We've spent decades trying to legitimize mixed martials arts as a sport, as a legitimate sporting competition between competitors. So let me say first, that giving a 145lb fighter, who has never even defended his belt, an IMMEDIATE title shot at 155lbs, often thought of as our most stacked weight division, was ridiculous.
The entire premise of being a champion in the UFC is that you are the best fighter in the world at that weight class. Getting a chance to earn a belt your first time fighting at that weight in the UFC is ludicrous. And so I was against the RDA fight from the start, because it was enormously disrespectful to lightweight fighters, who have actually been fighting their way up the 155lb rankings.
Now I know everything doesn't always go according to plan, even foolish plans like the RDA fight, and I think both Diaz and McGregor deserve enormous credit for making the best of that difficult situation with Dos Anjos' injury. It was a fun fight, following an abbreviated but entertaining build up, and it was very financial successfully.
Now it's time to get back to business, and that business is the SPORT of mixed martial arts. In the featherweight division there are two potential challengers ready to fight for the title, and either could make an excellent case that they deserve to fight the champion, Conor McGregor, next.
The only option that makes absolutely no sense is that neither of them do. What makes absolutely no sense is that we are going to create an interim title so that those two challengers can fight for a made up championship.
I could understand the argument if Conor McGregor was injured, or unable to fight, that would atleast make some sense.
No, as hard as it is to believe, this fight is being made so that current 145lb champion can take another fight at 170lbs with 155lb fighter Nate Diaz in an immediate rematch of their previous last minute match up.
Yes, the only previous featherweight champion in the promotions history, and former p4p #1 fighter in the world, Jose Aldo, will not get a rematch with McGregor so that THIS rematch can take place instead. This rematch at a weight at which neither fighter competes, in which no championship title is on the line.
Why???
Because that is what Conor McGregor wants, and Conor McGregor makes us lots of money.
We are willing, time and time again now, to undermine the legitimacy of this sport because Conor McGregor makes us money, and it really is as simple as that.
Welcome to the Ultimate Entertainment Championship.
UEC President,
Dana Black
The entire premise of being a champion in the UFC is that you are the best fighter in the world at that weight class. Getting a chance to earn a belt your first time fighting at that weight in the UFC is ludicrous. And so I was against the RDA fight from the start, because it was enormously disrespectful to lightweight fighters, who have actually been fighting their way up the 155lb rankings.
Now I know everything doesn't always go according to plan, even foolish plans like the RDA fight, and I think both Diaz and McGregor deserve enormous credit for making the best of that difficult situation with Dos Anjos' injury. It was a fun fight, following an abbreviated but entertaining build up, and it was very financial successfully.
Now it's time to get back to business, and that business is the SPORT of mixed martial arts. In the featherweight division there are two potential challengers ready to fight for the title, and either could make an excellent case that they deserve to fight the champion, Conor McGregor, next.
The only option that makes absolutely no sense is that neither of them do. What makes absolutely no sense is that we are going to create an interim title so that those two challengers can fight for a made up championship.
I could understand the argument if Conor McGregor was injured, or unable to fight, that would atleast make some sense.
No, as hard as it is to believe, this fight is being made so that current 145lb champion can take another fight at 170lbs with 155lb fighter Nate Diaz in an immediate rematch of their previous last minute match up.
Yes, the only previous featherweight champion in the promotions history, and former p4p #1 fighter in the world, Jose Aldo, will not get a rematch with McGregor so that THIS rematch can take place instead. This rematch at a weight at which neither fighter competes, in which no championship title is on the line.
Why???
Because that is what Conor McGregor wants, and Conor McGregor makes us lots of money.
We are willing, time and time again now, to undermine the legitimacy of this sport because Conor McGregor makes us money, and it really is as simple as that.
Welcome to the Ultimate Entertainment Championship.
UEC President,
Dana Black
