Arguing fighters from different eras will always favor the current fighter for a few reasons.
1. Newer fighter has the benefit to learn from the past era. One simple example is the Rampage slam on Arona. No one has ever been finished like that so Arona got destroyed. Rampage was gonna slam Forrest the same way, Forrest hooked the leg. Rampage was gonna slam Machida, Machida released the triangle. If Arona never got buried...think those two would have known how to deal with it?
2. Training and nutrition....weight cutting techniques...speaks for its self.
But one thing that crosses all eras is accomplishment. Older fighters would have no chance in a who would win VS today's fighters contest.....nobody from the past really does...especially in the lighter weights where skill outshines power. So if you want your favorite fighter to be considered better than BJ...simply match his accomplishments in the new era.
1. 3 LW title defenses is the longest in the division. BJ, Benson Henderson, Frankie Edgar....and for fucks sake, lets throw Conner in the mix since he hasnt had a chance to defend, so lets not leave him out for that reason. Two other fighters have done it and Conner has a chance to do it. Now all they have left is....
2. WW title. Matt Hughes had 9 title defenses at WW before BJ subbed him. Hughes was the #1 p4p fighter at the time of the fight and still considered 2nd best WW of all time (remember accomplishments before you say something like "Hughes can't beat non of the top 5 now!!!...when none of the now got 4 defenses....let alone 9....leaving GSP out as you will see why later)
So that means Bendo, Frankie, and Connor would all have to go beat Woodley. Woodley aint the #1 p4p....but that dont matter. Just beat Woodley for the belt. Bendo is getting killed at WW by the 432nd ranked WW's these days. Edgar vs TWood?? Connor vs TWood??? Then...
3. Fight the second best WW and show well. GSP was considered at the time the second best WW....and would quickly prove to be not only the best at the time...but of all time at WW. And honestly, BJ handed GSP his ass in the first round and I still dont know how the judges gave GSP the win. No matter.....that means the new breed would have to fight Wonder Boy or Lawler....dont matter who you think is second best at WW, you pickem'. They dont have to win....just not die in there. Edgar vs Lawler or WB???? Benson vs Lawler or WB???? Connor vs Lawler or WB. Connor fought at 170, but fought a LW that didnt weight cut...not a true WW. Connors punches were eaten for two fights by Diaz, think a true weight cutting WW would get KO'd?
4. Finally, pick a MW and fight them too...again, dont have to win...just show good. BJ fought Machida at HW and went the distant. Lost of course, but was competitive the entire way. Now Machida was kinda chunky, but he did just KO the future MW champion Franklin. So BJ, a LW, goes in there and holds his own. So the criteria is MW cause Machida now fights there when he aint fat. At this point....and I think you get the point....you can pick a MW ranked from 5-15....lets say a Uriah Hall, Derek Brunson...maybe even a Hector Lombert. Think Edgar, Benson or Connor makes it outta the first?
That's it...that's all...and that's why BJ will always be considered the best LW. Nevermind the Uno and Gomi fights. Nevermind blood licking beat downs during the defenses. Just do those 3 other little things after you defend LW 3 times. Couldnt possibly be that hard could it?
1. Newer fighter has the benefit to learn from the past era. One simple example is the Rampage slam on Arona. No one has ever been finished like that so Arona got destroyed. Rampage was gonna slam Forrest the same way, Forrest hooked the leg. Rampage was gonna slam Machida, Machida released the triangle. If Arona never got buried...think those two would have known how to deal with it?
2. Training and nutrition....weight cutting techniques...speaks for its self.
But one thing that crosses all eras is accomplishment. Older fighters would have no chance in a who would win VS today's fighters contest.....nobody from the past really does...especially in the lighter weights where skill outshines power. So if you want your favorite fighter to be considered better than BJ...simply match his accomplishments in the new era.
1. 3 LW title defenses is the longest in the division. BJ, Benson Henderson, Frankie Edgar....and for fucks sake, lets throw Conner in the mix since he hasnt had a chance to defend, so lets not leave him out for that reason. Two other fighters have done it and Conner has a chance to do it. Now all they have left is....
2. WW title. Matt Hughes had 9 title defenses at WW before BJ subbed him. Hughes was the #1 p4p fighter at the time of the fight and still considered 2nd best WW of all time (remember accomplishments before you say something like "Hughes can't beat non of the top 5 now!!!...when none of the now got 4 defenses....let alone 9....leaving GSP out as you will see why later)
So that means Bendo, Frankie, and Connor would all have to go beat Woodley. Woodley aint the #1 p4p....but that dont matter. Just beat Woodley for the belt. Bendo is getting killed at WW by the 432nd ranked WW's these days. Edgar vs TWood?? Connor vs TWood??? Then...
3. Fight the second best WW and show well. GSP was considered at the time the second best WW....and would quickly prove to be not only the best at the time...but of all time at WW. And honestly, BJ handed GSP his ass in the first round and I still dont know how the judges gave GSP the win. No matter.....that means the new breed would have to fight Wonder Boy or Lawler....dont matter who you think is second best at WW, you pickem'. They dont have to win....just not die in there. Edgar vs Lawler or WB???? Benson vs Lawler or WB???? Connor vs Lawler or WB. Connor fought at 170, but fought a LW that didnt weight cut...not a true WW. Connors punches were eaten for two fights by Diaz, think a true weight cutting WW would get KO'd?
4. Finally, pick a MW and fight them too...again, dont have to win...just show good. BJ fought Machida at HW and went the distant. Lost of course, but was competitive the entire way. Now Machida was kinda chunky, but he did just KO the future MW champion Franklin. So BJ, a LW, goes in there and holds his own. So the criteria is MW cause Machida now fights there when he aint fat. At this point....and I think you get the point....you can pick a MW ranked from 5-15....lets say a Uriah Hall, Derek Brunson...maybe even a Hector Lombert. Think Edgar, Benson or Connor makes it outta the first?
That's it...that's all...and that's why BJ will always be considered the best LW. Nevermind the Uno and Gomi fights. Nevermind blood licking beat downs during the defenses. Just do those 3 other little things after you defend LW 3 times. Couldnt possibly be that hard could it?
