Belal vs. Leon is a true championship bout that only true MMA fans can appreciate. Here's why.

[big franklin]

I'm sick......

The UFC has made a habit out of booking bullshit championship fights (Colby vs Leon/Kamaru, Cheato vs. Sean, Masival vs. Kamaru, JBJ vs. Stipe, etc).

Casual fans love it, which I understand. They would rather see the most popular fighters fight for the belt instead of the best fighters.

Unfortunately, however, it has come to my attention that this mentality has seeped its way onto the 'dog.

I'm a true MMA fan, let's just get that out of the way.

Sure, I enjoy wacky, fun match-ups every now and then (Max vs. Justin was amazing), but they have no place in championship bouts. You see, the shittier the matchmaking for championship bouts, the less credibility the belt has.

The belt has to mean something. Championship bouts must always be about the best fighting the best. How popular or exciting a fighter is, is irrelevant.

This is exactly why Belal vs. Leon is a brilliant match-up.

We have a fighter on a 10 fight unbeaten streak vs a fighter on a 13 fight unbeaten streak. The best proven welterweight in the world vs. the second best proven welterweight.

Casuals love to shit on Belal, even my fellow 'doggers.

Honestly, I don't get the hate. Belal isn't flashy nor is he a finisher, but he's unique in the sense that he's not athletically gifted yet he always manages to win his fights.

Belal is a high IQ, disciplined fighter who represents the mantra 'hard work beats talent.' I'm a true MMA fan, so I can appreciate his fights. Unfortunately, those less cultured and educated don't.

Belal 'n' Leon are not the same fighters from their first bout. Both fighters have evolved and stayed active, so to dismiss the rematch as 'a waste of time' is stupid.

Prediction coming soon...

 

[don't ask]

My opinion of the UFC is pretty low, but its plummet was slowed by this match actually happening. They're not as far gone as I thought they were.

 

[Rhood]

If Belal doesn't finish Leon, he automatically loses.
British judges always show favoritism towards hometown fighters.
Bisping has never lost a fight in the UK.

 

[Pequeño Corey]

Anyone could appreciate watching Belal get KO’d.

 

[Arm Barbarian]

Anyone could appreciate watching Belal get KO’d.

That's really my only interest in this fight, but I expect it to be ugly, and go the distance.

 

[Pequeño Corey]

That's really my only interest in this fight, but I expect it to be ugly, and go the distance.

100%

Just wishful thinking is all. Not sure that Belal has evolved all that much since their last fight. I just rewatched to be sure, and Leon was starting to turn it up. Problem is, Leon has turned into a low output point fighter. I fear this may be a very boring fight.

 

[TempleoftheDog]

I’d always prefer deserving fighters get the TS they’ve earned. Even if the potential fight might not seem very interesting on the surface.

But look at Usman vs Edwards ll. It was a minute away from being the boring 49-46, I expected it to be. But Edwards delivered one of the best KO you’re going to see in mma.

Shit happens. Strickland beat Izzy. Alexa beat Shevchenko. Topuria KO Alex. Etc, etc.

I don’t have high expectations, but maybe I’ll be surprised, and entertained.

 

[WoozyFailGuy]

TS has a fair point and Belal vs Leon definitely is a meritocratic match up.

 

[Neck&Neck]

 

[ArtardFiesta]

I’d always prefer deserving fighters get the TS they’ve earned. Even if the potential fight might not seem very interesting on the surface.

But look at Usman vs Edwards ll. It was a minute away from being the boring 49-46, I expected it to be. But Edwards delivered one of the best KO you’re going to see in mma.

Shit happens. Strickland beat Izzy. Alexa beat Shevchenko. Topuria KO Alex. Etc, etc.

I don’t have high expectations, but maybe I’ll be surprised, and entertained.

crazy isn't it. if usman doesn't take time for his nut shot exaggeration he probably finishes the minute. People were already comparign him to GSP and the GOAT talk increases.

With that last minute and usman has never been the same again.

 

[BangBang]

TS has a fair point and Belal vs Leon definitely is a meritocratic match up.

Although I still fully expect a one sided encounter (in favour of Leon of course)

 

[WoozyFailGuy]

Although I still fully expect a one sided encounter (in favour of Leon of course)

Oh yea, I expect him to jab Belal to death.

 

[IloveTHIS]

I just have a weird feeling this fight is gonna end up being electric somehow

Belal can't finish a JO session, but Leon is extremely overrated right now and only champ because of right place right time. He's also pretty shit when it comes to finishing as well. I feel like they are gonna cancel each other out and make it an odd sloppy war.

 

[World eater]

Belal and Leon need to get that fight out of the way, it is deserved and needs to happen. It will also most likely be boring and go to decision. I am not looking forward to it in the least. When I was in my 20’s and had all the time in the world, that was fine, but now when I manage to barely free a couple of hours to watch a card (that was live at 4am, so I’m usually watching a recording at 8am and skipping the boring parts while fighting with the kids who want to watch something else and avoiding looking at Sherdog for fear of spoilers), Belal and Leon are pretty much the last thing I want to see as a main event.

 

[flektarn]

Neither guy is a finisher and Leon was pretty dominant in the first fight, as short as it was.
Going to be a boring fight but it needs to happen. Get it out of the way so they can book an interesting title fight. Hopefully not any longer than 6 months after this one. No reason this fight should've taken so damn long to come together, either.

 

[legcramp]

Conor fights the winner, got it. haha

But I agree with you, this is a true championship fight against a deserving contender.

 

[Oscar Madison]

I'm sick......

The UFC has made a habit out of booking bullshit championship fights (Colby vs Leon/Kamaru, Cheato vs. Sean, Masival vs. Kamaru, JBJ vs. Stipe, etc).

Casual fans love it, which I understand. They would rather see the most popular fighters fight for the belt instead of the best fighters.

Unfortunately, however, it has come to my attention that this mentality has seeped its way onto the 'dog.

I'm a true MMA fan, let's just get that out of the way.

Sure, I enjoy wacky, fun match-ups every now and then (Max vs. Justin was amazing), but they have no place in championship bouts. You see, the shittier the matchmaking for championship bouts, the less credibility the belt has.

The belt has to mean something. Championship bouts must always be about the best fighting the best. How popular or exciting a fighter is, is irrelevant.

This is exactly why Belal vs. Leon is a brilliant match-up.

We have a fighter on a 10 fight unbeaten streak vs a fighter on a 13 fight unbeaten streak. The best proven welterweight in the world vs. the second best proven welterweight.

Casuals love to shit on Belal, even my fellow 'doggers.

Honestly, I don't get the hate. Belal isn't flashy nor is he a finisher, but he's unique in the sense that he's not athletically gifted yet he always manages to win his fights.

Belal is a high IQ, disciplined fighter who represents the mantra 'hard work beats talent.' I'm a true MMA fan, so I can appreciate his fights. Unfortunately, those less cultured and educated don't.

Belal 'n' Leon are not the same fighters from their first bout. Both fighters have evolved and stayed active, so to dismiss the rematch as 'a waste of time' is stupid.

Prediction coming soon...

Can you provide an Executive Summary?

 

[dipstickjimmy]

If Belal doesn't finish Leon, he automatically loses.
British judges always show favoritism towards hometown fighters.
Bisping has never lost a fight in the UK.

Name one *BRITISH* MMA judge that worked a Bisping fight.

 

[Mohawk Banditó]

If Belal doesn't finish Leon, he automatically loses.
British judges always show favoritism towards hometown fighters.
Bisping has never lost a fight in the UK.

As much as I thought Matt beat Bisping, people seem to not be aware that the judge makeup of their fight was 1 British judge and 2 Americans, and the Americans scored it for Bisping while the Brit said Matt

 

[MDoza]

Leon didn’t deserve his title shot in the first place