2024 was a terrible year for matchmaking champions

[fortheo]

UFC gives Sean 2'Malley the green light to call Chito out and have him skip the queue in front of several legitimate contenders who deserved it far more (Merab and Sandhagen)

UFC gives Izzy the MW title shot despite already having an immediate rematch against Pereira after losing to him and then losing belt AGAIN to Sean Strickland.

UFC letting Jones cherry pick old geriatric Stipe 4 years out of retirement is easily the worst one. We all saw how Stipe turned up last Saturday. Wtf was this guy even doing in a title fight.


What is your opinion on the UFC's new precedent of letting high-selling names cherry pick their matchups and even letting them hold belts hostage?

Don't forget Edwards vs. Colby covington (december of last year, close enough)
islam against Dustin, convenienty right after the UFC booked Gaethje (who was higher ranked and just beat dustin) in a pointless BMF gight.

Pereira vs. Khalil, despite everyone knowing ankalaev was the top contender (ufc decided to book ankaleve in another fight in preference of giving khalil the title shot)

Shit matchmaking has been my number 1 complaint for the past few years. It's like the UFC doesn't want divisional turn over at all and would rather recycle dinosaurs and give match ups that allow certain guys to stay ranked longer just to profit from whatever leftover name value they might have. I get it, sort of, but I hate it. Honestly, the matchmaking is making me less of a fan.

 

[HHJ]

Next up on the list will be when Merab gives a rematch to O'Malley instead of fighting Umar.

If Merab fights O'Malley...............

This is really shit

 

[AL-Tappo McSnappo]

UFC gives Sean 2'Malley the green light to call Chito out and have him skip the queue in front of several legitimate contenders who deserved it far more (Merab and Sandhagen)

UFC gives Izzy the MW title shot despite already having an immediate rematch against Pereira after losing to him and then losing belt AGAIN to Sean Strickland.

UFC letting Jones cherry pick old geriatric Stipe 4 years out of retirement is easily the worst one. We all saw how Stipe turned up last Saturday. Wtf was this guy even doing in a title fight.


What is your opinion on the UFC's new precedent of letting high-selling names cherry pick their matchups and even letting them hold belts hostage?

Alex fighting no. 8 guy instead of no.1 guy

 

[AL-Tappo McSnappo]

Wasn't 2024 but Islam cherry picked Volk for a second fight fight despite there being an actual back up fighter. Takes a 2nd consecutive FW contender, whom he had already beat.

Additionally not sure how you can make a list like this without the UFC feeding Alex a SQUASH match for a title defense with Khalil Roundtree.

Islam was meant to fight the no,1 contender but Charles pulled out, that is not cherry picking.

 

[dipstickjimmy]

Islam was meant to fight the no,1 contender but Charles pulled out, that is not cherry picking.

There was an official back up fighter if you remember and yet they choose another fight with a FW. That sir is absolutely Cherry Picking.

 

[Question]

Don't forget Edwards vs. Colby covington (december of last year, close enough)
islam against Dustin, convenienty right after the UFC booked Gaethje (who was higher ranked and just beat dustin) in a pointless BMF gight.

Pereira vs. Khalil, despite everyone knowing ankalaev was the top contender (ufc decided to book ankaleve in another fight in preference of giving khalil the title shot)

Shit matchmaking has been my number 1 complaint for the past few years. It's like the UFC doesn't want divisional turn over at all and would rather recycle dinosaurs and give match ups that allow certain guys to stay ranked longer just to profit from whatever leftover name value they might have. I get it, sort of, but I hate it. Honestly, the matchmaking is making me less of a fan.

They really brought it up a notch this past year or so, slowed a bunch of divisions down and killed a few decent matchups

 

[Morning Star]

I find it surprising when the deserving guy gets the shot now.

 

[Dave Poodle]

Wasn't 2024 but Islam cherry picked Volk for a second fight fight despite there being an actual back up fighter. Takes a 2nd consecutive FW contender, whom he had already beat.

Additionally not sure how you can make a list like this without the UFC feeding Alex a SQUASH match for a title defense with Khalil Roundtree.

UFC picked Volk, there's been no indication of Islam pushing for that fight. Abu Dhabi pay UFC a lot for those cards so they wanted a big name. Gamrot was the last resort

 

[fortheo]

UFC picked Volk, there's been no indication of Islam pushing for that fight. Abu Dhabi pay UFC a lot for those cards so they wanted a big name. Gamrot was the last resort

Islam said himself in the pre fight press conference that he could have fought Gamrot, but he chose Volk.

I do believe it was because Volk was a bigger name though and i'm sure it aligned with the UFC's interests, but Islam said he chose.

 

[Dave Poodle]

Islam said himself in the pre fight press conference that he could have fought Gamrot, but he chose Volk.

I do believe it was because Volk was a bigger name though and i'm sure it aligned with the UFC's interests, but Islam said he chose.

Ah interesting, I never saw that, I'll have a look when I get time. Cheers.

 

[AL-Tappo McSnappo]

There was an official back up fighter if you remember and yet they choose another fight with a FW. That sir is absolutely Cherry Picking.

Did he pick or the UFC picked?

 

[Conan the K-9]

Islam said himself in the pre fight press conference that he could have fought Gamrot, but he chose Volk.

I do believe it was because Volk was a bigger name though and i'm sure it aligned with the UFC's interests, but Islam said he chose.

I think he also wanted to fight Volk, because a decent amount of people thought that the first fight could have went either way. He wanted to “avenge” that.

But matching up Dariush and Charles, then making Justin vs Max, and on top Charles vs Arman was utter garbage and trying to derail the number one contender. And the champ acting injured didn’t help either.

 

[gentel]

There were some clown matchups this year but at least Merab and Belal have the belts, and Topuria got to face both Volk and Max

Egregious ducking going on at LHW and HW obvs