Tomorrow night we have a very interesting co-main event in Oliveira vs Pettis. Pettis obviously is on a rough streak, but I still believe he has the skill set to cause anyone problems at 145 and 155. Oliveira is coming off a nice submission win over Jury in December, and overall has done well over the last 3 years since his loss to Edgar, with the Holloway fight being a very strange ending without a real indication of who the better guy is.
Both guys made weight without any apparent issues, but in the past, Charles has had some issues making weight- missing weight 3 times at featherweight with the most recent miss by 5 pounds in the mentioned bout against Jury.
In cases like this- where both guys have previously had pretty successful careers at 155 pounds- would you prefer for the fight to take place in their newer weight class of 145 pounds, or would you prefer the matchup take place at 155 pounds?
I understand rankings wise the fight probably has to take place at 145 pounds- two 155 pounders beating each other shouldn't technically influence the 145 pound rankings. But from an entertainment standpoint, I think the matchup could be more entertaining without the brutal weight cuts.
In the Conor vs Nate bouts, where the fights took place closer to their natural weights, both bouts were exciting FOTN (and potentially FOTY) candidates (regardless of who you thought should have won and lost). Recently Benson Henderson and Masvidal had a main event at 170 pounds although they both typically fight at 155. I missed that fight but heard it was very entertaining and competitive.
On the other hand- guys like Conor and I believe Kenny Florian both said that the weight cut can help a fighter be faster and potentially more fluid.
Obviously this all depends on the individual fighters, their styles, and the matchup. But what do you guys think?
Both guys made weight without any apparent issues, but in the past, Charles has had some issues making weight- missing weight 3 times at featherweight with the most recent miss by 5 pounds in the mentioned bout against Jury.
In cases like this- where both guys have previously had pretty successful careers at 155 pounds- would you prefer for the fight to take place in their newer weight class of 145 pounds, or would you prefer the matchup take place at 155 pounds?
I understand rankings wise the fight probably has to take place at 145 pounds- two 155 pounders beating each other shouldn't technically influence the 145 pound rankings. But from an entertainment standpoint, I think the matchup could be more entertaining without the brutal weight cuts.
In the Conor vs Nate bouts, where the fights took place closer to their natural weights, both bouts were exciting FOTN (and potentially FOTY) candidates (regardless of who you thought should have won and lost). Recently Benson Henderson and Masvidal had a main event at 170 pounds although they both typically fight at 155. I missed that fight but heard it was very entertaining and competitive.
On the other hand- guys like Conor and I believe Kenny Florian both said that the weight cut can help a fighter be faster and potentially more fluid.
Obviously this all depends on the individual fighters, their styles, and the matchup. But what do you guys think?
