War Wagon Four big fights to make at WW since UFC 322

[JKS]

I personally like

Usman vs Islam

Prates vs Morales #1 contender.
Garry vs JDM
Shakvat vs Belal

 

[Angelassassin53]

Islam vs Morales
JDM vs Prates
Shavkhat vs Usman
Belal vs Colby
Leon vs Burns
Buckley vs Geoff Neal
Garry can keep busy against D. Rod or Bonfim, and Sean Brady gets whoever doesn't fight Garry

 

[Mohawk Banditó]

I think the catch is none of them was a dominant champ before that. The next fighter to beat JDM won't have a guaranteed title shot either. Shavkat being injured didn't help the logjam too.

I mean, Leon had 2 defenses. Granted, one of them was Colby (fuckin again for some reason, and that's the worst reason for the logjam to me).

But doesn't it feel intuitive that even a non-dominant champ, usually beating the guy who just lost sets you up for the belt? Maybe if I look back through history, that'll be wrong, but from the jump, it sounds right.

 

[Mohawk Banditó]

Why is it so absurd that islam should fight the highest ranked fighter availible? short notice volk wasnt that, Dustin porier was not that, neither was moicano.

I could see it being Shav still just to root out the log jam through backlogging. Shavkat and Morales are pretty much same spot, only one of them actually has recent momentum to their name. The rankings members could easily have kept him 1 spot under Shav as they did putting him over. In terms of their big wins, (Shav beat Garry) vs (Morales beat Brady), Garry seems like the better win, considering Garry has now beaten Belal, the guy with wins over Brady and Brady's best win. The numbers we got now are more just from the timing.

It sucks how many times Gamrot got skipped, even if it felt like he never really earned the shot in full against Islam, but was just next in line because everyone else lost. He got skipped over for the backup to bring Volk in again, and he was the only guy in a better position that Dustin when he was picked for a shot, so he got fucked over twice despite being the backup (which was the retarded logic Dana used once to give Colby a shot). Had Gamrot gotten the shot the first time around, I don't think the Dustin shot would have been much of an issue.

*edit*
Morales getting it now isn't a big thing to me. I do feel like Brady was a big jump and normally feel like if a fighter gets a big opportunity, the next one should be smaller, just for balance's sake, but considering the win put him up this high, the shot is right within reach. I just think he could benefit from another top win. Brady was the first ranked guy he got that even had momentum, afterall. And I think Sean's skillset was more in grappling overall, not primarily takedowns, so a lesser threat for a striker, but I could be corrected on that

 

[RockyLockridge]

I could see it being Shav still just to root out the log jam through backlogging. Shavkat and Morales are pretty much same spot, only one of them actually has recent momentum to their name. The rankings members could easily have kept him 1 spot under Shav as they did putting him over. In terms of their big wins, (Shav beat Garry) vs (Morales beat Brady), Garry seems like the better win, considering Garry has now beaten Belal, the guy with wins over Brady and Brady's best win. The numbers we got now are more just from the timing.

It sucks how many times Gamrot got skipped, even if it felt like he never really earned the shot in full against Islam, but was just next in line because everyone else lost. He got skipped over for the backup to bring Volk in again, and he was the only guy in a better position that Dustin when he was picked for a shot, so he got fucked over twice despite being the backup (which was the retarded logic Dana used once to give Colby a shot). Had Gamrot gotten the shot the first time around, I don't think the Dustin shot would have been much of an issue.

either morales or shavkat is reasonable but still, i agree with gamrot it sucked for him. sucked for beneil too.

 

[Adamant]

Poor Garry has to beat every single top WW before getting his title shot huh

I think he should have gotten a title shot long ago, back when he was undefeated and 8-0 in UFC. He probably should have gotten it when he was around 5-0 in UFC. But for whatever reason UFC didn't do it.

Just based on how things are right now, I think Morales makes the most sense to be next. And then either Shavkat or Garry depending on how they look in their next fight.

Remember, Morales has 3 dominant tkos in his last 3 fights. Garry has 3 UDs (and 1 UD loss if we look at his last 4). So give the shot to the more impressive looking guy first.

 

[Adamant]

Usman's next fight should be against a top contender to earn himself a title shot, not a guy who just got knocked out & isn't in the top 5.

Usman is 1-3 in his last 4. I'm not sure he deserves a "top contender" right now. Brady is high enough up the food chain to be considered still a worthy opponent and he's 3-1 in his last 4. Brady vs Usman makes sense.

 

[JoeRowe]

Usman's next fight should be against a top contender to earn himself a title shot, not a guy who just got knocked out & isn't in the top 5.

Why? WW is too stacked to be rewarding a boring DEC win over Buckley with a #1 contender fight.

Shavkat/Garry/Morales, whichever 2 get passed over for the title shot should be in a title eliminator.

Usman vs Brady, JDM, or Prates are huge steps up for the near 39 year-old from Leon & Buckley.

Usman is a legend but he hasn't been active enough or beaten ANYONE near that top of the division to be in the discussion for a title eliminator.

Islam/Shavkat/Brady/Morales are the clear top-4. Usman shouldn't be rewarded again for what he did 6 years ago.

 

[Adamant]

I personally like

Shakvat vs Belal

Meh. Belal is 0-2 in his last 2. Despite the ring rust and injury I feel Shavkat should probably fight someone that looks a little better. Prates is in the conversation for a title shot within one fight. If he can beat Shavkat then he absolutely deserves it. And same for Shavkat. If he can return from his year+ layoff and beat Prates, then there's no question he should be next after that.

Belal should fight someone in the lower Top 10. Buckley or Bonfim maybe? Or maybe even Neal. Neal has a win over him so the whole build could be that Belal wants that win back.