Three Truths Revealed by Strikeforce!

The opening round of the Strikeforce HW tourney was not only a phenomenal night of fights, it also revealed and confirmed three very important truths regarding the MMA world. All three of these truths revolve around the main event between Fedor Emelianenko and Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva.

Let's start with the winner of the fight, Bigfoot Silva, also known as "Pezao". After his dominating win over Fedor last night and his steady, continual improvement and progress as a fighter, Bigfoot has to be recognized and respected as one of the top heavyweight fighters on the planet. Not only is he very talented, he is also a massive human being with serious athleticism to back up his size. We're talking about a man who is 6'4" and cuts weight to make the limit of 265 pounds. Then he shows up on fight night the next day, a lean, mean, rehydrated 285 pound fighting machine. There's a reason he sports the very impressive record of 16-2, with 11 of those wins coming by way of (T)KO. His first loss was a fluke KO, in my opinion, to Eric Pele, several years back in the short-lived Bodog promotion. What has Pele done since? Exactly! His other loss was by decision to the very talented Fabricio Werdum, who also has a recent win over Fedor. Beating Fedor immediately catapults a fighter into the Top 10 rankings, which is exactly where Pezao and Werdum rightfully sit. With the size, skill, athleticism and heart possessed by Bigfoot, he's a tough out for ANY fighter in the world. I've been saying for years that he would end up being one of the best heavyweights in the game. It's great to see that happen and to also see Bigfoot finally getting the recognition he has long deserved. The world is now officially on notice!

The second truth revealed on Saturday night is in regards to MMA living legend, Fedor Emelianenko. A loss, or in his case, two losses in a row, does not define a fighter's career. Fedor has been the most dominant fighter in the history of the sport, bar none. No one really even comes close, although Anderson Silva and Georges St. Pierre are in the process of building cases to dispute that. "The Last Emperor" went on an unprecedented 10 year streak without losing a fight. You can talk shit all you want about the level of his competition at points in his career but he beat whoever was put in front of him. Prior to his last two fights he went on an unfathomable 28 fight unbeaten streak. That is absolutely INSANE! Regardless of his last two fights, Fedor Emelianenko is and always will be one of the greatest, most humble, most talented and most dominating fighters our great sport will ever see. That is an absolute fact and to argue that is just utter stupidity! Recognize the greatness that is the Last Emperor, Fedor Emelianenko! At almost 35 years of age and after 35 fights and 11 years in the game, it's a hell of a lot to ask of Fedor to beat a talented fighter like Bigfoot, who enjoys a 55 pound weight advantage. 

That leads us to the third truth revealed by Strikeforce on Saturday night, that being the need for an additional weight class. In the heavyweight division you have fighters cutting weight to make 265 that can end up competing against a fighter as light as 207 pounds. Realistically, that's not the case, but it's not unheard of to see fighters entering the cage weighing 280-285 pounds, the day after making weight, fighting smaller heavyweights who come in at 225-230. We're talking about a 50-60 pound weight difference. Regardless of skill, that's just way too much to ask of any fighter. And when all things are equal, the bigger man will almost always win, especially when he has a 50 plus pound weight advantage. There really needs to be a cruiserweight division added to MMA for fighters between 205 and 235-240. Heavyweights would fight at weights above that. The biggest gap in classes is currently 20 pounds with the rest being 15 pounds or less. To have a gap of 60 pounds in one weight class is ridiculous when you really look at it. Spare me the bodyweight percentage argument, that's still nonsense at these weights. We're not talking about 400 pound sumo wrestlers here. Fighters like Fedor shouldn't be expected to beat talented dudes entering the cage at a lean 280 pounds. Also, fighters who walk around at 235-240 pounds wouldn't have to cut to 205 to be able to compete. There can and should be a division that they can comfortably fight in. I really think a cruiserweight division could end up being the most exciting and competitive in the sport. This is no longer the "dark days" of the sport when there weren't any weight classes so we should at least get this fair and right, shouldn't we? With all the fighters currently on the bubble as far as their weight, this division would thrive. Let the behemoths compete with each other at heavyweight and let the slightly smaller fighters do the same at cruiserweight. What's fair is fair, and what's right is right. Logically thinking, this has to happen SOON!!!