Dan_Hardy_ Posted October 27, 2010 Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 After seven years at welterweight, Marcus Davis will drop to the lightweight division for his next UFC appearance. Davis today made the news official with MMAjunkie.com (http://www.mmajunkie.com) and said he made the decision after the realization that his frame is better suited for 155 pounds. And with retirement a serious consideration at this point in his career, Davis (17-7 MMA, 9-5 UFC) plans to remain in the new weight class until he calls it quits on a once-unlikely MMA career. "I'm going to finish out my career at 155 and try to entertain some people along the way before my old *** retires," he said. "I like the opportunities that present themselves." "The Irish Hand Grenade" said opponents such as Sam Stout, Spencer Fisher and Dennis Siver are among the opportunities he's eyeing, though he has yet to accept his next booking. While Davis has maintained a winning record and amassed some impressive highlights in his four-year tenure with the UFC, "The Ultimate Fighter 2" veteran admits he's been running at a disadvantage from the get-go against taller and heavier opponents. At 5-foot-10, Davis said he's at a reach disadvantage every time he fights. "I think the UFC has me at a 70 (inch reach), and I think they do that because they feel bad for me," he said. "My reach is 69 (inches). That's got to be the worst reach at 170. Every fight that I've had in the past year and a half, I think the closest (opponent) to my reach has been six inches longer than my reach." That gap was more than obvious in his most recent appearance. Davis fought Nate Diaz at UFC 118 and took sustained damage as he struggled to get inside the fighter's long and lanky arms. Diaz eventually cinched a submission in the final minute of the 15-minute fight that ended the bout and put Davis to sleep. After years of bulking up to as high as 205 pounds in order to compete with opponents who cut from the high 100s, he's slimmed to 175 pounds and thinks he'll pick up speed against lighter opponents. In fact, Davis, who initially struggled in MMA due to his limited ground skills, competed as light as 132 pounds during a pro-boxing career that ended 10 years ago with a 17-1-2 record. "That's where I'm normally and naturally going to be, so that's where I'm going to fight right now," he said of the 155-pound lightweight division. "It does make more sense that I should be able to compete better at that weight for the fact that the weight difference isn't going to be so dramatic." Davis currently has two fights remaining on his UFC contract and said he'll decide afterward whether to continue his career. "I've got to win two fights," the 37-year-old former pro boxer said. "If I make 155, and I win two fights, and I feel like the new Marcus Davis, then we sit down and sign a new contract. But I will say this: I will not be 40 years old and fighting. I just can't." An outspoken and sometimes polarizing figure among hardcore fans, Davis almost expects to be criticized for his move. But he's also realistic about his chances in the new division. "I'm not going to blow smoke up anybody's *** and say I'm going to be this phenomenal 155-pound fighter and I'm going to be a champion," he said. "I know that I'm a 37-year-old guy who's basically got the body of a 55-year-old guy, and I've got a face that likes to open when you look at it wrong. Those are things that I'm always going to battle as a fighter. "But this drop and being able to do it might help me a little bit more than staying at 170 pounds. I look at it like this is where my body is telling me to go, and this is what's the healthiest decision for me. I'm going to do it, and I'm going to try to do it the best I can." With the clock ticking on his time in the fight game, the most important thing is putting on good performances. "Some people just outright can't stand me and hate me ... but when it comes down to it, I come to fight," he said. "I know that I'm out there to entertain. You know that my fights are going to have blood ? it's going to be my blood ? but there is going to be blood. I'm going to get hurt, and somebody else might get hurt. "That's what I do. I fight to entertain, and I love to fight." will he be better or worse ? DISCUSS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ultimatefightingchamp Posted October 27, 2010 Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 He'll still suck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GstarUk Posted October 27, 2010 Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 Good luck to the guy But i reckon he will have a bad weight cut. I cant see him winning his next 2 fights at 155 tbh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little_Kang Posted October 27, 2010 Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 He'll still suck the suck is strong with marcus! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trinimmaman Posted October 27, 2010 Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 Marcus was one of the few fighters to come out of TUF and make a genunie improvement, unfortunately it seems he just not good enough to be champion. Hopefully he can win his last two fights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckstillbest4ever Posted October 27, 2010 Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 I think he would beat Spencer Fisher, Denis Siver and probably Ross Pearson if they gave him those good matchups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck42 Posted October 27, 2010 Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 DW should make his first LW fight be against Kenflo.. Whoever wins stays and will be a permenant gate keeper and who ever loses can go to Strikeforce...and it will make Bellagrotti have to pick sides Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GstarUk Posted October 27, 2010 Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 Davis Vs Pearson would be a good match up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeformedGravy Posted October 27, 2010 Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 After seven years at welterweight' date=' Marcus Davis will drop to the lightweight division for his next UFC appearance. Davis today made the news official with MMAjunkie.com (http://www.mmajunkie.com) and said [b']he made the decision after the realization that his frame is better suited for 155 pounds. [/b] Lol, took him that long to realize this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
towhatend Posted October 27, 2010 Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 Give him a British prospect and have him fight him in the UK. He's like 3-0 there when fighting a Brit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little_Kang Posted October 27, 2010 Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 Give him a British prospect and have him fight him in the UK. He's like 3-0 there when fighting a Brit. .......Dan Hardy......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trinimmaman Posted October 27, 2010 Report Share Posted October 27, 2010 Davis Vs Pearsonwould be a good match up Sounds like a good stand up and bang sort of match, also Paul Taylor is at lightweight now, rematch??? There's also a Melvin Guillard rematch possibility. Many good match ups in the LW division if he can win his 1st 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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