Weight Class Drop

[randy_S1231]

I have always wondered why people always assume that some fighters should go to a lower weight class just because they lost one fight or a controversial fight(stoppage, Decision). Do some people realize that some fighters cut tremendous weight just to make it in the class they are in. People like Karo whom we can see cannot make weight at 155 will not drop down. He only lost one fight recently, which was a very controversial stoppage at that and people think he should drop to 155?

There are some fighters that we know can drop the weight because they seem small for their class. People like Tyson Griffin or possibly Franky Edgar can easily drop another weight class because they are small, but don't assume someone like Rich franklin is gonna go down to 170 when hes a big 185 as it is.

What do the rest of you think. Do some people jump to conclusions to quick?

[Frag x 3]

I think some people jump at saying a stoppage was bad when they didn't even check a replay to see someone was clearly laid out cold. I don't think Karo's stoppage was slightly controversial, let alone "very."

[duffman83]

I think people look at Karo as someone who could/should drop weight because he tends to appear out of shape. I could see the argument that if he took his conditioning seriously he might be able to make 185 (although I'd disagree). One thing I wonder is whether dropping to the lowest possible weight is a unilaterally good move. Other than post TUF drops to one's appropriate weight class, can someone remind me the last person to really benefit from dropping a class? The last person I remember to do it successfully was Terry Martin, and that seems to have actually been due to getting good opponents for him at 185, as he fell back to earth shortly afterwards. Makes me wonder whether Bisping will really benefit as much as people tend to think he will (I don't see him cracking the upper echelon of the top heavy 185 lb class)

[Steel]

Karo looks out of shape IMHO for a fighter thus I see it being possible trading off fat for muscle/tone.

The stoppage was more than justified. His legs buckled quickly after that knee in a very unnatural sort of way as if he were ready to play duck duck goose.

As for the concept of dropping weight, I look at it the same as stepping up a weight class in that it may open new doors for a fighter as far as opponents go. I'd rather see a fighter step uo or drop down rather than step out or away to another organization that may not be better suited to accomodate them. At the end of the day, these guys have to make a living too and they need to pick the right career paths.

It's easy for us as fans to judge from this side of the cage/ring.

[carbondioxide830]

so everytime someone's legs buckle a fight has to be stopped? i dont think that's the case in mma. like ive said time and time again since the fight, hes a pro fighter who recovered in a dangerous situation professionally. he was getting into guard and for all we know, could have pulled off a damn submission and broke that mother fucker's arm and went on to do the same to jon fitch.

as for this topic, i think if a fighter wants to drop in weight, thats his choice. karo is doing fine at welterweight. he's only lost to gsp, a close one to diego, and a controversial stoppage to thiago.

should tim sylvia drop weight? he lost convincingly two out of his last 3 fights to couture and big nog and prolly will to fedor too...

[AJL416AZ]

lol. getting guard? his ass was sitting indian style, getting punched in the face. yeah he had a hand up. thats a veteran move, to instinctively cover when you get fucking ROCKED. no controversy there, Karo was done and got up only because the ref pulled Thiago off of him.


as for weight drops, most people have no idea how to gauge who needs to cut, and who does not. guys that drop down know that it is a big decision, that changes how you are going to be fighting because of the cut.
Tyson Griffin walks around 180, i highly doubt he can make 45s anymore. he's short, but a real stocky dude.

[carbondioxide830]

nobody is telling me they've seen a fighter's knees buckle, get rocked like that, and the fight continue? if anyone can take somethin like that, its karo. i really think its a matter of him under estimating thiago.

[AJL416AZ]

i agree Karo has the experience of taking a shot and keeping on ticking. but he got flattened by that knee, it wasn't a matter of knees buckling, he immediately collapsed down into an awkward sitting position, and fell backwards as Thiago started punching him in the face.
its a somewhat questionable stoppage, but i think Karo was out after the knee and Thiago was taking position and throwing some heavy shots immediately after

i do agree that Karo doesn't need to cut down, he just needs to get in shape. he's come in consistently flabby for multiple fights, and needs to get down to training like a pro. even BJ Penn eventually got his head out of his ass long enough to hire a nutritionist and started working out a lot harder.

[willpunisher]

i dont like karo or rich.
and i think they are pretty much stuck in their division right now.
rich will never get the title from anderson.
karo will never get the title from either gsp, matt, thiago or even diego.
they can move up weight class but rich wouldn't last against chuck, shogun or jackson.
and neither would karo ever get the title against anderson.