MW bashing...

I think I am the only guy on here that actually thinks this is a good division. I think a few things that hurts it is that Anderson is almost too dominant and makes any contenders look like bums. Second, there are no real stars in this division. There haven't been a lot of TUF coaches from this division, other than Hendo and Bisping. They just don't have non-title holder headliners, like the LHW or HW division do.

But I think a roster with Anderson, Wanderlei, Chael, Vitor, Marquardt, Maia, Akiyama, Bisping and Belcher is pretty stacked. THen when you looks outside of the UFC it's pretty impressive too. In fact, I think this is the UFC's weakest division in terms of division dominance with Shields, Leites, Santiago, Khalidov, Souza, Hendo, Lombard, Lindland and Lawler -- I think that could be another sign of how deep the division is, since one organization can't quite dominate it.

I agree. Anderson has had the same effect on the division as GSP has had at 170. A dominant champ makes the division look weak.

Im not overly stoked with 185, sonnen made me eat my words vs Nate, so he rose up, but Nate dropped a bunch in that fight. I do like vitor, and I don't rule out Wandy regaining some form at that weight, but the rest of the UFC crew is a bit underwelming.


Outside the org, Shields may or may not stay there. I do like Lombard as well as Baker in Bellator, and souza has some real talent. As a fan I think Lawler and Le can put on great fights but I wonder about their standing amongst the divisions elite.

But you're prob right that silva's other worldly skills make the rest of the division look weak.

boomer- Franklin was on TUF opposite of Hughes I think.

I still consider it to be one of the weaker divisions in MMA....probably the weakest of the higher WC(ones used by UFC).

I agree, I want the dominant fighters to move up or have a tragic accident so it will be more entertaining for my viewing pleasure, but it is still extremely deep and will only get deeper with the popularity of the sport.

They are not bad, but I dont feel 170 or 185 stack up at the top or through the top 20 cumulatively to 155 or 205.

HW and MW are the two weakest divisions in the UFC. Not bashing them. Just the way it is.

1. LHW
2. LW
3. WW
4. HW
5. MW

I would actually rank Middleweight above Heavyweight in terms of overall depth and strength. Between the UFC and Strikeforce alone the Middleweight division is very deep. Anderson Silva, Vitor Belfort, Dan Henderson(he's still top ten), Nate Marquardt, Chael Sonnen, Demian Maia, Alan Belcher, Yushin Okami, Jake Shields, Robbie Lawlor(top 15ish) Ronaldo Souza, Matt Lindland. Most of those guys just broke out in the last year or so. The division has become much better than it was three years ago.

Heavyweight has remained relatively weak, with exception of a short list of breakout fighters like Cain Velasquez, Junior Dos Santos, and to an extent Shane Carwin. However I can see that division strengthening up with guys like Brett Rogers, Brendan Shaub, and Todd Duffee in a year or two. All in all though the Heavyweight division would have to be the all around weakest division in the sport for the time being.

LudoCain wrote:

I would actually rank Middleweight above Heavyweight in terms of overall depth and strength. Between the UFC and Strikeforce alone the Middleweight division is very deep. Anderson Silva, Vitor Belfort, Dan Henderson(he's still top ten), Nate Marquardt, Chael Sonnen, Demian Maia, Alan Belcher, Yushin Okami, Jake Shields, Robbie Lawlor(top 15ish) Ronaldo Souza, Matt Lindland. Most of those guys just broke out in the last year or so. The division has become much better than it was three years ago.

Heavyweight has remained relatively weak, with exception of a short list of breakout fighters like Cain Velasquez, Junior Dos Santos, and to an extent Shane Carwin. However I can see that division strengthening up with guys like Brett Rogers, Brendan Shaub, and Todd Duffee in a year or two. All in all though the Heavyweight division would have to be the all around weakest division in the sport for the time being.

In reality it's a toss up. I wouldn't disagree with you. HW has a lot of question marks and prospects. Seems like all you need to be a prospect at HW is heavy hands

It has all to do with Anderson Silva. People judge the depth of the division on how many guys can challenge the champ. In popular opinion, there is nobody in MW who can do so.

The HW division is easily the weakest, and it's not even close.

I look at it also from a population stand-point. There just isn't an overwhelming population of HW or LHWs that are actually in athletic shape, therefore I feel like it's impossible for these divisions to have more depth overall. Overall, I have to say that WW and LW have the most depth and it spreads out from there. People love to talk about the LHW division, but I think its depth comes from TUF [it seems like every other coach is from this division] and popular fan favorite fighters like Chuck, Tito, and Wanderlei.

Middleweight is hot garbage. The reason Anderson can be so dominant is simply because the weightclass sucks balls. Ace isn't even top ten at LHW and at MW until Anderson he looked untouchable. Nate Quarry? Middleweight is what happens when you take a sucky weight class and put the best fighter in the world there.

I don't think it's that bad, Rich was in the LHW top 10 before the Vitor fight I think, he's still fairly close.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

Middleweight is hot garbage. The reason Anderson can be so dominant is simply because the weightclass sucks balls. Ace isn't even top ten at LHW and at MW until Anderson he looked untouchable. Nate Quarry? Middleweight is what happens when you take a sucky weight class and put the best fighter in the world there.

Hendo was near the top of the division at 205, and I'll 2nd LA's point on Franklin, even though it is by no means a prerequisite that one need be top 10 at a higher weight class to be given respect in their current weight class.

Franklin has never been a legitimate top ten LHW in his entire career guys, at the very least not in years, I am sorry. A win over Matt Hamill doesn't move you into the top ten. What was his biggest UFC win at LHW? Ken Shamrock?

GDPofDRC wrote:

They are not bad, but I dont feel 170 or 185 stack up at the top or through the top 20 cumulatively to 155 or 205.

And WW used to be seen as one of the deepest divisions in the UFC. It's because there is a dominant champ.