The 411 MMA Top 5 03.11.10: Week 32 – Who Needs To Change Weight Classes?

Posted by Larry Csonka on 03.11.2010

From Fedor Emelianenko and Urijah Faber to Jake Shields and Yoshihiro Akiyama, the 411 MMA writers think that these are some of the fighters that should consider a change in weight class! Check out the full column to see which fighters made the list and why!



Welcome:
Welcome back to the MMA Top 5! What we are going to is take a topic each week and all the writers here on 411 MMA will have the ability to give us their Top 5 on said topic, plus up to three honorable mentions. At the end, based on where all of these topics rank on people's list, we will create an overall Top 5 list. It's highly non-official and final, like WAMMA.


And now…

WHO NEEDS TO CHANGE WEIGHT CLASSES?


Jonathan Solomon

5. Jake Shields - Shields at middleweight so far has been a success. What will he do after he (I predict) loses to Dan Henderson? Continue fighting bigger guys? His best weight is at welterweight and the only reason he's not fighting there as it is, is because his buddy Nick Diaz is the star of the division. Of course there is more talent at middleweight but Shields is more of a beast at welterweight.

4. Anderson Silva - I say move weight classes AFTER he fights Chael Sonnen (and maybe Vitor Belfort). After that, there is nothing more for him to accomplish there. He has expressed the desire to move up in weight whether it's light heavyweight or even heavyweight in specific instances. Silva at light heavyweight offers more exciting match-ups after 2010.

3. Kid Yamamoto - I don't know whether Kid can ever return to his former ways of kicking ass inside the ring. Since returning last spring, he has not looked like the fighter who became famous in Japan. He has looked average in both decision losses, to Joe Warren and Masanori Kanehara. Perhaps a bump back to lightweight could help him out but on second thought, maybe it would slow him down too much. Hell, maybe another drop to bantamweight if his body could handle it may be even better. I have no idea, I just want to see Yamamoto improve at this point in his career.

2. Urijah Faber - Assuming Faber is not successful in his attempt to defeat Jose Aldo, he should move to either lightweight or bantamweight. Obviously the biggest WEC dream fight (which has lost some of its luster) would be Faber vs. Miguel Torres. Unless Torres moves up the only odds of that happening are with Faber dropping the weight. I think the more realistic option would be for Faber to add the weight and move up to 155. It opens up more options for him without Mike Brown and Jose Aldo in the picture. Plus, (I'm not sure how the contracts work out) it would possibly allow him to someday fight in the UFC.

1. Thiago Alves - Again, assuming Alves loses to Jon Fitch at UFC 111 later this month, he should consider moving up to middleweight. In the past, Dana White has said Alves is one of the few welterweights he thinks could handle the change. Alves has had a history of having trouble making the 170-pound weight limit because he walks around at a bigger weight. Besides whether his body can handle it, the only issue I'd sense is that at 5'9, he may be a bit smaller for some of the taller middlewieghts. Alves is just 26-years old so he still has a lot of time to improve whether he continues at 170 or jumps up to 185.

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Samer Kadi

5. Yoshiyuki Yoshida - Japanese fighters in general haven't mastered the art of cutting weight and these days, being undersized in a division is a big detriment. We saw that in Yoshida's bouts with Josh Koscheck and Anthony Johnson. The problem for Yoshida is that he's very reliant on clinch takedowns, and given his lack of size as well as the division being filled with big wrestlers, he can't have much joy imposing his game. The lightweight division seems to be a better option of Yoshida, where the chances of him suffering a concussion after every fight are less likely.

4. Nate Diaz - For those who are unaware, Nate Diaz will be making his welterweight debut very soon against Rory Markham. In my opinion, this is a horrible move for Diaz. I know it's not fair to ask for Diaz to move back to the lightweight division when he has yet to fight at welterweight, but does anyone really see Diaz racking up wins at 170? At lightweight, he struggled with guys with good submission defense who could outwrestle and overpower him. So how is he expected to do well at welterweight when a lot of the fighters fit that description? I don't even see him doing well against someone like Dustin Hazelett. In any case, only time will tell.

3. Jake Shields - This might sound harsh, as Shields is doing very well for himself at middleweight. However, he's in for a rough ride against Dan Henderson. I'm afraid that's a fight that might end brutally for Shields. I don't like his chances fighting some of the bigger guys in the division. Granted, he's in Strikeforce, so it's not like he'll be taking on Nate Marquardt or Vitor Belfort after Hendo. However, even if he were to face someone like Jacaré, Shields will have a very hard time dealing with him. At welterweight, Shields is hands down the best fighter outside of the UFC.

2. Yoshihiro Akiyama - Even though Akiyama won his UFC debut against Alan Belcher, that was a very close fight where Akiyama was clearly undersized. The upcoming fight with Wanderlei Silva may end horribly for the Japanese superstar. I recently saw pictures of Akiyama next to Don Hyun Kim (a UFC welterweight), and Akiyama actually looked much smaller. Again, Akiyama is someone who relies on his grappling for the most part (although he does possess some good technical striking), and he will struggle against some of the bigger guys in the division.

1. BJ Penn - To get one thing out of the way, Penn doesn't NEED to move up in weight. He can stay at lightweight, dominate the division and destroy every challenger in sight and I'll be happy to watch him do it. He still has some nice match ups at lightweight, be it a rematch with Gomi or a fight with Maynard (of course that is if he gets past Frankie Edgar, which he will). But I personally would LOVE to see Penn taking on the likes of Josh Koscheck, Jon Fitch, or Thiago Alves at welterweight. Hopefully, his move comes at the end of the year and it coincides with GSP moving to middleweight.

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Daniel Bonnizzio

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Matt Serra - I know he's old and can't really make his body cut the weight anymore, but I would love to see Serra back at 155. It's where he really shone.

Urijah Faber - Go to 155. Fight BJ Penn. Do it.

Anthony Johnson - How many times has it been said that he starts his camps at 195+ pounds? 25-30 pounds is far too much for him to cut.


5. Jake Shields - The only reason Shields is the champion at 185 is because Nick Diaz is the champion at 170. Otherwise, Jake Shields would still be fighting at welterweight. Shields is a guy who can use his grappling to overcome a size differential up to a point. However, Hendo has faced guys who are far better grapplers and come out on top, and he has faced guys who are bigger and come out winning. After Hendo, while he won't be facing elite competition, he could still contend with the likes of Jacare de Souza who are better at grappling than he is AND bigger. He needs to either suck it up, move to 170 and fight Nick Diaz, or he needs to give Dana White a phone call. And move to 170 anyway.

4. Georges St-Pierre - GSP isn't likely to lose in the future anytime soon. However, unlike Penn, nobody really wants to see GSP compete at 170 anymore. The problem is while Penn has been dominant as a champion, GSP was dominant as the challenger and now nothing but rematches are left for him after Hardy. Does anybody want to see GSP/Koscheck II? GSP/Fitch II? GSP/Alves II? Not really. The one-sidedness of the beatings he put on them made it clear he needs to move to another division and start fresh.

3. Yoshihiro Akiyama - This guy looked like he was fighting out of his division at UFC 100. Alan Belcher is a decent sized middleweight and he made Akiyama look tiny. Add into his size differential his propensity to get sucked into brawls and he won't last long against the top guys at 185 in the UFC. If he could cut to 170 safely, he could really use his clinch grappling to dominate those guys and make a name for himself there.

2. Thiago Alves - Thiago was popped for taking a diuretic after a fight once. Diuretics keep your body from retaining water. This mean he was having trouble-making 170 for that fight. He was 4 pounds over the welterweight limit in his fight against Matt Hughes. He has consistently proven to be just too big of a person to fight at welterweight for much longer. Eventually someone is going to ring his bell pretty hard and when that does, his dehydration is going to kick him in the ass. If he moves to 185 though, he can use his Muay Thai to outstrike most people in that division and start anew. He will probably be able to take better hits, he will be better conditioned, he could push the pace even more, and although he is not a tall man he does possess some natural talent and abilities that could make up for it.

1. BJ Penn - BJ is fine at 155. He is a beast on a whole different level than any other fighter who has ever competed under the Lightweight banner. However, that is his problem. I can see absolutely nobody at 155 who will defeat Penn anytime in the next 2 or 3 years. Therefore, the only logical conclusion is for him to move back to 170. He is going to defeat Frankie Edgar, he is going to defeat the person after that, and then he needs to move back to 170. Seeing him tear it up with guys like Fitch, Daley, maybe even rematches with Serra and Hughes would be fantastic.

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Scott Kuczkowski

5. Matt Serra - Serra is pretty small for a welterweight, and despite decent showings as a 170 pounder, a drop to 155 would probably make him more competitive. He's not ever going to crack the Top 10 as a welterweight again, so I'd guess his best chances area at Lightweight. If he can keep his punching power, he should do well in a lighter weight class.

4. Jake Shields - Everyone knows that Jake is a natural welterweight, that is, except for Jake Shields. The only apparent reason for a move to Middleweight was to avoid fighting his teammate Nick Diaz. And while Jake is very talented and has had success as a Middleweight, I think his luck will run out when he faces Dan Henderson, who is a HUGE Middleweight. And besides, I'd like to see a showdown between Diaz and Shields.

3. Fedor Emalianenko - This has been talked about before, so I say let's see it happen. There isn't any reason that Fedor couldn't cut down to Light Heavyweight pretty easily. His technique is so naturally phenomenal that I don't see a weight cut affecting him at all and I doubt he would lose any of that insane punching power. Besides, who is left for him to beat in Strikeforce as a Heavyweight? I'd like to see him fight Henderson or King Mo at 205.

2. Anthony Johnson - This is one of those easy ones to pick, which almost made me not mention it. Johnson should move up to Middleweight and just stay there. Heck, he cuts down from almost Light Heavyweight, so the fight preparation would actually be much easier for him. Plus there are good matchups for him at Middleweight and it is also one of those weight classes that could use some new blood.

1. Rashad Evans - I'm surprised I haven't seen this name mentioned more. Rashad could easily make 185 and I think he'd be much better in that weight class. He's on the small side as a Light Heavyweight, so I think he'd do better with a drop in weight classes. If he loses to Rampage, I think this is something he should definitely consider. Like I mentioned with Anthony Johnson, 185 is a division that is sorely in need to fresh competitors and challengers for Silva's title.

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Larry Csonka

HONORABLE MENTIONS

My PC crapped out, so my answers are very short, apologies guys.

Mirko Crop Cop - I really think he would be more competitive at 205.

Thiago Alves - Move up to middleweight.

Anthony Johnson - Move up to middleweight.

5. Georges St-Pierre - A move to 185 would open up new fights, and of course the dream fight with Anderson Silva.

4. Anderson Silva - A move to 205 makes for a ton of new fights, especially if he will fight friends.

3. Urijah Faber - Time off to gain muscle would make a move up to 155 a reality, and a ton of new fights. But if he wants to stay WEC, a drop to 135 also makes for a lot of new and exciting fights.

2. Keith Jardine - A drop to 185 could rejuvenate Jardine's career, which is going nowhere at 205.

1. Fedor Emelianenko - Fedor is called the greatest, and I am not denying that, but a legit drop to 205 would make for so many interesting fights I want to see that I had to make this the top choice.

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Jeremy Lambert

5. Anthony Johnson - Anthony Johnson is an explosive fighter for one round. Then the weight cut comes into play, he gasses out, and he gets beat. He wouldn't have that problem at Middleweight. There wouldn't be a huge weight cut, if he's properly trained then his cardio should be fine, and he can be explosive for longer than five minutes. Plus there are a lot of fun striker battles for him at Middleweight including Patrick Cote, Wanderlei Silva, Alan Belcher, Vitor Belfort, ect....

4. Diego Sanchez - So he got his ass kicked by BJ Penn. Who hasn't at Lightweight? That's no reason to move back up to Welterweight and be undersized against guys like GSP, Fitch, and Alves. He was big for Lightweight, there are still plenty of good fights left for him in the division, and if Penn ever left the division I think he would be the top fighter at 155. Sooner or later I think Sanchez realizes this and moves back to 155.

3. Mike Swick - He lost one fight at Middleweight to a very big Yushin Okami and now he's already lost two fights at Welterweight. I think he should move back to Middleweight mainly because he trains with top Welterweights Jon Fitch and Josh Koscheck, he won't fight them and they're going to get better fights than him. Plus I think it has a slight affect on his training whether he would admit it or not.

2. Frank Trigg - I'm not a fan of Frank Trigg but I'd rather see him get knocked out over having to hear him on commentary. He's not going anywhere in the Welterweight division but he's fought at Middleweight before, had some success, and I thought he should have continued to fight at Middleweight when he signed with UFC. He'll probably have as much success at Middleweight as he did at Welterweight but at least it will delay his commentary return.

1. Urijah Faber - But only if he loses to Jose Aldo. Faber is small for 145 and could easily cut to 135 and be immediately at the top of the division. Obviously if he beats Aldo then he'll be the champion and he'll have to defend his title but if he loses to Aldo there won't be much left for him to do at 145. He'll have two losses to Mike Brown, one loss to Aldo, and he's fought all the top guys in the division. At 135 we'd get fresh fights against Bowles, Page, Banuelos, and mostly importantly Torres.

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WHO NEEDS TO CHANGE WEIGHT CLASSES?




T5. Jake Shields – 7pts.




T5. Yoshihiro Akiyama – 7pts.




4. Fedor Emelianenko – 8pts.




3. Thiago Alves – 9pts.




2. BJ Penn – 10pts.




1. Urijah Faber – 12pts.


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