Quote:
Originally Posted by Swiiftx
Alex looked incredible in the 2 first rounds, little less in r3 but still dominant. Best footwork/timing and hands in LHW? Idk why Silva wasn't pursuing a better gameplan, really strange. He's got a great chin as well, still I think he's going to struggle against wrestlers. I'd love to see Machida vs Gustafsson if he doesn't get an immediate title shot.
Nah, it kills one of them as a contender - if Evans wins the title, they need Machida to be a win away from a title shot since it's an easy sell (since he's Evans only loss) and if he loses to Gustafsson then he's just too far away.
Likewise Gustafsson is their only prospect deserving of a title shot, especially if Jones retains and Hendo challenges for the MW title instead.
Gustafsson/Jones if Hendo challenges the Silva/Sonnen winner and if Hendo challenges for the Evans/Jones winner next then Gustafsson/Lil'Nog as originally planned and have Machida face Davis or Bader (both fights super favourable matchups for Machida, and he's more marketable than either of them, so it's fine if they eat a loss to rebuild him)
Alternatively have Gustafsson face Bader, but that's riskier since he's probably more likely to have a gameplan to beat him than Lil'Nog is, and they clearly don't want Gustafsson to lose before he gets a title shot from a business standpoint