UFC 165 tourney

[Marcus]

Me and my MMA buddy have been having this 165 convo all day. We both feel like this move would be great for the company ESPECIALLY after the Mighty Mouse Askren trade. The idea is form 165 and convert 170 to 175 and watch the magic happen. Bigger 55ers come up, small 70ers come down and guys like Gastelum can sit comfy at 75.

Back on topic:

we put together a makeshift tourney because we felt like a tourney would make the most sense to crown a champ in a new division instead of a pick um. Took 8 guys (feel free to chime in with better names) and kinda half-a$$ed ranked them for the tourney. I'd like thoughts input, whatever you highly knowledgeable chaps would like to provide to the conversation.

1. Khabib
2. Askren
3. Tony Ferg
4. Kevin Lee
5. RDA
6. Robbie Lawler
7. Cowboy Cerrone (possible rejuvenation of sorts)
8. Rocco Martin (since he chimed in with his thoughts Saturday)

[Headliner]

I'm pumped about the idea of a 165 division, but have they released the details about altering the other division to 175?

[Headliner]

I think Masidival would be involved in the tourny as well, assuming it doesn't conflict with Diaz fight. Nate Diaz would 100% be involved as well. Probably over Lawler. Can lawler make 165? He's pretty big isn't he?


If you did a tourny I think it would be a 4 man tourny without Khabib, but if they did a large one and had those guys I think it would be:

Khabib
Lee

Askren
Masidival

Connor (should be Askren)
Diaz

Cerrone
RDA


2nd round would be:
Khabib vs Askren
Connor vs not sure, but I think Connor beats either.

Askren vs Connor

Askren wins.

[REDDzone]

Lawler is the one guy on your list that sticks out to me as the guy who would probably compete at 175.

[Marcus]

I'm pumped about the idea of a 165 division, but have they released the details about altering the other division to 175?

they haven't outright said either but we figured if 65 is a thing 70 makes no sense whatsoever with 75 making sense in terms of a consistent 10lbs difference between classes up to middle.

[Marcus]

Lawler is the one guy on your list that sticks out to me as the guy who would probably compete at 175.

yeah i was onboard with you but my boy insist Lawler could make 65 and it would be more beneficial for him if he did. Plus we needed another name although i do like Headliner's idea of putting Nate in there instead.

[Marcus]

I think Masidival would be involved in the tourny as well, assuming it doesn't conflict with Diaz fight. Nate Diaz would 100% be involved as well. Probably over Lawler. Can lawler make 165? He's pretty big isn't he?


If you did a tourny I think it would be a 4 man tourny without Khabib, but if they did a large one and had those guys I think it would be:

Khabib
Lee

Askren
Masidival

Connor (should be Askren)
Diaz

Cerrone
RDA


2nd round would be:
Khabib vs Askren
Connor vs not sure, but I think Connor beats either.

Askren vs Connor

Askren wins.

If Connor has any good sense (which is debatable) he'd stay in 55 and reign as king there once Khabib vacates the title. the company gets there cash cow back in a good light and a rematch with Holloway at 55 is a damn good fight.

[Headliner]

I think Masidival would be involved in the tourny as well, assuming it doesn't conflict with Diaz fight. Nate Diaz would 100% be involved as well. Probably over Lawler. Can lawler make 165? He's pretty big isn't he?


If you did a tourny I think it would be a 4 man tourny without Khabib, but if they did a large one and had those guys I think it would be:

Khabib
Lee

Askren
Masidival

Connor (should be Askren)
Diaz

Cerrone
RDA


2nd round would be:
Khabib vs Askren
Connor vs not sure, but I think Connor beats either.

Askren vs Connor

Askren wins.

If Connor has any good sense (which is debatable) he'd stay in 55 and reign as king there once Khabib vacates the title. the company gets there cash cow back in a good light and a rematch with Holloway at 55 is a damn good fight.

Agreed, but two things will happen imo: 1) He will want the title to be a three division champ, so he will be opportunistic and pick his timing for when he gets a shot at it and it will be against a striker, not an Askren or Khabib type.
2) No matter where Connor goes he's never going to escape the best guys. Everyone from the best fighter to the worst fighter wants the Connor fight. It's a double a careers salary in one night. So if he stays at 155, every pitbull at 165 will still be looking to go to 155 if they can to get that fight. It's just too much money.

[Jasen777]

Khabib should not be in a tournament of any kind. Even more so at 165. And I can't see Conor signing up for a tournament. And Diaz? Good luck with that.

[Marcus]

Khabib should not be in a tournament of any kind. Even more so at 165. And I can't see Conor signing up for a tournament. And Diaz? Good luck with that.

please elaborate

[Headliner]

Khabib should not be in a tournament of any kind. Even more so at 165. And I can't see Conor signing up for a tournament. And Diaz? Good luck with that.

please elaborate

Conor is too big a value for the random match ups. So he’s not going to do a Tourny.
Diaz won’t agree to anything so no way he signs up to random matches
Khabib will stay at 155 and just take the winner if he wants the title.

[Duke4life831]

Sign me up for any kind of a tournament. Its something that I think the UFC could really use at the moment. Dana is even trying to create a tiny 4 man tournament in LW right now. The UFC has just been all over the place the past couple years, a tournament could be a nice change of balance and direction for them.

Hell if Dana came out and said 2019 is going to be the year of the tournaments for all divisions I would be down. Kill 170, create 165 and 175 (can create 195 the year after). Take the top 8 guys in each division tell them all youre going to fight 3 times this year. Guys below the top 8 will still fight to better their stock for next year and to also be ready to step in for a dropped fighter.

Are there issues to the idea? Hell ya. Would it make the UFC much more structured, a great bracket to follow for each division, which makes it easier for casual fans to follow and bet on? Hell ya it would. Again I know it would never happen, but I would love it. So ya count me in for a 165 tournament. Good luck finding the fighters willing to do it though.

[GoRapstheoriginal]

Uh GSP? No? What am I missing here.

[duppyy]

Uh GSP? No? What am I missing here.

You think the UFC can get GSP to agree to a Tourney? He's most likely not fighting again let alone 4 fights for a tourney.

[Headliner]

GSP, Khabib, Diaz wouldn't agree to a tourny, so it's really just fantasy.

If they did a 165 title they would probably just have Connor vs RDA for it in order to give Conor the best match up they can and fast track him to a title.