WW in UFC

It's pretty hard to figure out what's going through Joe Silva's head, but I think I've figured out a way to make some kind of prediction of who will be matched up with whom. Barring injuries and last minute changes, I think there's a tier system where fighters can move up and down based on wins/loses. Depending on how a win/lose happens (and performance) a fighter can move up and down 1 to 2 tiers. For example GSP and Nick Diaz would be in tier 1 since they're fighting for a title, and the next tier would have 3-4 fighters giving the company an option of who can move up. If Condit or Penn (from tier 2) wins, they aren't guarenteed a title shot because of injuries or poor performance (happens all the time) so they have an option to move someone else in tier 2 to that title shot, in this case it's Fitch, until he gets another fight, at that time the second option for the title shot becomes the winner of the Fitch vs. whomever fight.

 

It's making sense in my head but maybe not in my words. By leaving people without a fight in a tier, that gives the company an option to move
a fighter up or down in competition depending on win/lose or performance. Popularity plays a huge role in the system which is why they try to hold
on match-ups until it makes sense. Which is good for fighters because potentially someone from tier 5 can fight someone in tier 3 if injuries
occur, and with a win that fighter could move up one of two tiers. So even though Brenneman beat someone in tier 3, he's not automatically in
tier 3 because of the performance. Yes it was a dominate win, though conditions were crazy surrounding the fight therefor he's probably in tier 5
or tier 6 but he still fights someone in tier 4 because of his current popularity. He'll probably move up to tier 4 with a win or possibly tier 3
if it's a very impressive win. But he'll still be a minimum of 2 fights away from the tier 1 fight.

TIER 1
GSP vs Diaz

TIER 2
Fitch
Penn vs. Condit (winner moves to t.1)

TIER 3
Kampmann
Shields vs. Ellenberger (Winner moves to t.2)
Sanchez vs Hughes
Story

TIER 4
Alves
Brown
Kim
Hathaway
Brenneman vs Johnson
Pyle vs MacDonald
Lytle vs Hardy

TIER 5
Howard
Almeida
Ebersole vs Hallman
Thiago vs Mitchell
Swick vs Silva
Hendricks vs Pierce
Sadollah vs Ludwig

So by this format, again baring injuries, and considering Silva's ability to make good match-ups, here's what potential match-ups are for fighters without fights.

Fitch vs winner of Shields-Ellenberger
Kampmann vs loser of Penn-Condit or loser of GSP-Diaz
Story vs loser of Penn-Condit or Brown
and so and so forth

interesting insight on the WW's. just two problems. howard was given the pink slip and almeida has retired. they were tier 5 anyway. :-}

Was not aware of that, regardless the tier system is constantly changing so it doesn't make much difference who's in or who's out of the organization right now because they are simply replaced.

What about KOS?  He is rumored to be fighting in November.

True, at MW though. Again, the names change constantly which is what makes sense with a sport like this. The tiers are a reference set in stone whereas the names change

Nice man good system!

the system makes a lot of sence, I think if Condit wins he gets the next shot, and Fitch will get the winner of Shields/Ellenberger

I think Kampmann vs Story is the obvious match up!

If BJ wins, he'll rematch Fitch and Condit gets loser of Shields/Ellenberger.  If Condit wins, he'll get the titleshot and Fitch will get the winner of Jake/Jake. I agree with Thiago, Story/Kampmann makes good sense.  Also Alves vs Kim or Alves vs Hathaway

Alves vs Kim sounds good and I think Alves would kill him!

I like Alves/Hathaway that sounds like a great fight or Alves/Sanchez after Alves gets a win

* Edited at 07.18.2011, 4:43 PM ET *