Jones and Pereira are both fighting #8

[snaportap21]

The reasons are:

- UFC want their GOAT to beat the HW GOAT to cement himself as the Undisputed GOAT, essentially for marketing purposes because he is already the GOAT. Then he retires and rides off into the sunset.

- UFC want their most popular active fighter to stay busy while they wait for Jon and Stipe to retire so they match him up against a layup.

GOAL: Aspinall vs Periera for the UFC Undisputed HW title of the world. On one hand, Tom is one of the most exciting fighters period with the skillset to become the HW GOAT and even more. On the other hand, Poatan has the chance to win a third belt, something that has never been done.

If things work out, this will be a banger of a matchup.

Both these men have dana white privelege. Is normal.

 

[colorles]

the people downplaying Miocic in this thread are still salty that Miocic ragdolled a man (Ngannou) that Jones seemingly ducked for years. He also knocked out Overeem who Jones was seemingly ducking. and a bunch of other heavyweights because, you know, Jones was ducking the heavyweight division for years despite having a seven foot wingspan. What Jones is doing now fighting a washed Miocic is even worst than Canelo waiting until GGG was past his prime. Miocic is straight washed

and I like Jones. but don't downplay Miocic

 

[Luffy]

UFC protecting Jon from Tom and Alex from Ank.

Disgraceful stuff.

You're a Poatan and JJ hater!!!

 

[orca]

Miocic last win was over 4 years ago, Faber's almost exactly one year before. It's an exaggeration, but it shows the level of ridiculous that this fight is.
A man that hasn't won a fight in 4 years, coming off a bad loss, in his 40s, without a win over any current UFC heavyweight fighting for a title is a joke, especially given that the guy who is clearly the best heavyweight in the sport has already defended the interim whilst waiting for this debacle to be over.
A few facts for you - Fedor, a man at least 15 years out of his prime, has a more recent win at heavyweight than Stipe.
Aspinall has won 7 fights with finishes in the UFC since Stipe's last win.
Dominick Cruz, who is a retired commentator, has more recent wins in the UFC than Stipe.
Give me some facts to defend this shit, because this is up there with the least deserved title shots in the history of the sport, and the only purpose it serves is to give Jon a big name easy fight to end his career on.

He must be holding off for his title shot that he clearly deserves given current precedent. It would actually be less of a joke given that there isn't an interim champ being robbed of his shot in Faber's divisions.

so guys like gsp can just challenge for a belt
even he waited for alot of years
jones 3 years lay off
silva gets automatic rematch
izzy gets rematches

and you think faber is a GOAT too right?

but stipe the HW GOAT cant get a title fight?
please dont put fabers name besides stipe

 

[muaythaibeast]

so guys like gsp can just challenge for a belt
even he waited for alot of years
jones 3 years lay off
silva gets automatic rematch
izzy gets rematches

and you think faber is a GOAT too right?

but stipe the HW GOAT cant get a title fight?
please dont put fabers name besides stipe

Use Dominick Cruz in place of Faber if you want, he's got far more recent wins than Stipe. The argument was that Stipe deserves the shot because he's 2-1 in his last 3, despite those wins being years ago, simply because at one stage he was a top guy, and we should just pretend that time hasn't moved on.
It's a ridiculous argument that's been torn to shreds on here, and the Faber example is another statement on why the entire thing is ridiculous.
Would you be happy if Dricus fought Silva in his next fight? Silva was a GOAT at one point.

 

[Fergelmince]

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Not a good visual for the defending champs.

Khalil and Stipe are both undeserving.

But maybe the UFC are setting up a big fight?

Jones vs Pereira 2025?

Yeah, this is horrific. The UFC may have to file for bankruptcy after this.

 

[Goutfather]

both fights are great, as long as they happen.

 

[Ramon Antonio]

Lol a very active fighter taking an opponent like that is not the same as Jones cherry picking an opponent while fighting once every 2-3 years.

 

[StonedLemur]

Its ridiculous that Stipe is #8

He shouldn't even be ranked at all tbh sir.

 

[Final Say]

No, no he does not.

Maybe 5 years ago

that was years ago, you gotta get pushed down because of inactivity at some point.

Getting pushed down the rankings wouldn’t bother me. I still feel confident he beats all the guys ahead of him. Only Blaydes and Aspinall are giant threats and MAYBE Volkov can beat him

 

[Myrddin Wild]

Big difference that Roundtree has been active & is rightfully in spot 8.

Stipe has only been reduced due inactivity.

Admittedly, the new generation of HW's is hard to do MMAth vs Stipe who rose up through the old guard.

That said, it was one helluva feat to get through that solid top 5 (& probably more) who held teh gate for what seemz like half a decade or more. JDS, Reem, Werdum, Hunt, with Cane on top. Stipe himself being one of them having some set-backs at teh iron gate before beginning to pick them off one after the other. It truly was something special for someone to go through the level of competition Stipe did to get to teh title, & keep it.

Stipe was breaking out at teh top of teh gate while Blaydes & Beast were tapping into teh bottom of it... both eventually holding teh gate for teh next generation with Volkov & now guyz like Gane & Pavlovich. It remains to be seen if Aspinall can stay out ahead like Stipe & Cain did in their prime. Fun stuff.

Anywayz... on any given night... Stipe could currently whoop any single person ranked above him atm... so the ranking of 8th is meaningless.

 

[nonoob]

War Alex...keep it up Champ !​

Jon can do for HW what he's been doing, and what he's done, for a full decade.

 

[Cowboy Kurt Angle]

The reasons are:

- UFC want their GOAT to beat the HW GOAT to cement himself as the Undisputed GOAT, essentially for marketing purposes because he is already the GOAT. Then he retires and rides off into the sunset.

- UFC want their most popular active fighter to stay busy while they wait for Jon and Stipe to retire so they match him up against a layup.

GOAL: Aspinall vs Periera for the UFC Undisputed HW title of the world. On one hand, Tom is one of the most exciting fighters period with the skillset to become the HW GOAT and even more. On the other hand, Poatan has the chance to win a third belt, something that has never been done.

If things work out, this will be a banger of a matchup.