UFC 205 pound guys

The light heavyweight division of the UFC is on fire.

When the sun came up over Montreal on May 1 of last year, everybody said that the champion was unbeatable. His name; Lyoto Machida. His record; 16-0. Most opponents couldn't lay a glove on him. On that day, he was fighting a rematch against a man he'd already defeated.

The unbeatable champion was knocked out, and the new King was Mauricio Rua.

In November Machida tried to work his way back towards a title shot, but lost to Quinton Jackson by a razor close decision. Bad for Machida, but great for Jackson.

Most of the fighters I am naming won other fights along the way, but I'm only including the key action.

In March of 2011, the new champion Rua faced this young hot-shot named Jon Jones. Rua was badly smacked around for a few rounds before being knocked out. A new Champion.

In September Jones faced Jackson, who had beaten Machida, and knocked him out, too.

Just yesterday, Rua fought a 40-year-old fighter from outside the UFC organization named Dan Henderson. After 5 brutal rounds, Henderson pulled out a points win. As a result, he gets a shot at the Champion at the next opportunity after the already scheduled December Title fight.

In early December the Champion Jones fights the former Champion Lyoto Machida. Vegas odds makers are calling Machida a long shot. I disagree. Their styles match up in a way that I'd say makes Jones a slight favourite.

If Jones wins, he's clearly king of the hill, and will face Henderson soon as the favourite.

If Machida wins, it's all up in the air. It will be Machida beating Jones, who beat Jackson and Rua, who both beat Machida. His next fight will be against Henderson, who beat Rua, who beat Machida. No clear king.

Compared to this, the other divisions are as dull as dish water.