Bros helping bros (vacating titles and changing division)

[TempleoftheDog]

Not the same, but relevant.

Something really bizarre to me was Aljo/Merab.

It was clear that Merab had some serious loyalty to Aljo. I respected that. But imo, Aljo did not reciprocate with likewise loyalty.

Iirc Aljo was supposed to move up a couple of fights sooner (the comments from Aljo said that), to allow Merab finally take his place as the best BW on the planet. Which he OBVIOUSLY is.

But, easier said than done apparently.. Once you’re the champion, and getting all the benefits of being the champ. It must be hard to give that up.

I figured Aljo would backpack O’Malley to a boring decision. But, I was actually happy that O’Malley beat Aljo. Even if O’Malley cherry picked his first defence.

The fucked up part was when Merab was still saying Aljo deserved the instant rematch. Which was still totally detrimental to any aspirations Merab had.

I have nothing against Aljo, so to speak.

But if the situations were reversed. I don’t think Aljo would have shown nearly as much loyalty.

 

[Slapjit]

Da Crazy Hawaiian droppin' down tuh hwt so Da Hawaiian Hitman can scrap fi di SHW strap

Bro lost 80lbs B4 di 2nd Dumpling scrap basically vacated it

 

[BroScienceTalkatWork]

It is wild cause then you have that other dude in 155 who’s in a whole nother league waiting for Islam to retire before he moves in

Dagestanis move
like a syndicate and Belal is Deniro in Goodfellas - he’s an associate but not a made man. But he acts like he’s made.

 

[KO Shotz]

I can see that going on with Belal & Islam, but not Khamzat. He'll smesh anyone if the opportunity presents itself. Ank probably doesn't give a shit either, he is gonna have his hands full at 205 for a bit anyways with Poatan rematch, Ulberg/Jiri, & (fingers crossed) Whittaker if he moves up.

 

[mkess101]

When Topuria vacated his title to move up, I tentatively supported it because, theoretically, I should absolutely support it, but I also know things in the UFC have a habit of turning as ludicrous as possible... and now suddenly several champs are talking about vacating and moving up.

I predict every champ moves up a weight division, Ankalaev has a second HW interim belt created for him because Aspinal will only fight Jones, and Jones laps the divisions like a speedometer, fighting retired flyweight champions.

Aspinall has stated he will absolutely fight someone other than Jones. The UFC won't offer him anyone else.

Jones vs Mighty Mouse though...LFG! Goat shit.

 

[don't ask]

Aspinall has stated he will absolutely fight someone other than Jones. The UFC won't offer him anyone else.

Jones vs Mighty Mouse though...LFG! Goat shit.

What the heck? I had not heard about UFC refusing to offer him anyone else. I thought this was one of those rare moments where the UFC wasn't at fault in a very specific way, but they can't even manage that rare feat.

 

[don't ask]

Not the same, but relevant.

Something really bizarre to me was Aljo/Merab.

It was clear that Merab had some serious loyalty to Aljo. I respected that. But imo, Aljo did not reciprocate with likewise loyalty.

Iirc Aljo was supposed to move up a couple of fights sooner (the comments from Aljo said that), to allow Merab finally take his place as the best BW on the planet. Which he OBVIOUSLY is.

But, easier said than done apparently.. Once you’re the champion, and getting all the benefits of being the champ. It must be hard to give that up.

I figured Aljo would backpack O’Malley to a boring decision. But, I was actually happy that O’Malley beat Aljo. Even if O’Malley cherry picked his first defence.

The fucked up part was when Merab was still saying Aljo deserved the instant rematch. Which was still totally detrimental to any aspirations Merab had.

I have nothing against Aljo, so to speak.

But if the situations were reversed. I don’t think Aljo would have shown nearly as much loyalty.

The Aljo / O'Malley fight meets my definition of fight fixing. I can't believe more people aren't talking about it and I don't blame Merab for trying to help a buddy who was screwed over worse than anyone else I can think of in the UFC.

 

[mkess101]

What the heck? I had not heard about UFC refusing to offer him anyone else. I thought this was one of those rare moments where the UFC wasn't at fault in a very specific way, but they can't even manage that rare feat.

Yep. They want the guy sitting idle apparently LOL.

 

[TempleoftheDog]

The Aljo / O'Malley fight meets my definition of fight fixing. I can't believe more people aren't talking about it and I don't blame Merab for trying to help a buddy who was screwed over worse than anyone else I can think of in the UFC.

I don’t quite see it that way. As in.. I don’t think the outcome was predetermined (the epitome of fight fixing, imo). But, I don’t think that’s what you mean.

Are you talking about Aljo wanting more time to heal/prepare, after his last fight? Possibly being strong-armed into accepting for that specific time period?

That likely happened. BUT, I do believe Aljo was placated/compensated monetarily. At least enough for him to agree. Because he could have said no.

But, for Merab’s sake, I was okay with Aljo losing. And I thought Merab went above, and beyond the “usual bonds of friendship”.

The older we get, the more our priorities change, usually because of having our own families. We tend to drift apart.

Merab not being married might have played into his decision. But at his age, every fight could be the beginning of the end. If not, the actual end.

 

[The Big Babou]

Belal trained for a month with Islam but he wants to pretend that they’re brothers and that there’s too much respect or whatever. I’m sick of the religious tribalism seeping into the sport.

Yeah that seems to be the direction they're headed.

And the common link is...

... their manager, Ali???

 

[don't ask]

I don’t quite see it that way. As in.. I don’t think the outcome was predetermined (the epitome of fight fixing, imo). But, I don’t think that’s what you mean.

Are you talking about Aljo wanting more time to heal/prepare, after his last fight? Possibly being strong-armed into accepting for that specific time period?

That likely happened, BUT, I do believe Aljo was placated/compensated monetarily. At least enough for him to agree. Because he could have said no.

But, for Merab’s sake, I was okay with Aljo losing. And I thought Merab went above, and beyond the “usual bonds of friendship”.

The older we get, the more our priorities change, usually because of having our own families. We tend to drift apart.

Merab not being married might have played into his decision. But at his age, every fight could be the beginning of the end. If not, the actual end.

I think the outcome was as predetermined as it could be without Aljo agreeing to throw the fight.

He was forced to fight, with an injury, when O'Malley would finish his training camp. Aljo wanted three (or six, but I think three) months to get surgery for his injury, but the UFC said no, he had to fight on O'Malley's schedule. Aljo tried to fight O'Malley early, so neither of them would be in peak condition. The UFC said no, saying they would strip him of the title (for a three month delay) if he didn't fight O'Malley when O'Malley would be peaking.

I don't see how that's not fight fixing.

 

[The Big Babou]

I did that in high school.

I had this lovely slutty chick from 2 towns over.
I vacated her for a new cuter girlfriend (who is now my wife)

My close buddy and wingman when I was single asked very polite- "hey are you all done with that? Would you mind if I took it for a spin? If you mind I won't."

I gave him the green light. A good time was had by all.
Bro code was upheld imo, due to the express discussion.

But did you both then move back to your original weight classes?

This is where it gets a bit messy

 

[The Big Babou]

It is wild cause then you have that other dude in 155 who’s in a whole nother league waiting for Islam to retire before he moves in

Dagestanis move
like a syndicate and Belal is Deniro in Goodfellas - he’s an associate but not a made man. But he acts like he’s made.

It does seem to be a bit of a syndicate...

 

[Marko Polo]

Yeah that seems to be the direction they're headed.

And the common link is...

... their manager, Ali???

No one has done more damage to the mma landscape than Abdeldisease

 

[Tito Tapped]

Merab could have won they belt way sooner but didn't want to take it from Aljo

 

[AL-Tappo McSnappo]

Do you think we might see a situation where "mates" start concurrently vacating titles and switching weight classes to give the impression that they're chasing multiple titles but also / moreso, helping each other out?

It's possible that these 3
(Islam, Belal and Khamzat) could rotate titles without ever fighting each other

I'm aware of Khamzat poking Belal yesterday so this is just a hypothetical situation, but we're not far from it

Belal trained for a month with Islam but he wants to pretend that they’re brothers and that there’s too much respect or whatever. I’m sick of the religious tribalism seeping into the sport.

Religious tribalism exactly, that's the right way of putting it.

We need seperation of mosque and UFC.

No.
Its only Belal saying that. Khamzat will fight anyone including big Ank or Belal.
Besides why you all want to see Belal fight Islam?

 

[Marko Polo]

No.
Its only Belal saying that. Khamzat will fight anyone including big Ank or Belal.
Besides why you all want to see Belal fight Islam?

Khamzat is the only one.