The Welterweight Division After GSP Retired.

[Gang Sign Luke]

From the moment Georges retired, until Woodley knocked out Lawler, was the most exciting time period for the welterweight division in the UFC.

-Every single title fight was a fight of the year during that time.
-Matt Brown on a career resurgence and finally hitting his prime.
-Erick Silva looked like a future champion and was youthful as ever.
-Rory Macdonald was a fucking animal.

Also, Robbie losing the first fight with Hendricks and then immediately fighting Ellenburger and Brown in succession was gangster as fuck. Do you remember how you felt watching UFC 189? It is IMO the best UFC card ever, and a huge reason of that is because of the title fight between Robbie and Rory.

Take me back.

 

[pride_rules]

How is Tito typing so well after cte/cutting all his fingers off?

 

[Luthien]

Most of the things that you listed would have happened even if GSP was in play
Rory animal (check)
Silva youthful (check)
Matt Brown looking better (check)

Not sure what kinda Ghoul GSP was to drain Silva's youthful energy or hold Matt Brown down

 

[HHJ]

GSP era was betta. Cos GSP was still fighting.

 

[laleggenda27]

Lost me at UFC 189 is "the best UFC card ever." UFC 217 makes 189 look like a Fight Night card. There are others as well. It was a good card, but let's not get carried away.

 

[Fergelmince]

Everybody's GOAT WW successor to GSP

 

[Rationality]

GSP filled stadiums.

 

[StonedLemur]

GSP era was betta. Cos GSP was still fighting.

Nothing quite like a human blanket, and people hated Fitch...weird since they were basically the same except GSP had better stand up.

 

[HavokHarmon]

Most of the things that you listed would have happened even if GSP was in play
Rory animal (check)
Silva youthful (check)
Matt Brown looking better (check)

Not sure what kinda Ghoul GSP was to drain Silva's youthful energy or hold Matt Brown down

For me it was more the “anything is possible” sort of feeling. Dominant champions tend to make divisions appear stale. As challengers get sent back to the end of the line or forced to another division entirely their hype loses a lot of its former luster, and thus their fights don’t mean as much. Once a champion has successfully done this to enough challengers the whole division starts to feel boring.

 

[Luthien]

Once a champion has successfully done this to enough challengers the whole division starts to feel boring.

That's true

 

[HHJ]

since they were basically the same

 

[HHJ]

successor to GSP

Aint born yet.

 

[SamuraiBro]

Still bummed I never got to see Robbie vs GSP.

 

[StonedLemur]

Lol how dare you use Khabib against me like that sir.

 

[HHJ]

Lol how dare you use Khabib against me like that sir.

 

[StonedLemur]

 

[LindyBrah]

Rory vs Lawler is vastly overrated in how good the actual fight is. People were booing the first two rounds, and was a chess match until the end of the third. Lawler vs Condit is a far better title fight, and arguably the best welterweight title fight after GSP retired.

 

[chinarice]

Nothing quite like a human blanket, and people hated Fitch...weird since they were basically the same except GSP had better stand up.

The first portion of Khabib's ufc career is closer to Fitch than GSP ever was

 

[THE MF KO KING]

Khabib would wipe the floor with any WW in UFC history. He is GOAT WW without ever competing in the division.

 

[StonedLemur]

The first portion of Khabib's ufc career is closer to Fitch than GSP ever was

Khabib First 8 fights 4 finishes, his last 5 fights 3 finishes.
And he never just laid on somebody without either swinging, or trying to improve position.

GSP last 8 fights 1 finish...first 8 he was a finish machine.

Fitch had 4 finishes in his first 8, and then he went GSP mode and they both controlled and just did enough not to get stood up sir.

I watched them all just like you did sir.