Two days ago on my lunch break I wrote a piece for this website.  However, this is a very busy week at work and Monday was especially busy so I did not have time to edit it, tag it, link it, or any of that other good stuff I am learning to do.  I figured hey, I'll do it later.  I went to post the piece later in the day only to read Spencer's Piece about Mike Swick and the welterweight division.  This made my piece entitled: UFC Welterweight Division, Who got Next? rather pointless.  Thanks a lot man.  Being that around 60% of my article (I know it is a blog post, let me call it an article damn it) was the same as Spencer's post.  I began thinking of what I should do; should I write a brand new post, rebuttal Spencer's piece regarding our differences, or post it anyways?  As I began reviewing my original piece and Spencer's piece I realized something.  The UFC Welterweight Division is two fights away from having a long successful run with strong contenders.  Seriously, no other division has the depth or strength that the welterweight division has.  This is all the more surprising considering how hard it is to be competitive with George St. Pierre dominating the division.  Unfortunately we have to go through one undeserving fight to get to the promise land.

Many times when the clear 1 vs. 2 fight each other it means we have tough times ahead.  A clear 1 and 2 can often mean the 3, 4, and 5 ranked fighters are far behind.  With the UFC Welterweight Division St. Pierre and Alves are the absolute 1 and 2 in my opinion and the 3 is far behind.  However, here the 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 are all the same playing field.  This potential for amazing contender fights has me amped up. 

For sake of argument let us start after the UFC 100 fight and assume St. Pierre wins (no guarantee, Alves is for real).  St. Pierre's next fight will be against Jon Fitch, Paulo Thiago, Mike Swick, or Martin Kampman and all of these fighters would still be one fight away from a title shot in my opinion.  If Thiago beats Fitch (which he won't) I think he would get the shot.  Thiago would only be 2-0 in the UFC, but he would have beat two top ten-ish welterweights in Fitch and Koscheck.  I kind of hope he wins just so we can see the Swick/Kampman number one contender fight.  Completely agree with other WKR writers when I ask that Swick does not fight Hughes.

After that foursome we still have fighters like Anthony Johnson, Josh Koscheck, Carlos Condit, Dan Hardy, Frank Trigg, Brock Larson and Dustin Hazelett (unless he turns into Sam Bowie) who are all two or three fights away from a title shot.  Add this with the potential of signing Jake Shields and you have one stacked division.  Unlike the Heavyweight Division the UFC has done a great job taking their time with this division and it has led to a plethora (websters whaaat) of good young fighters.  Also, if Alves can keep his fight with St. Pierre close, relatively close, and has strong wins following the St. Pierre fight he could be looking at a quick rematch.

The only problem is the fight after UFC 100.  Swick, Kampman, or the winner of Fitch/Thiago could be getting the call up.  With the long list of future contenders beneath them a loss could drop them far down on the pecking order.  Especially if the UFC throws Fitch in there and he loses his rematch.  The only other options I can possibly see are the signing of Jake Shields (I do not think they would give him a title shot right away) or giving Matt Hughes a fourth fight.  I do not think this will happen and I have no interest in the fight, but it would not completely shock me.  Hughes has stated he does not want to be a gatekeeper, he is nearing retirement, and his only welterweight losses are to the champion and number one contender.  The UFC could provide him with a potential going away present (assuming he loses) and give him one more shot at the title and St. Pierre.

Overall I cannot wait for the division to sort itself out.  Personally I would love to see Hazelett make a run just because I am big fan, but which of these fighters do you see developing into the next champ/number one contender?  Do you think there is a better division in the UFC and who do you think should get the next title fight after UFC 100?

P.S. This is all based on St. Pierre beating Alves.  If Alves wins St. Pierre will need one win to get a rematch and the process can start over.