Each week, ESPN.com writer and MMA Live Extra analyst Brett Okamoto provides his take on the hottest topics in the world of mixed martial arts.
This week, Okamoto squares off with UFC welterweight contender Patrick Cote to debate the latest news and trends. Cote (22-9), who in his past four fights defeated Josh Burkman by TKO, has won nine of his past 11 fights.
1. In recent online videos, Jon Jones appears to be hitting a serious strength and conditioning program. If/when he returns, would you rather see him at heavyweight or light heavyweight?
Cote: I wasn't surprised to see him post those videos. Jon Jones, he likes to get the attention and he likes to prove certain things and that's OK. I think he can still be a champion. If he comes back, he should get his belt back. I think it's going to be a revenge fight for Daniel Cormier, now that he's the champion. It's a great story for the UFC, Jones trying to win his belt back. I want to see him come back at light heavyweight.
Okamoto: After Jones beat Cormier on Jan. 3 of this year, I basically had him pegged for two more fights at 205. He was supposed to fight Anthony Johnson on May 23. Had he gotten past that, I wanted to see him against Alexander Gustafsson for the second time (even though Gustafsson had just lost to Johnson in Sweden) and that was it. Off to heavyweight you go. Now, because Cormier has claimed that throne in Jones' absence, there is a need for a second fight between them. After that, I'd still like to see him fight Gustafsson again, but I'll admit, that rematch has lost some appeal. Personally, I would still love to see it, but from a business standpoint, it's basically lost nearly all of its selling power due to Gustafsson's 1-3 skid. But to answer the question, I think Jones is actually in the same spot he was. Two more fights at light heavyweight (assuming he wins both), then heavyweight. No need to rush the jump in weight, as I believe that should be the final stop of his career.
2. Does Cormier deserve to be called the undisputed light heavyweight champion, even though Jones never lost the title? Should he be considered the No. 1 light heavyweight in the world?
Cote: It's hard to say, because Jones, he never lost. So, for me, Jones is still No. 1. I'm not talking about his personal life, I'm talking about him as an athlete. In my head, he's still No. 1 even though Cormier defended his title against Gustafsson. Jones beat Gustafsson, too. And if you ask Cormier, I think he'd say the same thing: "As long as I haven't beat Jon Jones, I don't feel I'm 100 percent the champion." I believe he should get credit as the real champion, but at the end of the day the UFC has to make that fight again.
Okamoto: Cormier is the UFC light heavyweight champion. That's just hard fact. Jones lost the title due to his own actions. The UFC really had no choice but to strip his title this year -- the company didn't know how long it would be before he'd be legally cleared to defend it again. So, that undisputed title belongs to Jones. But of course, there's a certain perception attached to it, since Cormier just lost to Jones at the beginning of the year. Even though Cormier is the champion, Jones is still the best light heavyweight in the world. That's why it's hard to not want Jones back as soon as possible, because it's not just his career he's holding up. In a way, he's also holding up Cormier's.
3. What do you make of Johny Hendricks' weight cut failure last week and should he be forced to move up to middleweight?
Cote: The second part of the question is not in my control. That's for the UFC to deal with. I will say this is unprofessional. Making weight, it's part of the job. To have an intestinal blockage and kidney stone, this is not because you cut weight, it's because your diet was really, really bad. If he didn't do the right things at the beginning, of course it's going to come back and hurt you. When you cut weight, you shock the body. I always say to my coach, 'I'm going to die in the sauna before I ever miss weight.' I think it's a lack of respect for the company, the sport and Tyron Woodley, the opponent. Especially because this was the co-main event. There was a big story with Hendricks and Woodley wrestling in college. It was horrible, seriously. If you miss weight by a half-pound, maybe your scale wasn't the same or something. That happens. But missing weight by more than that is unacceptable.
Okamoto: I have a hard time saying a former welterweight champion should be forced to move up a division following the first failed weight cut of his career. So, I guess my short answer is no, he shouldn't be forced to move to middleweight if he doesn't want to. But ... he may want to. Hendricks is physically capable of weighing 170 pounds. We've seen him there. But speaking to him and his team, and now witnessing last week's botched cut, it's very clear that he's having a hard time making that lifestyle commitment it requires. As he's getting older, it's not just about gutting through a hard cut in the days before weigh-in. It's truly become a year-round commitment for him to make the weight. If he can't make that commitment, then he should move up. Given the current weight-cutting culture of the sport (unfortunate as it is), I think Hendricks is probably a better welterweight than middleweight -- but he's got to treat it like a year-round job.
4. Does his opponent, Woodley, deserve a title shot -- even though it's somewhat based on Hendricks' inability to compete at UFC 192?
Cote: Listen, he was ready to fight. He was ready to fight for the No. 1 contender spot. So, this was not his fault. He was on weight -- he made weight. It was too bad for Johny Hendricks. Too bad for everybody who wanted to see the fight but it was supposed to be for the No. 1 contender, so why not?
Okamoto: Yes, based on the rankings, Woodley deserves the next shot ... however ... the welterweight title fight between Robbie Lawler and Carlos Condit isn't until Jan. 2. Best case scenario, Woodley is getting his title shot somewhere around May 2016. He'd be 16 months removed from his previous appearance. It feels like any time these contenders sit it out for a title shot, it doesn't end well. There are too many variables -- namely, injuries -- that come into play and push the fight back. Here's my take, and I'm not sure it's going to be a popular one -- but Hendricks vs. Woodley was being looked at as a No. 1 contender's fight. That means, it's still a No. 1 contender's fight. I say, rebook it to Jan. 2 (provided, of course, Hendricks wants to stay at 170 pounds). This isn't fair to Woodley, but at the same time, is it really that unfair? He hasn't lost any ground. You'd still be asking him to win the same fight he was originally supposed to win to get the shot. It bails Hendricks out and doesn't really penalize him, I get that -- but ultimately Woodley could benefit from this because if he beats Hendricks, it makes him a stronger No. 1 contender. It helps his selling power as a challenger. If Hendricks bolts to middleweight, then let Woodley sit it out if he wants. If he stays, book the fight on the same date as the title fight.
5. With several strong events scheduled to close out the MMA year, what is the fight that is being most overlooked right now?
Cote: I think the fight this month between (lightweights) Joseph Duffy and Dustin Poirier (Oct. 24 in Dublin) is going to be a very entertaining, fun fight. (Welterweights) Ben Henderson vs. Thiago Alves (Nov. 28 in Seoul) is going to be an explosive fight. And you know what? (Strawweight champion) Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Valerie Letourneau (Nov. 14 in Melbourne, Australia) -- I know not a lot of people are giving Valerie a chance and I'm not sure she has a really good chance but the thing about Valerie is she's tough man. She's very, very tough. Because of that, she can maybe make a big surprise -- the biggest surprise of the year. Don't count Valerie Letourneau out. She's a gamer. She's been in the business for a long time. I do think Joanna is on another level but a fight is a fight, you never know.
Okamoto: I would agree, Duffy vs. Poirier is an under-appreciated fight. Duffy looks like a world-beater but Poirier should test that. Frankie Edgar vs. Chad Mendes (Dec. 11) feels destined to be overlooked because it's one day before UFC 194. Even if it ends up drawing attention it will likely be less attention than what it deserves, because that matchup is world class. A few other currently scheduled fights that look fun to me but might not get a ton of pre-fight love: Akbarh Arreola vs. Jake Matthews (Nov. 14), Johnny Eduardo vs. Aljamain Sterling (Dec. 10) and Michael Chiesa vs. Jim Miller (Dec. 10).