Matthew's Take
MATTHEW'S BLOG: Reaction to Ben Saunders getting shot at Jon Fitch with the withdrawal of Thiago Alves
Mar 25, 2010 - 1:47:20 PM MATTHEW'S BLOG: Reaction to Ben Saunders getting shot at Jon Fitch with the withdrawal of Thiago Alves

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By: Sam Matthew, MAMTorch Columnist

I must say I’m incredibly disappointed both by Thiago Alves' forced withdrawal due to an unspecified "irregularity" (whatever that might mean) on his mandatory pre-fight CT scan, as well as the UFC's decision to scrap one of the best matchups on the card in the Jake Ellenberger vs. Ben Saunders fight in order to throw Jon Fitch an opponent.

With Ben Saunders asking for this fight, it is absolutely ludicrous that the Zuffa brass should agree while essentially telling highly touted prospect Jake Ellenberger that he doesn't matter.

So instead of simply having one fight get moved to a later date where both competitors would have the same amount of training time, the UFC, in all its glorious wisdom, has decided to cancel another fight altogether so as to allow one of those competitors to take on a top contender in Fitch.

I am extremely critical of the UFC's choices here, mainly because one of the most potentially exciting fights on the card between two stand-up artists, not to mention a very evenly matched fight, Saunders and Ellenberger, will likely never happen, while fans can expect the wrestling phenom Jon Fitch to lay on top of Saunders to win his usual unanimous decision win. How boring.

When will the UFC learn to just roll with the punches? While rumors have it that Ellenberger will be compensated for his time and effort, I can only imagine what a let down it must be to have trained so hard only to be told at the last minute to get lost.

The worst part is the Fitch vs. Alves rematch to determine contention status had all the potential to be a fantastic fight, and with these two men easily holding the #2 and #3 positions in the welterweight division, finding a legitimate contender for the winner of GSP v. Dan Hardy is going to prove difficult.

Zuffa has only made a bad situation worse by essentially replacing two evenly matched, exciting fights, with one very bad matchup where Saunders is going to be rated a huge underdog.

RELATED STORY: Jon Fitch takes Jake Ellenberger's spot against Ben Saunders at UFC 111: [CLICK TO READ FULL STORY]