the mix himself. Alves last 3 fights? A loss to GSP, a loss to Fitch and a win over John Howard. He isn't a former Champion(or Kenflo), he will get no gifts from the UFC.

Hardy/Johnson winner? Hardy's last 2 fights? Loss to GSP and knocked out by Condit. He is a few wins away, no shot in hell he gets a shot just by beating Rumble. Rumble? Not only did he not fight at all in 2010 but his last fight was a loss to Koscheck. So neither guy are going to get any condiseration for a title shot.

You really think they wouldn't consider Alves vs B.J Penn ?? I'd say that's a pretty respectable fight for the title, especially if Penn has taken care of Fitch.

Ali wrote:You really think they wouldn't consider Alves vs B.J Penn ?? I'd say that's a pretty respectable fight for the title, especially if Penn has taken care of Fitch.

Zero consideration, none at all. There are far more deserving fighters. Thiago is still fairly young. He already got an opprotunity to fight for the title and also got another shot at getting a title shot. With how crowded the top of the WW divison is there are far more deserving canidates at the moment. Thiago is 1-2 since 2008, kind of a telling stat right there.

Deeznutz wrote:

Ali wrote:You really think they wouldn't consider Alves vs B.J Penn ?? I'd say that's a pretty respectable fight for the title, especially if Penn has taken care of Fitch.

Zero consideration, none at all. There are far more deserving fighters. Thiago is still fairly young. He already got an opprotunity to fight for the title and also got another shot at getting a title shot. With how crowded the top of the WW divison is there are far more deserving canidates at the moment. Thiago is 1-2 since 2008, kind of a telling stat right there.

Stats don't always = shots though, you know how Dana and the brass think, they go for exciting fights and potential cash cows.

I mean Anthony Pettis almost got an immediate shot because of that flying kick.

Ali wrote:

Deeznutz wrote:

Ali wrote:You really think they wouldn't consider Alves vs B.J Penn ?? I'd say that's a pretty respectable fight for the title, especially if Penn has taken care of Fitch.

Zero consideration, none at all. There are far more deserving fighters. Thiago is still fairly young. He already got an opprotunity to fight for the title and also got another shot at getting a title shot. With how crowded the top of the WW divison is there are far more deserving canidates at the moment. Thiago is 1-2 since 2008, kind of a telling stat right there.

Stats don't always = shots though, you know how Dana and the brass think, they go for exciting fights and potential cash cows.

I mean Anthony Pettis almost got an immediate shot because of that flying kick.

Not true at all. Bendo vs Pettis winner was suppose to unify the titles with the UFC no matter what. Only one thing could stop it, a draw between Frankie and Gray. But that exciting kick didn't factor into it, It was determined before the fight the winner would unify the title right away.
Also like I said Thiago Alves doesn't have a win over an opponent even in the top 15 since 2008. He is pretty far away from a title shot at the moment. Like I said, zero chance he even gets consideration.
http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2010/10/28/1779974/wec-53-ben-henderson-vs-anthony-pettis-winner-gets-ufc-title-shot

Alves was already given an express route to the title when we was granted a rematch with Fitch that he has not earned. That loss right there put an end to any title shot for him in the near future. If he has a big 2011 he will be back in consideration in 2012.

You're right I forgot about the titles being unified.

I am just saying if B.J beats Fitch an Alves match would be attractive, yes he's not been successful lately but he's a name that could help sell a title fight.

What would happen if Shields won in April, immediate rematch ??

Ali wrote:You're right I forgot about the titles being unified.

I am just saying if B.J beats Fitch an Alves match would be attractive, yes he's not been successful lately but he's a name that could help sell a title fight.

What would happen if Shields won in April, immediate rematch ??

He didn't get an immediate rematch with Serra, he won't get one now. I wouldn't be surprised if the winner of Thiago vs Story fought the winner of Hardy vs Rumble. That is also an interesting fight to make.

Deeznutz wrote:

Ali wrote:You're right I forgot about the titles being unified.

I am just saying if B.J beats Fitch an Alves match would be attractive, yes he's not been successful lately but he's a name that could help sell a title fight.

What would happen if Shields won in April, immediate rematch ??

He didn't get an immediate rematch with Serra, he won't get one now. I wouldn't be surprised if the winner of Thiago vs Story fought the winner of Hardy vs Rumble. That is also an interesting fight to make.

I don't want Pitbull anywhere near my boy Hardy, I have a bad feeling Condit stole his soul Shang Tsung style.

Ali wrote:

Deeznutz wrote:

Ali wrote:You're right I forgot about the titles being unified.

I am just saying if B.J beats Fitch an Alves match would be attractive, yes he's not been successful lately but he's a name that could help sell a title fight.

What would happen if Shields won in April, immediate rematch ??

He didn't get an immediate rematch with Serra, he won't get one now. I wouldn't be surprised if the winner of Thiago vs Story fought the winner of Hardy vs Rumble. That is also an interesting fight to make.

I don't want Pitbull anywhere near my boy Hardy, I have a bad feeling Condit stole his soul Shang Tsung style.

Yeah but you have to admit with the styles they both have, it would be exciting to watch. I think it is a fight alot of people would be interested in seeing. Alves vs Hardy with both coming off wins would probably get alot of love on a PPV. It's a better matchup for Hardy then someone like Kos who could probably hold him down for 3 rounds.

Oh no doubt it would be an eventful fight, I've just not recovered from that night