FanPost

The ghost of welterweight: why has everyone forgotten Santiago Ponzinibbio?

Something I’ve been wondering about for months now, in this crazy and crowded division with many at the top showing dramatic inconsistency, why is it that no one is talking about Ponzinibbio? I’m not even sure I’m a fan of the guy, and don’t think I’ve ever heard him speak, but based on all recent performances in the top 15 at welterweight, he deserves to be a more prominent figure in the conversation.

Leon Edwards is starting to get some solid recognition after winning his seventh straight fight on Saturday, winning a narrow decision over Gunnar Nelson. Though it’s worth noting that the one judge who scored it for Nelson might be the only person who saw it that way. Nevertheless a 7 fight streak is impressive. However, Ponzinibbio is also on a 7 fight streak, the last 3 of which have been far more impressive performances than those of Edwards. Those 3 include a dominant decision over mike perry, an absolute destruction of Gunnar Nelson (whom was fighting in the co-main two nights ago), and one of the most violent dominations in recent years against Neil Magny. Often when a fighter struggles for exposure it’s due to a boring style or a lack of marketability. But he is putting on exciting fights and finishing talented guys like they’ve never been beaten before, and he happens to be from a country that has yet to be tapped as an mma market, with the chance to embrace the Spanish speaking parts of South America (you know, the entire continent not named Brazil).

And tet yet I haven’t heard a peep in recent discussions. Ben Askren jumps into the rankings with no ufc fights and two naps against lawler? Thompson still at the top with one win in 3 years? Masvidal ranked the same as ponzinibio and Edwards despite losing his last two (before Saturday)? Dos anjos still above both after 50 minutes of getting dominated with absolutely zero answer for the grappling of Usman and Covington? None of it seems to make sense.

I think it’s important to respect the game, and be a fan of the sport above everything else, and that means giving credit where it’s due. Colby is a raging turd sandwich, but he put in the work and deserves a shot. The same is true for Edwards and ponz. So if Colby is fighting Usman, then those two should be fighting each other for the next spot. Every other fighter in those WW rankings has a long stretch of road between them and those two fighters on 7 fight tears, and should essentially piss off while the guys who’ve earned it sort out the top

So does anybody have any thoughts? Why does this pretty straightforward situation seem so mysterious to the ufc? Why does ponz not have a fight lined up after five months on the bench? How does the ufc not see the potential marketing to be made in Argentina and other nearby countries? Why is anyone paying attention to Ben Askren? Why would Edwards be dumb enough to allow masvidal to manipulate him into a lose-lose fight situation? It certainly seems like that’s exactly what Jorge has pulled off with that little scuffle. He seems to be the only one with a solid strategy for relevance.

FanPosts are user-generated content that do not reflect the editorial opinions of MMAmania.com nor its staff.