UFC 104: The Unappreciated Man: Spencer Fisher-Title Contender

Spencer Fisher is considered by most to be a gatekeeper.  Someone to beat the not yet ready, but cannot beat the top of the food chain.  He has top notch boxing skills coupled with solid submission ability.  However, his wrestling has been his major downfall so far.  He avenged his loss to Sam Stout, but what really hurts him are his two other UFC losses to top wrestling lightweights Hermes Franca (no longer with the UFC) and Frank Edgar (current title contender).  Having a loss against someone higher in the food chain hurts his progression, but a win on Saturday would be a huge step for Fisher.  In fact, Saturday's fight against Stevenson could be a career defining fight for him.  A win puts him right into title contention and a loss solidifies him as a lifelong gatekeeper.  Let's take a look at his resume.

The man is 8-3 in the UFC and has won 3 in a row.  He is a very strong boxer and has above average submission skills.  He even has a win over Thiago Alves; it was 4 years ago to be fair.  Beating Stevenson is a huge step for him for a couple of reasons.  Most importantly Stevenson's most obvious strength is wrestling.  This is the exact type of fighter that Fisher has struggled with and Stevenson is a very solid fighter, very solid.  People were down on him before the Diaz fights because of his recent losses, but he lost to the three (3) top lightweights in the UFC.  If Fisher can beat Stevenson then he will have conquered what has been his Achilles Heal so far.  He will also have beaten a fighter that has fought for the title.  A win over Stevenson would also move him to 9-3 in the UFC and provide him with four (4) straight wins within the organization.  This could put him in a number one contender fight for the lightweight title.  The division has a lot of depth near the top, but look at whom else could get the fight. 

UFC 104: Machida vs. Shogun coverage

Assuming B.J. Penn beats Sanchez to keep things static:

Gray Maynard: With a win over Diaz he should get the next title fight.  Would fight for the title when Spencer Fisher is in a number one contender bout.

Frankie Edgar: A win over Pellegrino might get him the shot with his only loss being to Maynard.  After him though it becomes very weak.

Jim Miller: Ahead of Fisher if he beats Griffin.  Lacks mainstream appeal, but has a solid record and only UFC loss is to Maynard.

Diego Sanchez: Would be too soon to earn another rematch unless their UFC 107 fight is epic.

Kenny Florian: Too soon for him as well.  Has not even fought since his defeat and if he beats Guida then he beat a .500 UFC fighter with zero marquee wins.

Kurt Pellegrino: If he beats Edgar than both him and Fisher have won four (4) in a row.  Granted Pellegrino would have beat Edgar and Fisher lost to Edgar, but Fisher would have beat Stevenson and Pellegrino lost to Stevenson.  It would be a perfect contender bout.  Also, if Pellegrino loses then that makes him on 3-2 in his last 5 fights.

Efrain Escudero: TUF popularity would help, but he is still young in the promotion.  Three (3) wins against average competition is not enough (if he beats Dunham).

Sean Sherk: Coming off a loss and has lost two of three.  This is what happens when you are a wrestler with a short reach and you want to be a boxer.

Tyson Griffin: Real contender even with the loss to Sherk.  A win over Miller could put him at same level as Fisher or Pellegrino if they both win.  Do not expect all three to win.

*Fisher is not a clear cut contender favorite if he wins, but with no real top contender a win for Fisher can be huge.  He would be on a solid win streak, own a GREAT UFC record, and beaten a strong wrestler.  He may not be as well know to the casual fan, but a win puts him closer to a title shot than every other fighter on the UFC 104 card except Velasquez.  Okami may have earned one, but he is in the UFC doghouse and he is clearly behind Belfort, Nate Marquardt, Dan Henderson (I believe he will sign in the end), and maybe still Demian Maia.