If Alves Wins, Victor of Shields/Kampmann Deserves WW Title Shot

If you're reading this, then you probably know that Thiago Alves came in one-half pound over the 171-pound weight limit for his fight with contender Jon Fitch at tonight's UFC 117 event. 

This marks the third time in Alves' 13 UFC fights in which he failed to squeeze his big frame into the upper limit of his weight class. This means big problems for the UFC if he wins in decisive fashion tonight.

Dana White has said that the winner of Fitch-Alves will get the winner of December's Georges St. Pierre/Josh Koscheck match-up.

Now in regular bouts, a fighter is allowed to come in at pound over the prescribed weight limit. That's 171 pounds for welterweight fighters. 

But in a title fight, you have to be right on 170 - there's no leeway. If Alves couldn't make 170, it would automatically be changed to a three-round non-title fight.

Alves did manage to make 170 for UFC 100, but the UFC cannot realistically give Thiago Alves a title shot unless he gets his weight under control. The best solution would be for him to stop lifting weights and burn 4-5 pounds of muscle. He might lose a bit of strength, but he would almost certainly be less drained by the harsh weight-cutting process he endures to make 170.

I don't see any reason to suspect Alves has problems with work ethic. Rather, he seems like a guy that's just a tiny bit too big for his weight class, but too small for the next one up in terms of height and reach. 

Therefore, it is only right that the winner of the Jake Shields/Martin Kampmann match at UFC 121 get the next title shot.

A win over Kampmann would extend Shields' winning streak to 15 fights, with victories over Dan Henderson, Robbie Lawler, Mayhem Miller, Yushin Okami, Paul Daley, and Carlos Condit.

It's truly one of the most impressive runs in the history of the sport.

And of course, if Kampmann can beat Shields, that in itself is a significant feat that would catapult him up to top of the division's rankings.