Lets talk about the UFC's heavyweight division.

Honestly it is my least favorite division in the UFC.
I do not think they have enough top caliber fighters.
When compared to Prides heavyweights the UFC is a joke.
I think the new HW champ Frank Mir is very good, but not champ material.
They really need some new Heavyweights.

What do you guys think?

I think Rizzo should fight more, Sims should fight less. I dont know, UFC needs some new talent, it is also my least favorite devision. It seems the Champs cannot stay champion past there first title defence....

Rizzo is oficially part of the K-1 MMA roster now, so you can forget about him in the UFC. The UFC's HW division is gonna continue to be poor because of Pride, K-1, and Inoki.

Lets talk about the UFC's heavyweight division.

Honestly it is my least favorite division in the UFC.
I do not think they have enough top caliber fighters.
When compared to Prides heavyweights the UFC is a joke.
I think the new HW champ Frank Mir is very good, but not champ material.
They really need some new Heavyweights.

What do you guys think?

I think you smoke crack-rock. Mir is champ material. He was a HUGE underdog going up against Sylvia, as he is going up against any of 'PRIDE's heavyweights. Fact is, anything can happen in MMA. I find myself repeating this over and over. A good example is Cro Cop v. Randleman, another would be Lawler v. Diaz.

I picked Diaz to win over Lawler. Diaz is the ****.......

Pride's heavyweight division is obviously much, much deeper than the UFC's. It's hard to say what's going to happen in the future after Arlovski and Mir settle things. I mean, with Rizzo gone to K-1, Ricco in limbo, and Sylvia with the broken arm, where does the UFC go from there? Eilers? Kyle? Wiuff? Doesn't look too good.

Dont forget Cabbage and Sims........

I picked Diaz over Lawler too, my point is that people jump bandwagons over whos 'favored', and the fact always remains.... anything can happen. And about the heavyweight division.... Wuiff would be a good addition IMO. It would also be nice to see Vernon White up in there sometime soon after he fights Liddell. He put on a greeat show against Ian Freeman.



Something I was pondering on recently....

I think the UFC would get better turn outs and a greater abundance of fighters if they brought in some known names from other orginizations and paid them what they are used to getting paid, not the normal $2k for a first time fight in the UFC. Just an example: pay someone like Overeem or Hoost $75k to fight in the HW division against the UFC's current top guys. Japan is always grabbing guys from other promotions, of the same calibur mind you, as UFC grabs guys from other promotions, but of a lower calibur. Thats why you see the best in the world fight in PRIDE and see more up & comers in the UFC. If they could figure out a way to colaborate the destiny of the up & comers and the known names, whether they be from PRIDE, or K-1 would be ideal. Preferably K-1 as its shown on ESPN and more known here in the states. Even names like Michael McDonnald would be nice to see in the UFC. I know everything has be worked out logically, and I don't have all the answers, just thinking out loud.

Feel free to provide some feedback on this thought...

How does a typical UFC contract work anyway? I mean, I read a while back that Dana stated he's only going to give one-fight contracts.
That's actually not a bad idea to pay big bucks for guys from other organizations to come in. It's a short-term solution, no doubt. It'll also be good gauge to see whether if they're worth signing a long-term contract, depending how they'd perform.

Exactly. The UFC tries to hard to house 'their own' fighters. I say **** the bull****, lets get some more fighters, from other oganizations. It can only help. Sure they will spend a little bit more on purses per fighter, but could work out in the long run in not being required to put fighters on cards just because of contracts and waisting grips of money on those contracts (ie. Tank Abbott). Also, having more known fighters, harder, much tougher competition.... more people will buy into the sport and the UFC, regardless if its sold out live, they spend on the PPVs. The UFC needs to look at newer approaches rather than the 'rematch' or 'tough guy-**** talk (WWE)' approach. They need to work more angles instead of strictly marketing schemes for the average MMA fan, let alone the average old-school UFC fan (ie. Shamrock v. Kimo as a headlined main event over the championship fight between Mir vs Sylvia). They need to appeal to the K-1 fans, the Boxing fans, MMA fans, and the average old-school UFC fans. Not saying I enjoyed the Boxers vs Kickboxers event for K-1, but the marketing scheme made alot of sense. They got some boxers that are somewhat washed up and/ or are known to not be getting the same pay as they 'once did' (hence K-1 being able to afford the purses), and bring them in... appealing to MMA fans (of course), appealing to K-1 fans, and of course the Boxing community. Talk about building up a sport. From PRIDE & K-1 using eachother's fighters, the kickboxing vs. boxing shows, to having K-1 MMA shows....

they are obviously taking the right steps to building an empire. The UFC needs to take some notes and do the same. I know theres not alot of money in this sport, but alot is waisted too, which would bring us back to the contracts, paying guys like Tank $125k to get his ass handed to him by REAL professional athletes. They need to start dealing with their finances in a different manner in order to put themselves in a vital position to pull off something like this.

It could work, it has worked, and I'd definately like to see it happen in the UFC.

Other then Arlovski I don't really like the UFC hw scene. Arlovski should go to Pride.

Pride is just overall better in most divisions, that is where the huge money is, and they are treated like gods in Japan. The UFC one and done deal with up and commers trying to make a name for themselves I think is part of the problem too, they give people these one fight deals then they lose one match, then they vanish, and we are left with nothing. It seems as if the UFC just tosses anyone who losses out, then they surface in PRIDE. Thats what I like about PRIDE, a fighter can lose, but they dont fall off the face of the earth like they do in UFC.

The truth is that I'm liking the UFC less and less all the time. They seem to be going more in the direction of the WWE by not always backing the best fighters and backing the fighters with big mouths they deem more marketable . Besides Mir vs. Arlovski and Ricco vs. Mir there are no other HW match ups the UFC can make that interest me in the least until Sylvia heals up. I blame Dana White for the way he focuses on trying to promote the UFC brand name by only using "UFC" fighters as opposed to Pride who focuses on trying to acquire the best established fighters they can get their hands on. I don't think Zuffa is going to change either.

SOmeone could easily come in to the US with a little money and take over the MMA scene. All they would have to do is listen to the fans on what matches we want to see and stop Trying to main stream the sport. People will either accept it for what it is or not.

Very true Curly.

I didnt even know the UFC had a HW division other than Sylvia, Mir, and Arlovski. And sylvia is out for to long. Why can't Shamrock challenge for the title. They need to bring in some young talent along with some of the guys from other shows.