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Wanted to create a thread as this is all I'm hearing on Sherdog as justification as to why Leon shouldn't get a title shot.
I understand Leon's personality can rub people up the wrong way, I think people use that as an excuse to ignore the fact the guys currently on a 9 fight win streak.
Just to go back a short while, I've used mma-stats.com as a guide, I know this may be flawed but it was the only way I could get the historical rankings for some of the guys.
Leon has 1 I believe if these rankings are correect, RDA was 5th ranked when Leon fought him apparently.
List of other guys top 5 wins before title shots post UFC 200.
Kamaru Usman - Top 5 wins before a title shot. - 1 - Also RDA . Maia was 7th ranked.
Colby - Top 5 wins before a title shot - 1 - Also RDA . 2nd Title shot/streak, also 1 in Woodley
Gilbert Burns - 1 in Woodley -
Masvidal - 1 in Darren Till
Woodley - 0 Top 5 wins before a title shot
Masvidal is the only guy above who got a finish over that top 5 guy aswell to add so that argument can't even be used for Leon either really IMO.
In recent memory, post UFC 200 only WB and Maia have pulled together more than 1 top 5 win before a title shot.
So based on that, why is there now a sudden insistence on Leon having to prove himself by fighting another top guy? I get the Nate fight he got wobbled at the end but was also winning 24 minutes of the fight. Granted guys like Cerrone and Nelson aren't as great as they were once regarded on the same streak but then there's guys like Luque on this streak whose now a top 5 guy himself.
I think considering the division at the top is full of guys coming off losses, giving it to the guy on a 9 fight streak doesn't seem the most outrageous of suggestions.
I'm not saying Leon SHOULD be the next challenger, I get both sides of the argument but it's moreso, everyone insistent on him facing more top 5 guys when that's never been the path for previous challengers? Is it because you're still not impressed with Leon, or just don't like the guys personality etc?
I understand Leon's personality can rub people up the wrong way, I think people use that as an excuse to ignore the fact the guys currently on a 9 fight win streak.
Just to go back a short while, I've used mma-stats.com as a guide, I know this may be flawed but it was the only way I could get the historical rankings for some of the guys.
Leon has 1 I believe if these rankings are correect, RDA was 5th ranked when Leon fought him apparently.
List of other guys top 5 wins before title shots post UFC 200.
Kamaru Usman - Top 5 wins before a title shot. - 1 - Also RDA . Maia was 7th ranked.
Colby - Top 5 wins before a title shot - 1 - Also RDA . 2nd Title shot/streak, also 1 in Woodley
Gilbert Burns - 1 in Woodley -
Masvidal - 1 in Darren Till
Woodley - 0 Top 5 wins before a title shot
Masvidal is the only guy above who got a finish over that top 5 guy aswell to add so that argument can't even be used for Leon either really IMO.
In recent memory, post UFC 200 only WB and Maia have pulled together more than 1 top 5 win before a title shot.
So based on that, why is there now a sudden insistence on Leon having to prove himself by fighting another top guy? I get the Nate fight he got wobbled at the end but was also winning 24 minutes of the fight. Granted guys like Cerrone and Nelson aren't as great as they were once regarded on the same streak but then there's guys like Luque on this streak whose now a top 5 guy himself.
I think considering the division at the top is full of guys coming off losses, giving it to the guy on a 9 fight streak doesn't seem the most outrageous of suggestions.
I'm not saying Leon SHOULD be the next challenger, I get both sides of the argument but it's moreso, everyone insistent on him facing more top 5 guys when that's never been the path for previous challengers? Is it because you're still not impressed with Leon, or just don't like the guys personality etc?
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