The success of the UFC since the unveiling of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ has been inescapable. One is hard pressed to explore any corner of humanity without hearing mention of Chuck Liddell or Forrest Griffin for example. The culture of the Octagon is here in a big way. If the growth of the last two years is any indication of what is to come, 2008 will be bigger and better than ever.
The first ’08 offering from UFC is just days ahead and the main event of B.J. Penn - Joe Stevenson is evidence of the company’s growth alongside the maturing of the U.S. fanbase. For the first time since the resurgence of the Zuffa promotion, two lightweight fighters stand alone as the headliners on a pay-per-view offering.
When Sean Sherk and Hermes Franca met in their now infamous title bout at UFC 73, the fight was coupled with Anderson Silva and Nathan Marquardt’s middleweight contest. The lightweight division has not been slighted in any manner by the UFC brass; it’s received its fair share of marketing and visibility. Roger Huerta, Kenny Florian and even Penn have nabbed top billing on SpikeTV, but the 155'ers have yet to drive a PPV outright.
It’s a testament to the company and the education (self, in many respects) of the stateside fans that this is even a possibility. It was only years ago that the UFC lightweight division was dead. A four-man, two event tournament ended in a split-draw at UFC 41 between Penn and Caol Uno. The tournament was supposed to award someone the belt that Jens Pulver vacated, but instead had quite the opposite effect. The division was put on hold, and all but canned.
2004 and UFC 58 witnessed the resurfacing of the division, and return honors went to Spencer Fisher and Sam Stout. Yves Edwards and Jens Pulver both had the trumpets blaring and red carpet rolled out during their return fights, ready to be crowned the king and savior of the lightweights. Both were derailed in stunning fashion by younger, lesser known fighters. The losses by the two made for good TV, but did little to lend credibility to an already injured, hampered division.
Enter B.J. Penn. The Hawaiian’s nomadic journey through the MMA world and weight classes has come full circle. “The Prodigy” made his lightweight return at the TUF 5 finale against the man who took the belt from him five years earlier. Penn dominated the bout and with a little convincing from Dana White, was given the opportunity to reign supreme.
That opportunity comes on the 19th against TUF champions Stevenson. Sherk’s recent fall from grace is another blow that has been dealt to the UFC’s youngest and lightest division, but that’s all it is; just another blow. Another shot at a weight-class that has been killed more times than Kenny, but is still here, and stronger than ever.
The division that gave us arguably three of the best five UFC fights in 2007 has been granted the chance to kick off ’08 in similar fashion. The fans and UFC have spoken, and the division finally appears secure and here to say. Something crazy could happen and throw the weight-class for a loop yet again. If history has anything to say on the matter, its words are ‘all bets are off.’ Not bad advice, especially if your betting on the fight being a bust. The fact it’s there, with top-billing, kicking off the UFC’s year says more than enough. Besides, the little guys always seem to do things in big ways.