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MMA News
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UFC
UFC NEWS: Serra out for UFC 79 (with Cattelane analysis)
MMA Torch Columnist - Jerry Cattelane
Nov 23, 2007, 07:33
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Well, you knew this was coming, didn't you?
The interminable wait for a title match in the most crowded division of the UFC will have to be delayed as reigning champion Matt Serra sustained a back injury during an educational piece on Monday.
Serra had an MRI which demonstrated evidence of disc herniation in his lower back. The injury brings Serra's training to a screeching halt and puts yet antoher UFC title on the shelf.
Let's review the UFC champions at the moment:
Lightweight - Sean Sherk - Suspended
Welterweight - Matt Serra - Out indefinitely due to injury
Middleweight - Anderson Silva - Active
Light Heavyweight - Quinton Jackson - Uncertain return due to hand injury
Heavyweight - Randy Couture - Resigned vs. contract renegotiation and a broken arm to boot. Clearly no definite return date set.
Now, I'm not very good at math, but that's four of your five champions unable to perform in the cage at any point in the next few months. So, what does that mean for you and me, the fans? It means more low wattage PPVs. It means you'll probably see Silva defend his title again before anybody else. And, it means that we might see the creation of a few more "interim" titiles in 2008.
Let's push the envelope further. How many times were the titles defended in 2007?
February 3 - Silva defends Middleweight title against Lutter
March 3 - Couture defeats Sylvia and wins the Heavyweight title
April 7 - Serra defeats St. Pierre and wins Welterweight title
May 26 - Jackson defeats Liddell and wons Light Heavyweight title
July 7 - Silva defends Middleweight title against Marquardt
July 7 - Sherk defends Lightweight title against Franca
August 25 - Couture defends Heavyweight title against Gonzaga
September 8 - Jackson defends Light Heavyweight title against Henderson
October 20 - Silva defends Middleweight title against Franklin
Am I forgetting any? Take away Silva and the other four belts were only fought over SIX times in the entire year. And, can you honestly say, it looks any better for 2008? Are we really counting Penn-Stevenson as a championship bout? What about the welterweight title? Back injuries suck. Serra could be on the shelf for another 4 MONTHS. Are you telling me we won't see Hughes-Serra until next summer?! What is this, a movie premiere? You can't fault Serra for getting hurt. It's a physicial sport. Stuff happens. The fault lies with the UFC for letting this thing drag on like a bad WWE script. Title fights sell PPVs. Especially now, when much of the UFC fanbase (and in the MMA world, that is a sketchy subject) is getting a little tired of forking over $40 for non-title three round fights.
So, UFC 79 won't have a title fight. Neither will UFC 80. I don't care what Dana White says. If Sherk is the champion and he's not fighting, it's not a title fight. So, we're waiting until UFC 81 in early February when we might get... who exactly? The only bout I can see would be Silva - Henderson. Sherk will still be suspended. Serra will still be rehabbing. Nobody knows who's next for Jackson yet, so how you answer when if you still don't have a who? (Dr. Seuss reference. I have little kids...) And Couture? Well, who knows what will happen there?
So, MAYBE Silva goes at UFC 81. What about UFC 82 in March? Will Serra be ready by then? Doubtful. Jackson? Maybe. See what I'm getting at here?
If Silva fights at 81, that would be nearly FOUR months (and 3 PPVs) without ANY UFC belt being contested. That's awful.
The decision to postpone the welterweight title fight for a reality TV show premise is really looking good now isn't it?
Hope your Thanksgiving was happy and safe. Hopefully. we'll be back with better and nore regular news on Monday.
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