Well for sure since WME took over i think alot of people are losing interest, if Conor doesn't come back i suspect alot of people will stop watching it all together, atleast for sometime. Wasn't judging you either, called you a casual cause you did so yourself & was just pointing out the big/interesting fights later this year incase you or anybody else wasn't aware.

Yeah my post came off way more defensive than intended. It sounded like my point was about me, but I was trying to say however one would label my level of interest in the sport based on the amount I watched, not any personal judgment. I dont have anything invested in where in the spectrum I fall between casual and hardcore but was giving myself as an example for the topic about pay per view buys and how that business was moving.

ETA: your points about the upcoming fights actually did get me excited about them.

is the right play for DC to just stay at LW and hope bones jones moves up?

He's a 38 year old who just got knocked out, smart play to retire, he doesn't need the $ & already has a job as analyst with fox.

Why doesnt Khabib just go up and fight at 170? I know he was hospitalized for trying to make weight against Ferguson. Aren't there bigger fights for him up there(besides Conor obv) than at 155 anyways?

I don't see how else he can continue. He has too much pride to fight at 170 for his next fight, but eventually he'll end up there, dude walks around at 190+, for ****s sake

Not sure how his style would translate to 170. From what I've seen from Khabib, he basically just mauls people with his grappling and size/strength.

Going to be tougher to do that at the bigger weight class. 15 pound jump is no joke.

And nah, there aren't really bigger fights at 170 unless GSP gets back in the mix. 155 is the loaded division.

It's going to get tougher the older he gets, if the alternative is to make weight or die trying eventually he'll have to concede. He's already on the bigger side of WW, I'll give him a year max at 155, esp if he wins a title.

Rumours are Tony Ferguson vs Kevin Lee for ufc 216, most likely for interim 155 title, thoughts?

I'm very high on Lee, think he is a future star, but this does seem a little early for him. might get outskilled by Ferguson.

Very interesting fight. It is confirmed.

Lee prbly subs Ferguson.

Dude is older than you think prbly.

Lee? He's 24

No.

33.5 is pretty old to be fighting elitely at LW.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_...al_arts_record

Yeah?

He means Ferguson is 33, i think Ferguson is in his prime tbh, Frankie edgar is 35 & still elite at 145lbs. Age is abit overrated in combat sports unless your closer to 40 from what i'm noticing, unless you take alot of damage early on.

I said "this seems early for him" so I figured the response was about Lee's age/experience.

Ya, i didn't communicate clearly and then added in Ferg's age as a qualifer after I said "No." I thought that did answer "Lee?" initially.

Edgar is somewhat an exception to the rule. But who is the oldest winner of a LW or lighter belt? Alvarez at over a year younger at the time? Aldo, RDA, and Alvarez are all younger than Ferg and show signs of slipping from their peak.

Lee just seems like an athletic super strong beast who largely sticks to his strengths. I think him, Chiesa, and Ferg are all similar as dudes who excel on the ground and in scrambles. MMAth but you saw how that worked out before.

Ferg may be able to light him up on the feet but that hasn't usually been his forte.

Regarding MMA, it depends on weight class.

Power doesn't fade and the lighter the class, the more reflexes matter.

My answer is also prbly Dom squeaking by TJ. But again, you saw what happened when the real young lion showed up.

eta: Oh, nope. Dom is only 32 now. Back to my point about 33.5 being old, especially for someone with a tough weight cut.

It's more about how long you've been in the mma getting beat up than the age you directly have .
Of course near 38-39+ , you're old in mma no matter how long you got beat up.
Guys like dominic Cruz, andersson Silva and ( imo gsp will surprise some, ) do fight longer because they didn't get lot of damages and they can be at a very high level even past 35

Aldo has been slipping from peak in late twenties though, since coming to the ufc he hasn't been in his peak form go watch his wec fights, not sure it's about age or something else, probably gym wars which his gym is known to have. Alvarez still very much relevant, he just got starched by a better striker in Mcgregor & RDA was clearly a p.e.d taker, nothing to do with age, he went from greatest fighter in the ufc to top 10 level talent in like a 6month period.

Okay, I just posted that Dom is only 32 now. The other guys are heavier weight classes.

And ya, he can fight until he's 38. I'm talking about winning the title.

You guys are talking past me about he can keep fighting, duh. I asked who was the oldest guy to win a title at lw or lighter? So far I got a guy who was a year younger and then got ko'd.

Sherk was 33.

A very roided out 33 11 years ago against Florian in the first LW champ since the division was eliminated 3 years prior.

Legit thanks for the answer. Think it makes the case even stronger.

Frankie gonna beat Max!

probably not tho