“I think the winner (between Penn and Sherk)... there's another fight between Roger Huerta and Kenny Florian, I think the winner of that fight will fight the winner of this fight and let's say it's B.J. or Sean (who wins that match-up).
I think for as deep as the lightweight division is talked about being this is a poor #1 Contender matchup. Florian was thouroughly dominated by Sherk in his first attempt at the gold and There is no doubt the result would be the same versus Sherk again, and possibly end worse against Penn. Florian has faced decent competition thus far in the UFC and would seem in the top 2-3 contenders.
Huerta is also another story, sure he has a 6 fight win streak going for him, but where are his wins against top flight opposition. His only win against anyone of value in the UFC has been over Clay Guida, who was trouncing Huerta until a lucky knee in the third round. He has faced nothing but UFC newcomers since his arrival.
I know the UFC like to put fighters in the mix with win streaks and are really heavily pushing pretty boy Huerta and the well spoken Florian, but can I would like to see Huerta face even a few more journeyman/gatekeepers first. Why not have him battle Tyson Griffin or even Gray Maynard who would surely test him, I would be satisfied with even just fighting one of them before getting to Florian.
Another bit of the media call that seemed strange was White's response to Sherk or Penn moving up to challenge Georges St. Pierre in a super fight.
I would consider that cleaning out the division,” (Penn/Sherk beating winner of Huerta vs Florian) stated the UFC president. “Then I would sit down and talk to them about where they wanted to go from there.”
I dont see how anyone would consider 3 wins in a division cleaning is out. Sherk will have had a total of 3 fights at lightweight if he beats Penn after defeating Franca and Florian. Penn will also only have 3 wins when you add Pulver and Stevenson.
This is arguably the deepest division with Thiago Tavares, Tyson Griffin, Spencer Fisher, Nate Diaz, Gray Maynard, Frankie Edgar, Marcus Aurelio and who knows who else I have forgotten or will come along in that time.
The UFC desperately needs to get its lightweight division in order so we can see a clear line to title shots, and so its champions will not have "cleaned out the division" after 3 wins.
