News Jon Anik: Justin Gaethje ‘was pissed’ to be passed over for UFC 317 title fight

[SuperAlly]

He got slept by Holloway, didn’t look great against an injured Fiziez on 2 week notice. Most fans were outraged at the idea of Islam defending against Gaethje, they should be similarly outraged at the idea of Ilia getting his first LW defense against Gaethje when you have guys like Arman, Pimblett, etc who are much more intriguing matchups and deserve it more.

They should be outraged at Ilia walking into a title fight with zero Lw fights or wins to his name

 

[Koro_11]

That’s almost Yair Rodriguez level of delusion. Guy needs at least two more top wins to even be considered for a title shot.

 

[Koya]

My guy he fought Khabib in 2020 get over it..

Yeah and Oliveira in 2022...

 

[SuperAlly]

Just clarifying what that guy was apparently missing

 

[Koro_11]

They should be outraged at Ilia walking into a title fight with zero Lw fights or wins to his name

Sure, he hasn’t earned it at 155, but being a champion in another division is something, and the way he’s put away the two division goats, and the whole intrigue of a fresh new contender in the division, etc., honestly like it or not it’s a lot more exciting than recycling the same four guys that have been getting title shots for the past decade.

 

[Mohawk Banditó]

Oh I getcha

 

[SuperAlly]

Sure, he hasn’t earned it at 155, but being a champion in another division is something, and the way he’s put away the two division goats, and the whole intrigue of a fresh new contender in the division, etc., honestly like it or not it’s a lot more exciting than recycling the same four guys that have been getting title shots for the past decade.

If people wanna talk "deserve" they need to start with the guy with zero fights in the division. Otherwise they don't really give a shit about deserve. Which is fine (I would disagree, but as long as you are consistent that you don't actually care about sporting merit).

 

[NicholasJBasile]

I like Gaethje but he doesn't deserve to be anywhere near a title shot at the moment. His last 2 fights were a loss to Holloway and a close win over Fiziev after a long layoff on short notice.

 

[cshireman4]

Bridesmaid Belt: four-man, double elimination tournament between Gaethje, DP, Max and Chandler. All contestants retire upon completion, regardless of outcomes.

 

[Dorkman]

The fiziev win was a reasonable way to get back in the win column. But it's not worthy of a title shot. Especially not directly after getting cold cocked in a fight he was soundly losing for 5 rounds.

 

[Koro_11]

If people wanna talk "deserve" they need to start with the guy with zero fights in the division. Otherwise they don't really give a shit about deserve. Which is fine (I would disagree, but as long as you are consistent that you don't actually care about sporting merit).

Normally I care about "deserve", but in the case of the current LW division I have no problem with Ilia getting the shot simply because the division is stale and everyone has already fought each other, had their title shots, etc...

I mean seriously, who do you wanna give it to instead? Poirier? Gaethje? Both guys lost to Charles. Poirier lost to Makhachev too, and Arman would be good but the guy blew his shot and then turned down short notice fights and is a primadona... so who's left?

Pimblett still doesn't have a top win. Chandler is a bum. Hooker is a gatekeeper. Gamrot is lame... who else would you give it to over Ilia?

 

[bjjwar]

He needs another win, he’s one fight removed from getting face planted and has already had 2 chances. Match him up with Tsarukyan for the next shot.

He needs at least 2 more notable wins. Getting dismantled by a FW and then beating a bum on a losing streak who barely prepared on short notice doesnt put you nowhere near a title shot…

 

[KO Shotz]

Ilia should be nowhere near a Lw title shot.

It's a farce.

He's the FW champion. Any champion that was never dethroned that moved weight classes almost immediately got a title shot. He wasn't going to get one if Islam stuck around, but since the title is vacated it only makes sense to have a champion from another division that is now in the respected division compete for the belt.

 

[KO Shotz]

In 2 years who we got besides Ilia Paddy and Charles?

A lot of talent can be developed or brought in within 2 years.

 

[Local Plata]

I still think they should just make a Gaethje/Poirier/Chandler division, give them all belts for the pro wrestling shithole state fans, and then just have them fight in perpetuity so the LW division can go back to functioning like an actual division in an actual sport again.

 

[SuperAlly]

I still think they should just make a Gaethje/Poirier/Chandler division, give them all belts for the pro wrestling shithole state fans, and then just have them fight in perpetuity so the LW division can go back to functioning like an actual division in an actual sport again.

Despite this odea that those guys just fought it each other repeatedly being objectively false and easily disproven, some retards can't stop parroting it even now

Bizarre

 

[CC27]

there are 3 guys in line and all of them need another win really. Arman would be top guy but after what happened he's not gonna get a shot until another fight cause UFC is pissed at him. Justin and Paddy both need one more, maybe against each other and winner of that would be worthy.

Problem is timing, hope if TOpuria wins he's ready to go end of year so out of those three guys two are gonna fight each other and one is gonna probably get the next shot.

Paddy is the biggest fight but one most will complain didnt earn it but cant see ARman getting it and if its Justin then Paddy/Arman is not a good fight for Paddy so you might be killing off biggest fight in the div if you do that.

Thats why I think If TOpuria wins its him and Paddy and Justin is gonna have to take out Arman to get a title shot. It might just be what it is. Only other way is if they go Justin and then give Paddy the HOoker fight which is easier, more winnable fight and leaves Arman completely out in the cold having to fight down down in teh rankings vs someone like Gamrot if he beats Klein.

 

[volcom5]

They screwed him over, he should’ve gotten the fight in 23. When he best Fiziev and Poitier. Instead they gave the fight to Oliveira who imo didn’t deserve the rematch with Makhachev being just one fight removed from getting stopped, Gaethje would’ve been a fresh matchup.

 

[SuperAlly]

They screwed him over, he should’ve gotten the fight in 23. When he best Fiziev and Poitier. Instead they gave the fight to Oliveira who imo didn’t deserve the rematch with Makhachev being just one fight removed from getting stopped, Gaethje would’ve been a fresh matchup.

 

[ComeChooDaddy]

UFC, Islam and his team wanted another easy fight in Gaethje so bad. There was no way to avoid Arman and Ilia so they just said fuck it and switched weight classes.