How do we feel about the #1 ranking at HW?

[Pitier of Fools]

For all we know Francis is a 43 year old man at this point. But besides that, his knees are totally shot.

Pretty sure he's in his mid-50s.

 

[Ironheart]

Tom is the best heavyweight on the planet right now. Ngannou could have given him fits a few years ago for sure (and still could KO him) but I have a lot of faith that Tom's skillset is just far more complete.

 

[kingghidrah]

For all we know Francis is a 43 year old man at this point. But besides that, his knees are totally shot.

lol Aspinall is just the new Stipe. Nothing too amazing, and if you think Ngannou's knees are shot, wtf happened to Aspinall against Blaydes the first time? That's what shot knees look like.

 

[Hdfi]

He's already the real #1 HW.
https://forums.sherdog.com/threads/aspinall-would-beat-everyone-on-the-planet.4336233/

 

[Aurelian]

lol Aspinall is just the new Stipe. Nothing too amazing, and if you think Ngannou's knees are shot, wtf happened to Aspinall against Blaydes the first time? That's what shot knees look like.

My favorite part is around 1:47 where he says " I couldn't like be stable on my stance, couldn't move with confidence, I was like very afraid."

 

[CatchtheseHands]

Until Francis loses in MMA Tom isn't #1 HW IMO. Francis has beat everyone Tom has (except for Volkov and Pav) and more.

 

[laleggenda27]

Francis beat the reigning hw champ and never lost. nothing Tom has done is beating that. Francis beat the lineal champ. Logically the moment he’s active again he should be ahead of Tom right? Tom hasn’t beaten any lineal champ.

No, that's not right. Under your flawed logic, the lineal champ could take a 20 layoff, come back as a 55-year-old and beat a local circuit club fighter, and magically regain his position as #1. It's absurd on its face. You're just trolling at this point.

 

[dipstickjimmy]

When Tom ends up inevitably holding the belt, is he going to be considered a paper champ? The best HW in the world right now is in the PFL. Is Tom always going to be ranked #2 until Francis ends up losing in mma? What are your thoughts? Is it wrong to consider Tom the #1 ranked HW with another win?

Francis isn't the best HW in the world. He is ineligible for the rankings having no fights for the last 2 years and 7 months. Otherwise GSP is the best WW in the world and Khabib is the best LW and Jon Jones is the best LHW in the world etc etc.

IMO Tom is the best in the world right now. Since Francis last won an MMA fight Tom is 4-1 and his loss to Blaydes was a) Avenged and b) really never happened. Bladyes has a victory on paper but he didn't win that fight with is own skills.

 

[dipstickjimmy]

No, that's not right. Under your flawed logic, the lineal champ could take a 20 layoff, come back as a 55-year-old and beat a local circuit club fighter, and magically regain his position as #1. It's absurd on its face. You're just trolling at this point.

Even worse if the local circuit club fight was able to win they would automatically become #1 in the world.

 

[CrimsonFan]

You have to fight actively to stay ranked

UFC rankings are a joke. They manipulate the rankings to be favorable to promote and sell fights to guys they want to push.

Fight Matrix has the right idea. If you look at their rankings Jones and Ngannou are not ranked fighters because they've been inactive too long.


But even fight Matrix has some serious UFC bias. I mean there's not a single non UFC fighter in the top 25 pound for pound. You mean to tell me UFC has every single top 25 p4p fighter under contract? Give me a break. They're lazy rankings.

 

[Neck&Neck]

Tom just has to beat a guy like Gane, then he’s legit #1
Francis fights in the “Super Fights”League that shits not even real

 

[Sticko]

lol Aspinall is just the new Stipe. Nothing too amazing, and if you think Ngannou's knees are shot, wtf happened to Aspinall against Blaydes the first time? That's what shot knees look like.

Lol Tom and Stipe are very different fighters.

Stipe has great submission defense but zero career wins by submission. Tom on the other hand has great BJJ and a dangerous submission game.

 

[snaportap21]

You have to fight actively to stay ranked

UFC rankings are a joke. They manipulate the rankings to be favorable to promote and sell fights to guys they want to push.

Fight Matrix has the right idea. If you look at their rankings Jones and Ngannou are not ranked fighters because they've been inactive too long.


But even fight Matrix has some serious UFC bias. I mean there's not a single non UFC fighter in the top 25 pound for pound. You mean to tell me UFC has every single top 25 p4p fighter under contract? Give me a break. They're lazy rankings.

Once Francis fights again should the resume his rank as #1?

 

[snaportap21]

Tom just has to beat a guy like Gane, then he’s legit #1
Francis fights in the “Super Fights”League that shits not even real

How can he be the legit number one guy when he never beat the number one ranked guy?

 

[snaportap21]

Francis isn't the best HW in the world. He is ineligible for the rankings having no fights for the last 2 years and 7 months. Otherwise GSP is the best WW in the world and Khabib is the best LW and Jon Jones is the best LHW in the world etc etc.

IMO Tom is the best in the world right now. Since Francis last won an MMA fight Tom is 4-1 and his loss to Blaydes was a) Avenged and b) really never happened. Bladyes has a victory on paper but he didn't win that fight with is own skills.

What happens once Francis fights again? He should then resume his #1 rank. He’s the lineal champ.

 

[Dim1]

Jones and Aspinall isn't going to happen because Jones is moving too slow to make fights. He's short on time and long on personal issues (and only has a win at heavyweight.) Francis has no more big MMA fights in the tank outside of PFL.

 

[orca]

When Tom ends up inevitably holding the belt, is he going to be considered a paper champ? The best HW in the world right now is in the PFL. Is Tom always going to be ranked #2 until Francis ends up losing in mma? What are your thoughts? Is it wrong to consider Tom the #1 ranked HW with another win?

the best HW in the world?
can u please post his biggest wins
and please dont include ancient fighters like jds overeem and cain in his notable wins
best HW in the world went life and death vs gane

jones strangled gane like hes a child that doesnt know how to fight

 

[SuperAlly]

When Tom ends up inevitably holding the belt, is he going to be considered a paper champ? The best HW in the world right now is in the PFL. Is Tom always going to be ranked #2 until Francis ends up losing in mma? What are your thoughts? Is it wrong to consider Tom the #1 ranked HW with another win?

Wait, what?

Aspinall left UFC for PFL? Shit. When did this happen and why is mo one talking about it?

 

[SuperAlly]

What happens when Francis fights Fereira? He should be ranked #1 again, correct? If he wins of course.

No. Not correct.

He's playing the equivalent of non league football.

Be like Man City relocating to and winning the Icelandic Premier division and claiming to still be the best club in England

 

[SuperAlly]

Francis beat the reigning hw champ and never lost. nothing Tom has done is beating that. Francis beat the lineal champ. Logically the moment he’s active again he should be ahead of Tom right? Tom hasn’t beaten any lineal champ.

The desperation is reeking out of your every pore