Jon Fitch, Michael Bisping, Roy Nelson, and Donald Cerrone: Contenders who could become champions

Donald Cerrone

Close your eyes and go back in the day, back to your freshmen year and you are at the prom/ homecoming/ winter wonderlust – whichever dance the ASB decided to terrorize the school with, and you see the girl of your dreams across the floor. You feel good, looking fresh in a clean Van Heusen button up, maybe even some Dockers to go with it. If you were cool enough, you might even have some all white K-Swiss (never scuffed) to cap it all off. Moving in for the dance as DJ FunkyFrank spins “Half On A Baby”; en route, your nemesis Dale Buonski bumps into you and not only scuffs the K’s but he gets the dance with Stefanie Taylor. So close but so far, better luck next time

Wake up class of ’99 and pay attention. In wake of the slaughter handed down from Zuffa brass yesterday and slimming their roster some, Jon Fitch stood out to many as someone capable and durable in every performance who did not warrant a pink slip.  Fitch goes away from Zuffa with an impressive 14-3-1 record and holds the record for most strikes landed in UFC history. Looking at that and seeing GSP could not finish him in their uber-awesome fight, the question stands – what more did he need to do for your respect? After losing his gold waist band dreams at UFC 87, he would not get the chance anymore; some blame grueling wrestling to dominate an opponent for fifteen minutes, some think he was not in Mr. White’s good graces. Either way, he walks out of the octagon as one of the best welterweight’s in the game, but a contender in the end, never a champion.

In similar fashion, it makes one think: who else is a serious threat, always ready but more so as a contender rather than a champion? A few names come to mind, starting off with her majesty’s favorite TUF contestant: Michael “The Count” Bisping. Winning season 3 of TUF, known for his trash talk and becoming a fan favorite (maybe love to hate?) has seen the Brit come so close for the desired match with Anderson Silva he has wanted since dropping to middleweight in 2008.

Fighting in three “title elimination” matches, he has lost all three. Dan Henderson made history at UFC 100, silencing and knocking Bisping into lala-land with a right hand; Chael Sonnen managed to get the decision (which he does not even feel he won) over him in Chicago of 2012; most recently, the TRT fueled Vitor Belfort landed a high kick that once again put this man back into the mix of 185er’s and derailed another title shot for the durable and always improving striker.

Talent, experience, and a granite chin are all things possessed by Roy Nelson. The only thing missing is a leather belt with a UFC buckle to make it worth all the whoppers. Another TUF winner, Nelson came into the UFC with an IFL championship, more than ten professional fights and a dangerous BJJ pedigree to prove he was more than a big guy who liked to fight. Riding back to back KOTN victories, he dropped two fights against former champions Junior Dos Santos and Frank Mir. Right now, he is riding a two fight streak with finishes over Dave Herman and Matt Mitrione, and is scheduled to face French testicle murderer, Cheick Kongo at UFC 159. Can he find the rhythm in training he needs to bring on fight night to not only win, but move into title contention? Not that a win over Kongo warrants a shot but will help pave the way if he wants the top spot one day.

A standout in the lightweight division submitted once and finished via strikes only once, Donald “Cowboy: Cerrone is a force to be reckoned with. Giving everything he has in his bouts has never been an issue for the Jackson’s MMA standout but when talk of a title or the title is on the line, he has failed to lasso in the belt. Fighting (and losing) to current UFC LW champ, Benson Henderson twice in their WEC days, he debuted for the UFC in September 2012, collected a five fight win streak and faced Nate Diaz at UFC 141 in Las Vegas. Instead of going out and winning in decided fashion, he became target practice for the Stockton native for fifteen minutes, losing via decision. He then entered his bout with Anthony Pettis filled with emotion as trash talk was exchanged between both men, much like events leading up to his fight with Nate Diaz. You can say that Maybe going into these fights with too much emotion or anger is what is hurting Cerrone and hindering his title dreams or maybe not…just a thought.

At the end of the day, each of these men are n the top ranks of their respected divisions and garner respect from fellow fighters in the locker room. The question that stands is, will they be able to channel whatever they individually need to gain that title shot and dance with Ms. Taylor all night long.