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

[jeff7b9]

Francis has got a fucking monster in front of him.

2 monsters if you count father time.

+ ring rust
+1 BRUTALLY KTFO last fight

Francis cashed out, respect and I wish him well in life, but he is nearly 3 years out of the cage, getting old and has been pretty inactive.

 

[TaxCutz]

Yeah but were talking in an mma context. Are you pretending Francis doesn't have knee problems? That kind of makes it hard to train and perform in MMA rather than boxing. Of course the money was probably the primary driver behind Francis going to boxing but his knees might have been a secondary reason to go with that.

Francis is a washed up has been.

 

[Aurelian]

Francis is a washed up has been.

No I just think he'd lose to Tom. He's still easily a Top 3 HW.

 

[Sonny Qc]

My crush. Valeria Belen

 

[TaxCutz]

Sure.

No I just think he'd lose to Tom. He's still easily a Top 3 HW.

Sure. He ran to an inferior org because he's top of the hill.

 

[L0ki]

It kinda feels like Francis is number 1 but Tom is the Champion, even though Francis didn't lose the belt.

It's been a couple years since he fought MMA and it's very unlikely he ends up back in the UFC, so the company moves on...

 

[cburm]

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?

When Jon leaves Tom will hold the belt ...

Right now I feel great with Jon as the champ and he's fighting the best hw UFC champ who's had nothing but title fights for a decade winning his last lost was from Francis who left with the belt..

Jon faught the next best guy in line if it was Tom he woulda faught Tom but that's Toms fault for ducking Gane..

Anyhow Jon smokes him in the first round just like he would a done to Tom. The other hype train

And when Jon leaves Stipe guess what will be fighting for the belt again.. and hel prolly woop toms ass and itle out an end to all the delusional casuals

 

[Bend NvR Break]

That's crazy talk. The Jones fight is literally the only thing that could entice him back because of the money to be made.

no i actually believe Dana when he said Francis priced himself out the fight. and i also agree with Dana that asking to get paid something that you know the UFC won't give pay you is a way to duck fight.
No i don't usually believe what dana says but even a broken clock is right twice a day and this is one of those times I believe.

 

[El Fernas]

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?

Aspinall is #1 in Tapology rankings.

Sure.

Sure. He ran to an inferior org because he's top of the hill.

Ngannou ran to boxing

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

That's crazy talk. The Jones fight is literally the only thing that could entice him back because of the money to be made.

That didn't work the first time

 

[Lord Pyjamas]

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?

Not to be a dick, but this does not look inevitably to me!
Don't jinx the man. But I hope he becomes the champion we need at HW!

 

[snaportap21]

Not to be a dick, but this does not look inevitably to me!
Don't jinx the man. But I hope he becomes the champion we need at HW!

Nah, I think it’s inevitable. The same way it’s inevitable that Tom goes on to break Stipe’s record.

 

[snaportap21]

Aspinall is #1 in Tapology rankings.

That’s probably because he hasn’t fought in 2 years and has been boxing. The moment he fight again he’ll be eligible for a higher ranking. Right now Tyburia is ahead of Francis according to tapogy. The moment Francis comes back he’ll have had the better resume between him and Tom.

 

[snaportap21]

When Jon leaves Tom will hold the belt ...

Right now I feel great with Jon as the champ and he's fighting the best hw UFC champ who's had nothing but title fights for a decade winning his last lost was from Francis who left with the belt..

Jon faught the next best guy in line if it was Tom he woulda faught Tom but that's Toms fault for ducking Gane..

Anyhow Jon smokes him in the first round just like he would a done to Tom. The other hype train

And when Jon leaves Stipe guess what will be fighting for the belt again.. and hel prolly woop toms ass and itle out an end to all the delusional casuals

I’m not tryna be rude, but you’re for sure trolling me, right?

 

[muaythaibeast]

Another Fedor situation.

That one was slightly different. During PRIDE days the entire top 5 fought outside the UFC at heavyweight and 205, and the Strikeforce GP probably had 7 of the top 10.

 

[muaythaibeast]

It becomes interesting if Tom walks and you can put on a fight between the 2 legitimate best heavyweights in the world, and the UFC have no input

 

[snaportap21]

It becomes interesting if Tom walks and you can put on a fight between the 2 legitimate best heavyweights in the world, and the UFC have no input

that would be insane. it would be next to impossible but insane if it happened. Idk if PFL can afford them both, though.

 

[snaportap21]

It kinda feels like Francis is number 1 but Tom is the Champion, even though Francis didn't lose the belt.

It's been a couple years since he fought MMA and it's very unlikely he ends up back in the UFC, so the company moves on...

It's for sure a weird situation. I believe Francis once he fights again should still be considered number 1. As some pointed out he technically hasn't fought in mma for a few years so atm Tom is probably the best HW on the planet atm at least resume wise even though jon technically has the best name on his resume out of the two of them. (not tom's fault though gane apparently ducked aspinall).

 

[El Fernas]

That’s probably because he hasn’t fought in 2 years and has been boxing. The moment he fight again he’ll be eligible for a higher ranking. Right now Tyburia is ahead of Francis according to tapogy. The moment Francis comes back he’ll have had the better resume between him and Tom.

@snaportap21 - thats understandable, then as of right now he isnt the best guy, will he return to #1? Probably not, beating Ferreria who is ranked #20, he is on a nice win streak but he lost 3 times in a row, two that got eventually overturned cause his opponents tested positive, Ngannou probably lands as #2, he is ranked #11.

 

[snaportap21]

Francis has got a fucking monster in front of him.

2 monsters if you count father time.

+ ring rust
+1 BRUTALLY KTFO last fight

Francis cashed out, respect and I wish him well in life, but he is nearly 3 years out of the cage, getting old and has been pretty inactive.

You're definitely correct. His chin may forever be cracked. If he wins, though he most likely should still be ranked #1 in the world.