Amadi's Take
AMADI: Performances from Anderson Silva and B.J. Penn at UFC 112 shake up the "pound for pound" debate
Apr 12, 2010 - 4:12:03 PM AMADI: Performances from Anderson Silva and B.J. Penn at UFC 112 shake up the "pound for pound" debate

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By: Jason Amadi, MMATorch Columnist

I’ve always abhorred the pound for pound discussion, but the newsworthy show that UFC 112 turned out to be this past weekend makes the discussion much more interesting than it was even just a few days ago. After the atrocious display of sportsmanship by Anderson Silva and the equally shocking but infinitely more entertaining upset by Frankie Edgar, those who once swore by their pound for pound picks have now had their collective worlds shaken.

Perhaps this shakeup will end up being the most interesting thing that could have happened, since certain revisions to the pound for pound landscape will be especially telling about exactly how much weight that hazy phrasing truly holds. After watching the performances of B.J. Penn, Frankie Edgar, and Anderson Silva, if pound for pound lists are anything more than popularity contests, most people’s lists should have those three fighters ranked with respect to the outcomes of their fights and the merit of their credentials rather than obvious personal biases.

First and foremost, if you had Anderson Silva ranked as the pound for pound best fighter in the world prior to UFC 112, he should definitely still be in that position. While I outright condemn the actions of “The Spider” and consider his decision to dance the night away rather than taking his obligation to perform seriously to be an affront to the sport, that performance should in no way downgrade him from where he was in anyone’s mind, other than the level of respect they hold for him.

He made the choice before he even stepped into the Octagon that he was going to try to embarrass and punish Demian Maia rather take him seriously and dispose of him quickly. Silva even allegedly hurled swears at Maia and badmouthed his skills as he laid a conservative and uninteresting beating on him.

What we saw at UFC 112 was an emotional and disrespectful performance turned in by the still reigning UFC Middleweight champion. Silva’s performance against Demian Maia was not anywhere near what we all know his true skill level to be, but in truth, it was just as dominant as it was disrespectful.

Silva forced the world to watch him comfortably defeat Maia with minimum effort, which was obviously his plan all along. It wasn’t exciting or remotely entertaining, it didn’t endear him to spectators, but if you claim that based off of last Saturday night’s performance that Silva is somehow less talented than he was when he stepped into the Octagon that night, then clearly he’s just being punished for insubordination and not fairly critiqued for his overall body of work.

Speaking of which, Anderson Silva’s body of work now includes extending the record for consecutive UFC victories to 11 and extending the previous record for most consecutive successful title defenses to six. Penalizing inarguably one of the most successful athletes in the history of the sport and a reigning champion of his evident superiority for conduct reasons hardly legitimizes the pound for pound discussion.

The substantially more satisfying main event involving Frankie Edgar and B.J. Penn was a close and exciting fight that ultimately went to a razor close decision. Regardless of anyone’s feelings on which way the judges’ decision went that night, the result is the same – Frankie Edgar is the new UFC Lightweight champion.

Edgar, perhaps the UFC’s smallest lightweight competitor, defeated the greatest lightweight competitor of all time in B.J. Penn. Penn, prior to this loss, was a staple of everyone’s pound for pound list. In truth, the legitimacy of anyone’s pound for pound lists hinges on Edgar’s proven superiority over Penn.

B.J. Penn’s standing as a top fighter in the fictional pound for pound universe hinged mostly on his success in his own division, and his willingness to compete outside of the 155 lb. ranks. In accordance with the unnatural way the sport has progressed in terms of weight classes, if you naturally weigh 155 lbs., you should actually compete in the 145 lb. division.

Most people consider Edgar to be a natural 145 lb. fighter, fighting a class above where he should be. Despite cynical demands for Edgar to cut to 145 lb., he stayed the course at 155 lb., consistently took on naturally larger opponents, and turned up victorious all but once, the one loss against the comparatively enormous Gray Maynard.

It’s exactly as if B.J. Penn went his entire career competing in the welterweight division, and actually defeated Georges St. Pierre. To put this monumental accomplishment into perspective, the belt that previously rested comfortably around the waist of the svelte and trim B.J. Penn didn’t even fit around the waist of Frankie Edgar.

Going a step further with this comparison, I noticed that B.J. Penn looked about equal to UFC commentator Joe Rogan in size and stature. Standing next to Frankie Edgar made Joe Rogan look like Brock Lesnar. I seriously doubt the validity of a list that doesn’t compensate a man that small being the first man to defeat B.J. Penn at 155 lbs. in over 8 years.

If you want to keep your pound for pound lists credible, it would be wise not to move down Anderson Silva based on the peculiar method in which he chooses to show disdain, and it would also be wise to not show biased favoritism towards B.J. Penn by maintaining him in a top spot despite losing in his preferred weight division as well as a class (or several) above.

However it’s important to remember that, much like the seductive song of the siren, intelligent debate of pound for pound supremacy is always alluring, ultimately disastrous, and yet still completely mythological.

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