How Much Weight Does The Word "Title" Hold?

by Kelvin Hunt on Sep 6, 2009 3:00 PM EDT in News Comment 16 comments

Strikeforce Welter Weight Jay Hieron

Well, according to Strikeforce welterweight Jay Hieron, that's one of the things that made him choose to fight for Strikeforce over the UFC. Hieron was on "The Info Podcast" and had this to say in regards to what's next for him and why he went to Strikeforce:

"One of the reasons to decide to go with Strikeforce was I was fighting for the title," Hieron explained. The UFC offered me a very good deal but I wanted the chance to fight for a title. Nick Diaz is a big name and that’s the type of guy I want to fight right now."

Just a couple of thoughts on this:

1. Why would a title be important if you KNOW it's pretty worthless? I mean come on, everybody knows GSP is the best welterweight in the world. In fact, Hieron knows that first hand since he was TKO'ed by GSP way back then before GSP was even the champ.

2. Why wouldn't you take the very good deal for a shot at winning THE title while also potentially avenging a prior TKO loss?

I love Nick Diaz and he's a great fighter, but he's no GSP and GSP doesn't skip drug tests.

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How much better was his deal with the UFC?

Maybe with Strikeforce (though not so far), he’ll get to be on the main card, rather than get buried in a UFC undercard.

Fighters usually have their reasons for doing the things they do. I’m not gonna question him here.

Wow, taking a shot at two of my guys in one story – Hieron & Diaz. You suck Kelvin. ;)

by The Real T-Bone on Sep 6, 2009 3:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i think your spot on kelvin. i think heiron knows where his place is at the ww level. he’s a very solid fighter, but probably couldn’t get past fitch,alves, kos. so by signing with SF, he is a big fish in a small pond as compared to the ufc, where he would just be another fighter. no offense meant towards heiron, i like him and usually like what he has to say, but this is just him saying “i’m fighting for a less money to fight lesser fighters, which might parlay into more money if i stay undefeated”. sounds like fedor. whoops! :) :)

by bdw on Sep 6, 2009 3:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

1. It’s the best he can hope for. He knows that he is not an elite level fighter so he sets his sights on a goal that is somewhat possible to obtain. In the UFC he would be gatekeeper material at best and he probably has too much pride to accept such a role.

2. I’m sure it was a hard pill to swallow but he was completely outclassed by GSP in their fight, and that version of GSP is nothing compared to the monsterous juggernaut that he is now. Hieron has no chance against GSP, a fact that Jay is acutely aware of.

It boils down to a simple choice of trying to be the best or accepting mediocrity, Hieron chose the latter.

by villin on Sep 6, 2009 4:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Are we even sure that the UFC really wanted Jay? I’m not inclined to think that they’re all that interested until he can rack up a few more wins.

by SlickRick00 on Sep 6, 2009 6:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I thought they were but they balked when they find out he signed the EA deal

by The Bronzeville Bully on Sep 6, 2009 6:07 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Would anyone agree that Hieron with a couple of high profile wins in UFC would not be far away from a title shot considering GSP has cleaned out the division

by The Bronzeville Bully on Sep 6, 2009 6:09 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Possibly. Depends on whos the wins were against, I suppose.

by SlickRick00 on Sep 6, 2009 6:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can’t think of any high profile fighters he could beat to put him in such a situation. Fitch, Alves, Koscheck, Kampmann, Hughes, Swick, Yoshida, Serra, etc would all walk through him with little difficulty.

by villin on Sep 6, 2009 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My thoughts wandered and kind of ended up in the same place…

Bloody hell.

by 3PA on Sep 6, 2009 6:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Man

I have an obssession to be the best at whatever I do…so I couldn’t have signed with Strikeforce.

http://www.mmaforreal.com
Follow Me On Twitter@KelvinHunt

by Kelvin Hunt on Sep 6, 2009 7:30 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

At particular title is only as good

as the guys who are fighting for it.

...some call me "el mexicutioner"...

by _Felix_ on Sep 6, 2009 7:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

A particular* (I'm no typing title holder for damn sure)

...some call me "el mexicutioner"...

by _Felix_ on Sep 6, 2009 7:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s my opinion that the idea of a title is good for two things:

1) Proving who is the best in a particular division
2) Selling tickets/PPVs

Now, given that Strikeforce’s champs are really just the best that they can get, rather than the division, you can write this one off. The number of people watching don’t impact a fighter, unless of course they’ve got a contract such that they get a cut of the profits (which certainly isn’t the case for a guy like Hieron). So at the end of the day all Hieron really has to hang his hat on is the fact that he’s the best welterweight in Strikeforce.. which is good, but not really that great. Some guys just want to be champion, and aren’t concerned about where, and that’s fine. It’s not like this is some local inde promotion too; Strikeforce may not have the best talent in the world, but they’re still pretty good.

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by -Neil- on Sep 7, 2009 12:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

umm

of course I realize what having a title does…but if you ain’t in to be the best at this level…then it’s time wasted imo.

http://www.mmaforreal.com
Follow Me On Twitter@KelvinHunt

by Kelvin Hunt on Sep 7, 2009 1:07 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, but a fighter should also be realistic about stuff to. If he wants some non-snakeskin gold on his shelf, the UFC probably isn’t the best place to go for it, you know? Their top talent is pretty much unbeatable (in my opinion), and a guy that’s in it for a belt might not go to the UFC. I guess it boils down to big fish in little pond, or little fish in a big pond.

Some dudes (Jake Shields) are in Strikeforce because of circumstance, but the rest are either there because they can’t get into the big show (Paul Buentello, Terry Martin) or don’t want to fight for the UFC (Mayhem). I’ve got to assume that Hieron really just wants to get a step up in competition from the likes of the IFL and Superfight. Let’s face it, he’s a good fighter, but if he takes two losses (maybe even one) in the UFC, he’ll be out like last week’s leftovers. Fighting in Strikeforce will get him decent fights to progress as a fighter, but not get blown out against the UFC’s usual suspects (Fitch, Koscheck, etc).

Live previews and reviews of all major fights!
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by -Neil- on Sep 7, 2009 2:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yea I know.

I’m just speaking from my POV…I like going up against the best…win or lose.

http://www.mmaforreal.com
Follow Me On Twitter@KelvinHunt

by Kelvin Hunt on Sep 7, 2009 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

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