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With Carlos Condit knocking out Dan Hardy and Jon Fitch waiting in the wings, how will the welterweight title picture shape up dependent on Saturday's outcome between Jake Shields and Martin Kampmann? Discuss the possible scenarios.
RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
Scenario 1.) Shields > Kampmann, GSP > Koscheck
If Shields beats Kampmann, and does so in mildly entertaining (or better) style, he's getting the next crack at GSP, and we're looking at Fitch vs. Condit for the next shot after Shields.
Scenario 2.) Kampmann > Shields, GSP > Koscheck
If Kampmann beats Shields, we're looking at Fitch vs. GSP and Kampmann vs. Condit 2 for the next shot.
Scenario 3.) Shields > Kampmann, Koscheck > GSP
That's funny.
Scenario 4.) Kampmann > Shields, Koscheck > GSP
That's funny *.
*- for those of you who missed the joke, ain't no way Koscheck beats GSP.
ALVIN CARTER, MMATORCH SPECIALIST
If Shields wins, I am seeing him match up against Fitch or getting a title shot. If Shields gets a shot, I see Condit and Fitch will probably go at it for the number one contendership. Kampmann might get to face Dan Hardy to see who stays ranked in the Top 10.
If Kampmann wins, I see him fighting Fitch for the number one contender spot, and Condit fighting Shields.
ANWAR PEREZ, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
If Jake Shields wins convincingly or unconvincingly, he gets a shot above Jon Fitch, being that Shields would have beaten Martin Kampmann, Dan Henderson, and Jason "Mayhem" Miller in his last three fights. Fitch would probably face Carlos Condit for the next shot, and even then, would Dana White give Fitch another shot? That remains to be seen, but either way, it makes the welterweight division more competitive than ever.
ERIC HOBAUGH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Who is the most deserving of these fighters? Good question, but a better question is what challenger will make a more exciting fight. I think Fitch deserves the next shot. His boring fight style will keep him waiting. What makes the most sense to me is a Condit vs. GSP, because it is the most exciting fight out there. I think Shields gets by Kampmann and gets the next shot after Condit looses to GSP.
LARAMEY LEET, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
The welterweight division is all shook up now. Especially with Condit getting the KO over Dan Hardy. If (and I think he will) Kampmann beats Jake Shields that might set up a great rematch with Condit and Kampmann. Plus you have Thiago Alves waiting to climb the ladder again and Jon Fitch regning on top. The division might have some very interesting matchups in the future.
SHAWN ENNIS, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
This is a good time for the welterweight division. The division has always been top-heavy, but it's been a while since this many guys could conceivably be taken seriously as title contenders. You've got four guys in Hardy, Condit, Kampmann and Shields who are top-level fighters, and then you've got Fitch and Koscheck along with Thiago Alves, who have already challenged or will soon, and they've managed to stay toward the top as well even in losing to each other and GSP. I think what we'll see is Martin Kampmann taking Jake Shields out on Saturday, and then Shields will challenge Hardy to stay relevant at the top while Fitch and Condit fight and Kampmann challenges for the title. I could see Fitch getting another shot at GSP after GSP dismantles Koscheck, but that would probably leave us with a Condit-Kampmann rematch to determine the next title contender, and it would eliminate one of those guys from contention, rather than potentially eliminating Fitch, who already had his shot. So to me, Kampmann (should he win) against GSP and Fitch vs. Condit makes the most sense.
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