205 was given new life.

If Machida had walked through Rua, I think 205 was very much in danger of looking like every other division in the sport. A dominant champ followed by challengers who are clearly a step below the champ.

205 had looked to have fallen far since it's heyday. Chuck was ko'd into the night, Wandy was beaten down to 185, Rampage was getting embarrassed on tuf and then calling his retirement, rua was not the same fighter he was in pride.

If Lyoto had won that fight convincingly what would have been next for him? my guess would be a fairly long break followed by an relatively unanticipated title fight.

But with that fight, and controversy aside, that was clearly a fight between 2 elite level fighters, we now have a much anticipated rematch set for ASAP(not to mention the longer term trilogy, or a spider vs Rua matchup), we now have 2 top notch fighters in the div(3 if you count silva), and we also have a champ who lost his air of invincibility. I no longer will sneer at a Lyoto vs Cane matchup.

IMO this could not have turned out better for the div.

Tito beens gone for years, Randy's 46 now and at HW, Griffin got destroyed by Silva & Rashad, then you Machida has already gone through Franklin, Thiago, Rashad, Soko, & Tito.

So yes I agree. This is the best thing that could have happened for the division.

Rashad Evans will be a player again too.

freakzilla316ftw wrote:

Rashad Evans will be a player again too.

+1

I've been saying this for awhile and will continue to...no one will hold the belt long term in the LHW division. It's not like at 185 or 170 where the difference between the champ and challengers is so vast.

I'm not sure how people would consider 205 like WW or MW when there hasn't been a successful title defense since Rampage beat Hendo. The two heavy divisions are the only two that aren't dominted by a single guy, IMO. I was one who never thought that Machida was unbeatable. And I don't think that Rua is the only one who can beat him.

I think rashad and thiago will be back in the mix soon with only one loss to the dragon.

The fight just proved that Machida is not as unbeatable as everyone thought he was.

I think Shogun and Machida are above and beyond everyone else in the division. Thiago, Rashad, and Lil Nog are in the second tier. I will hold my judgment on Cane until his fight with Nog.

Bigs03 wrote:

I've been saying this for awhile and will continue to...no one will hold the belt long term in the LHW division. It's not like at 185 or 170 where the difference between the champ and challengers is so vast.

did you not pick Lyoto to win? and if rua was not the guy to beat lyoto in the near time vicinity then who was?

Ninja\Rua/Fan wrote:

The fight just proved that Machida is not as unbeatable as everyone thought he was.

I think Shogun and Machida are above and beyond everyone else in the division. Thiago, Rashad, and Lil Nog are in the second tier. I will hold my judgment on Cane until his fight with Nog.

agree, except that I'll throw spider in the elite 205 mix, and with rua's performance there is now an top level matchup for him there, plus gegard is out there too.

so we went from a potentially stagnant title situation to one that could prove quite volatile, or at least have the legit threat of being volatile.

captain organic wrote:

Bigs03 wrote:

I've been saying this for awhile and will continue to...no one will hold the belt long term in the LHW division. It's not like at 185 or 170 where the difference between the champ and challengers is so vast.

did you not pick Lyoto to win? and if rua was not the guy to beat lyoto in the near time vicinity then who was?

Yes I picked Lyoto but even though he defended the belt once I don't think he will hold it long. The LHW division is stacked and someone will beat him. I thought Rampage was going to hold the belt for a long time but he didn't. Never really thought Forrest could hold onto it but I thought Rashad might be able to hold it at least until he fought Rampage.

I just think it's to competitive in that division for there to be a long term dominant champ. Chuck was the last one we will see for awhile in that division IMO. Maybe Lyoto will prove me wrong if he beats Shogun in the rematch. I'm talking like 5 or 6 title defenses not 2 or 3.

Also, I agree with Ninja that Lyoto and Shogun are tops in the division but they aren't exactly head and shoulders over everyone else. Both guys can be beat, especially with Anderson Silva in the division right now.