I know, I know. That headline made a few of you gag. But why don't we start with a comment by Kid Nate yesterday:
They should re-sign Sylvia and/or Arlovski
I’m serious. You know those guys are a lot more affordable than they were just a few months ago.
AND they’re good enough to be a test for any heavyweight — any heavyweight without one punch KO power that is!
This makes a LOT of sense honestly. Right now both guys have no bargining power so the UFC could go into negotiations by saying "THIS is the deal we're offering. We're not going to have any back-and-forth. If you're not willing to take it we're done here" and just offer a small deal with some significant incentives for winning fights.
These guys still have name value for the casual, PPV buying audience and provide that mid-tier heavyweight that is missing from the UFC heavyweight division. Yeah, both of them are coming off of bad losses in their last few fights but let's be fair. Both guys, when motivated, are dangerous tests for most heavyweights on the planet. Andrei is still a very tough fight for anyone. Sure his chin is a problem but he gave Fedor a tough fight before getting caught and lucky for anyone who wants to negotiate with him he got clipped by Rogers.
What is even better is that either guy is actually still capable of making a run in the division. When he is on his game and in shape Big Tim has the ability to use his size and style to beat most guys in the world. Why not sign two guys with SOME value and a lot of skills for the lowest price possible?
Oh, and the one rule to this idea? NO FOURTH FIGHT BETWEEN THE TWO!