We all know I am possibly the biggest Hendo fan in this community. As such I am excited about the upcoming Hendo/Bisping 2 title fight. I also understand those with reservations. Today I want to look at 4 reasons this is a match you should love as well as 4 reasons I should hate it.
4. It's Between Two MMA Staples
Dan Henderson and Michael Bisping have been around for what seems like forever. Anytime two long time staples fight there are large fan bases involved. This alone will make watching the fight fun as those around you at the bar/party will likely be divided. Just in general anytime long time successful fighters face off, at any age, you should appreciate it.
3. It's Not As Bad of a Fight As You Think
Going into the Rockhold fight nobody was giving Bisping a chance. Many people felt he had lost to Anderson Silva. He wasn't considered a real contender he was viewed as behind Weidman, Jacare, Vitor, and Yoel if not more by many. Had the fight been made then most would've thought it a great matchup. Bisping gets a chance to avenge and Hendo gets a chance to relive his best moment. They matchup well against each other stylistically. It's really not a bad fight. Also if you go by ScoreCardMMA ranking Hendo is top 10. Current Top 30 Rankings for each UFC Weight Category - ScoreCardMMA | The MMA Community Forum
2. There isn't a clear cut number one contender
Of course Hendo isn't either but despite the "talent" in this division no one has risen as a clear #1. Rockhold and Weidman both are coming off title losses. Title losses in which neither looked fantastic. In my opinion these two need to fight each other again before getting a crack at gold. Jacare is the name that gets love. He is coming off a Vitor win and a Yoel loss. He also is coming off a knee injury that kept him from fighting Rockhold when Weidman went down. While Jacare certainly has done a lot to deserve a title shot, if Yoel wasn't suspended Jacare isn't even being discussed. After this it get sloppy. Many are coming off recent fights or have fights scheduled. The only one really that sticks out is Whittaker and is it really any more his time than Hendo's?
I guess my point is that there is a lot more parody in this division than folks care to admit. Given that if Hendo does win and retires how about a MW Tourney?
1. They've Earned It.
We are talking about two of the most accomplished MWs on the roster. Are the flawed? Yes. Are their better fighters? Yes. But now is their time. Neither are in their prime. Hendo's prime got up and left a long time ago but both have done enough to justify this moment. Bisping is the UFC's winningest fighter (w/ GSP). Hendo has been a champion everywhere and has been one of the most dominating and exciting fighters his entire career. They both have sacrificed enough to earn the right to fight each other. Hendo earns it based of his legendary career. Bisping has earned the right to avenge a loss because he has done so much for the UFC he ought to get to call a shot.
Now 4 reasons against mind you this is hard for me because I am 100% for Hendo getting a title shot.
4. Hendo is old
Old. He is old. He isn't what he used to be. This could be a massacre. This could put a damper on what some consider his best moment. I can only assume they didn't watch either Hendo/Rua fight nor Hendo/Renzo. Hendo is old and his skills have diminished. We shouldn't want to see him fight anymore much less for a belt.
3. It hurts the division and UFC rankings and belts.
Giving a champ the ability to call out a past his prime opponent who hasn't looked great recently hurts the organization and the belts. Belts already take enough heat we shouldn't discredit them anymore than needed by allowing champs to over look higher quality opponents for lesser opponents. This is what has destroyed boxing.
2. Bisping is a paper champ and needs to fight someone better
I have heard a lot of people discredit Bisping as champ since he backdoored into his title to begin with. Many feel he should've lost the Silva fight. As such Bisping should fight Weidman/Rockhold/Jacare just to go out there and lose and give us a real champions.
*I obviously couldn't even pretend to agree with this point. Even though I don't like Bisping. That said I hear it often.
1. There are Better Fighters
Jacare/Weidman/Rockhold are all far better fighters than Hendo at this point in their respecetive careers. They all are the top of the MW division and despite their flaws their talent is undenied and they deserve the shot over the aging Hendo who will be looking for the KO.
Obviously I had time on my hands today (traveling). I am for the fight. I still think Hendo has enough magic left in him to make this fight interesting and fun. And at the end of the day nothing in MMA would make me more happy than seeing Hendo add UFC gold to the collection.
4. It's Between Two MMA Staples
Dan Henderson and Michael Bisping have been around for what seems like forever. Anytime two long time staples fight there are large fan bases involved. This alone will make watching the fight fun as those around you at the bar/party will likely be divided. Just in general anytime long time successful fighters face off, at any age, you should appreciate it.
3. It's Not As Bad of a Fight As You Think
Going into the Rockhold fight nobody was giving Bisping a chance. Many people felt he had lost to Anderson Silva. He wasn't considered a real contender he was viewed as behind Weidman, Jacare, Vitor, and Yoel if not more by many. Had the fight been made then most would've thought it a great matchup. Bisping gets a chance to avenge and Hendo gets a chance to relive his best moment. They matchup well against each other stylistically. It's really not a bad fight. Also if you go by ScoreCardMMA ranking Hendo is top 10. Current Top 30 Rankings for each UFC Weight Category - ScoreCardMMA | The MMA Community Forum
2. There isn't a clear cut number one contender
Of course Hendo isn't either but despite the "talent" in this division no one has risen as a clear #1. Rockhold and Weidman both are coming off title losses. Title losses in which neither looked fantastic. In my opinion these two need to fight each other again before getting a crack at gold. Jacare is the name that gets love. He is coming off a Vitor win and a Yoel loss. He also is coming off a knee injury that kept him from fighting Rockhold when Weidman went down. While Jacare certainly has done a lot to deserve a title shot, if Yoel wasn't suspended Jacare isn't even being discussed. After this it get sloppy. Many are coming off recent fights or have fights scheduled. The only one really that sticks out is Whittaker and is it really any more his time than Hendo's?
I guess my point is that there is a lot more parody in this division than folks care to admit. Given that if Hendo does win and retires how about a MW Tourney?
1. They've Earned It.
We are talking about two of the most accomplished MWs on the roster. Are the flawed? Yes. Are their better fighters? Yes. But now is their time. Neither are in their prime. Hendo's prime got up and left a long time ago but both have done enough to justify this moment. Bisping is the UFC's winningest fighter (w/ GSP). Hendo has been a champion everywhere and has been one of the most dominating and exciting fighters his entire career. They both have sacrificed enough to earn the right to fight each other. Hendo earns it based of his legendary career. Bisping has earned the right to avenge a loss because he has done so much for the UFC he ought to get to call a shot.
Now 4 reasons against mind you this is hard for me because I am 100% for Hendo getting a title shot.
4. Hendo is old
Old. He is old. He isn't what he used to be. This could be a massacre. This could put a damper on what some consider his best moment. I can only assume they didn't watch either Hendo/Rua fight nor Hendo/Renzo. Hendo is old and his skills have diminished. We shouldn't want to see him fight anymore much less for a belt.
3. It hurts the division and UFC rankings and belts.
Giving a champ the ability to call out a past his prime opponent who hasn't looked great recently hurts the organization and the belts. Belts already take enough heat we shouldn't discredit them anymore than needed by allowing champs to over look higher quality opponents for lesser opponents. This is what has destroyed boxing.
2. Bisping is a paper champ and needs to fight someone better
I have heard a lot of people discredit Bisping as champ since he backdoored into his title to begin with. Many feel he should've lost the Silva fight. As such Bisping should fight Weidman/Rockhold/Jacare just to go out there and lose and give us a real champions.
*I obviously couldn't even pretend to agree with this point. Even though I don't like Bisping. That said I hear it often.
1. There are Better Fighters
Jacare/Weidman/Rockhold are all far better fighters than Hendo at this point in their respecetive careers. They all are the top of the MW division and despite their flaws their talent is undenied and they deserve the shot over the aging Hendo who will be looking for the KO.
Obviously I had time on my hands today (traveling). I am for the fight. I still think Hendo has enough magic left in him to make this fight interesting and fun. And at the end of the day nothing in MMA would make me more happy than seeing Hendo add UFC gold to the collection.
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