Hot Take LW is a mess because UFC sidelined Arman

[RockyLockridge]

He didn't get rebooked for the title fight he had originally been booked for? Ok. But then he wasn't booked for the vacant title that followed. So then he beats one of the only other few contenders with a ranked streak, but despite that, he wasn't picked for the interim fight. And now that means he just can't be picked next because of the unification.

How could he have been picked though? thats MY question no one wants to answer.

He didn't get that win until november of last year November 22. paddy vs justin was offcially announced november 27th, just 5 days later and was obviously being worked on/ a done deal weeks before that.

It's because he waited too long to fight hooker. Thats the reason. He was offered fights before he should have took them. He'd have gotten it otherwise. The UFC shouldn't wait for the results of a fight in november to decide who fights for the interim title 2 months from that date they tried that at UFC 300 with arman and he said no to ufc 302. It would simply be poor planning to try it again. Had he fought ANYONE ELSE earlier (when he was offered), He probably would have gotten it.

 

[Mohawk Banditó]

If when Hooker pulled out of the gaethje fight, Justin said "Nah Im not fighting fiziev. He doesn't move me forward in the division and I gain nothing from taking that fight, because not only have i areadly beaten him, but he's coming off a serious injury on short notice. Pull me from the card" Do you think he'd have gotten the interim title headliner against paddy? the answer is obviously not.

He shouldn't have gotten it with or without the Fiz win and it's a joke he did.

Fiziev was a choice. Moicano and Gamrot were better choices who both threw their hats into the ring. Gamrot even flew to the states immediately to try and campaign for Gaethje. The fact he won't fight Dariush should also be held against him no different than the people who justify Merab getting skipped because he wouldn't fight Aljo

 

[RockyLockridge]

He shouldn't have gotten it with or without the Fiz win and it's a joke he did.

Okay, Should he have gotten it with the win over hooker? The UFC gave him fiziev. He only did wha the promotion asked him to do. Im sure if they asked him to fight gamrot or moicano he would have.

and you'd have sooner given it to pimblett for beating micheal chandler?

 

[Mohawk Banditó]

How could he have been picked though? thats MY question no one wants to answer.

He didn't get that win until november of last year November 22. paddy vs justin was offcially announced november 27th, just 5 days later and was obviously being worked on/ a done deal weeks before that.

It's because he waited too long to fight hooker. Thats the reason. He was offered fights before he should have took them. He'd have gotten it otherwise. The UFC shouldn't wait for the results of a fight in november to decide who fights for the interim title 2 months from that date they tried that at UFC 300 with arman and he said no to ufc 302. It would simply be poor planning to try it again. Had he fought ANYONE ELSE earlier (when he was offered), He probably would have gotten it.

If what you're saying is true, that the UFC was working to put together the interim fight while Arman was booked to fight Hooker, then the answer of how he'd been it in is VERY simple. Pull him from the Hooker fight. It's not unusual. The UFC has done it before and the champ being out is a pretty emergent situation. They could find a replacement for Dan and do Arman vs Justin, which is the fight Arman was shooting for before Hooker, but Justin turned it down. Maybe he'd have accepted it with the interim belt on the line

 

[KO Shotz]

Arman pulling out of the Islam fight is what got the ball rolling on where things are now. Ilia being out is what messed up things as of right now. Interim belts only complicate things for the most part & have helped create the issue of people being skipped & rankings not meaning shit. Gaethje/Paddy for the interim was only made to shut Gaethje up in the hopes of him retiring after a loss, while building up Paddy's stardom for a showdown of a money fight in Ilia vs Paddy for the undisputed title. Gaethje pulled off the definition of an upset in more ways than one.

So all in all, the UFC setting up the interim fight between Gaethje/Paddy & it back firing, while Ilia taking time off, & Arman being a walking liability is what created a mess.

 

[RockyLockridge]

If what you're saying is true, that the UFC was working to put together the interim fight while Arman was booked to fight Hooker, then the answer of how he'd been it in is VERY simple. Pull him from the Hooker fight. It's not unusual.

It's not unusual to insert someone into a title fight in January of 2026 when their last fight was April of 2024?

 

[Mohawk Banditó]

Okay, Should he have gotten it with the win over hooker?

Yes

The UFC gave him fiziev. He only did wha the promotion asked him to do. Im sure if they asked him to fight gamrot or moicano he would have.

In those situations, the UFC does filter the options, but the fighters also do get choices. They're 2 parties at play not just 1 and we don't know who said what (except for Moicano, who was the UFC's choice to backburner as an option because he would have to have been a catchweight)

and you'd have sooner given it to pimblett for beating micheal chandler?

Meh, no. Depends on what time we're talking about. Shot goes to either who earned it, or in barren times, to the winningest guy left standing. Before Arman-Hooker, even Hooker should still have been ahead of Justin. Max should arguably have been too.

A vacuum at the top does create a lower bar though. I mean, was it egregious that just before losing to Paddy, Chandler losing to Charles gave Charles the vacant shot against Topuria?

 

[RockyLockridge]

Yes

In those situations, the UFC does filter the options, but the fighters also do get choices. They're 2 parties at play not just 1 and we don't know who said what (except for Moicano, who was the UFC's choice to backburner as an option because he would have to have been a catchweight)

Okay well since we don't know what exactly gaethje was offered maybe we shouldn't judge him for it? We know he took an option instead of pulling out so maybe just give him some credit instead of bashing?

Meh, no. Depends on what time we're talking about. Shot goes to either who earned it, or in barren times, to the winningest guy left standing. Before Arman-Hooker, even Hooker should still have been ahead of Justin. Max should arguably have been too.

I agree that max could have been justified (heh) but the only reason to put gaethje over him is because max just lost to illa recently. Yeah max also beat gaethje but it's like not letting sandhangen fight merab before Yan because Yan beat sandhagen and lost to merab. Fresh matchups matter at some point to some extent.

Arman may have to wait for max holloway to fight for the title aswell because if max has an impressive win against charles I only see him leapfrogging arman as well. (This is what being inactive gets you)

A vacuum at the top does create a lower bar though. I mean, was it egregious that just before losing to Paddy, Chandler losing to Charles gave Charles the vacant shot against Topuria?

I don't think Charles should have gotten that title shot. Should have gone to arman but it was only a few months after his "debilitating back injury" where he may not have been 100% ready an able to do a training camp between Feb and March.. so again like all things with Arman, timing.

 

[Ronald Ringpiece]

Ilia will run through Gaethje with ease

Max/Oliveira is a great fight but both already lost to ilia and aren't getting any younger.

Paddy is tough but he has a ceiling for now and needs a rebound fight, the Hooker fight seems to be next.

BSD is fun and finishes fight but I see him beating everyone but the top 3, Ilia will exploit his defensive flaws and against Max/Do Bronx I'm not sure how it goes his reckless style is a tossup against them.

What's Gamrot doing anyway ? Fighting Ruddy next maybe ?

And honestly Arman beats all of those guys.

The fight we needed to see was Ilia/Arman, that would have been a true world championship level fight. We got robbed of it and have to see Ilia knock out Gaethje under two rounds and then fight the aging version of Max/Charles winner. It sucks.

How is it a mess? Ilia will fight Gaethje, Arman can fight someone else in the meantime, then Ilia can fight Arman.

Sounds like you're being a bit of a drama queen.

 

[swarrrm]

You guys are way too impressed with the Dan Hooker win. BSD just did the same thing without cheating, he starched Dariush quicker than Arman did too.

 

[RockyLockridge]

You guys are way too impressed with the Dan Hooker win. BSD just did the same thing without cheating, he starched Dariush quicker than Arman did too.

But what about the Charles win from 2 years ago? Shouldn't that be enough to get a title shot?

 

[swarrrm]

But what about the Charles win from 2 years ago? Shouldn't that be enough to get a title shot?

That wasn't a win

 

[omawho402]

Fuck all the politics, Arman is 100% the hardest fight for Topuria and we all want it. I'm a big Topuria fan and I don't like Arman btw, but what's right is right. It's undeniable he is the best guy in the division aside from Topuria. No need to debate further.

 

[PeterGriffin]

And he only fought once in that time and it wasnt until somewhat recently. He didn't have to wait 13 months he could have rebounded against gamrot right away and probably got put into the vacant title fight but he chose not to.


His current situation is the consequence of his own decisions not the consequence of pulling out a fight. He made decisions after that lead here.

I would wager that the head butt at the presser hurt his title shot chances more than some fight he pulled out of in the past.

You do realize that making arman vs illa right now would be WWE tier match making right?

You realize when the WWE just wants to make the match up they think fans will be most interested in, the just make the match up regardless right? If this were the WWE, gaethje would just lose the interim title to Arman on raw the week before wrestlemania like you want him to.

this isn't the WWE.

Timings are made, Matches are scheduled. The guy gaethje was supposed to fight was hooker. the same guy who you want to give the shot to for arman beating. If gaethje beat hooker instead of fiziev, We already know you'd ignore that and want the fight to go to arman anways.


I know most of that goes over your head, but what about OTHER FIGHTERS who have HAVE BEEN FIGHTING and SHOWING UP TO THEIR FIGHTS and NOT TURNING DOWN FIGHTS

Why should they have to sit in wait while arman never fights and gets THEIR title shots? Because that's the match up KOYA FROM SHERDOG wants? Maybe grow up a little.

arman can fight BSD and solidfy his contendership. Then he can fight the winner of Illa vs Gaethje.

How is expecting the LW champion to defend against the literal #1 contender in the division "WWE-tier" matchmaking? Seems about the most normal match you can make.

It's only an absurd match to make if you're protecting the champ from a real threat.

Arman turned down Gamrot to fight a higher-ranked Hooker, and fought and beat him. That's a fact. You really need to let the past go when it comes to Arman turning down Gamrot. Gamrot has proven he's not champ material, so he's meaningless now in terms of title contention.

Do you not want to see the best fighters fight, or do you just want to watch Ilia win?

 

[RockyLockridge]

I would wager that the head butt at the presser hurt his title shot chances more than some fight he pulled out of in the past.



How is expecting the LW champion to defend against the literal #1 contender in the division "WWE-tier" matchmaking? Seems about the most normal match you can make.

It's only an absurd match to make if you're protecting the champ from a real threat.

Arman turned down Gamrot to fight a higher-ranked Hooker, and fought and beat him. That's a fact. You really need to let the past go when it comes to Arman turning down Gamrot. Gamrot has proven he's not champ material, so he's meaningless now in terms of title contention.

Do you not want to see the best fighters fight, or do you just want to watch Ilia win?

I want illa vs arman as much as the next guy, But the entire world shouldn't stop for Arman to get his fight. He could have bounced back in a QUICK AND TIMELY FASHION but chose to waste his time. You arguments and excuses for Arman are so disingenuous and pathetic i dont even know where to start. Gamrot Fought klien when he was ranked 7th. thats when he would have been fighting Arman. (May 31st 2025) Gamrot ALSO HAS A WIN OVER ARMAN. you seem to conveniently ignore that. So it was worth worth it in your eyes and retard armans, to wait SIX MONTHS to fight someone who was ranked higher by ONLY ONE POSITION?(6) because hooker is "so totally champ material." according to you?

Get real.

 

[ultra321]

Gaethje fought a guy he already beat that came off an horrible injury as a replacement and another guy that we all knew was overrated. He's also pushing 40 and has lost two title fights before, he got the opportunity.

Gaethje is an paper interim champ.

I was asking about you but it seems you're perfectly ok with the circus and not seeing the best fight the best because it sticks up to Arman somehow. Why do you care ? Dana has brainwashed you.

I don't give a F what the UFC thinks I only know that the two best LW are Ilia and Arman and I want them to fight.

They made this Justin problem, they can't skip it now.

Arman will have to take another fight, honestly, but the point should be that he shouldn't have had to.

I get thinking he could be punished for not making it to the title fight, but even when "You had a title shot in your hand that never materialized" happened in the past? It usually didn't take too much of a turnaround to get the promised title shot back.

He didn't get rebooked for the title fight he had originally been booked for? Ok. But then he wasn't booked for the vacant title that followed. So then he beats one of the only other few contenders with a ranked streak, but despite that, he wasn't picked for the interim fight. And now that means he just can't be picked next because of the unification.

Mind you, although everyone now thinks Hooker is a can, the UFC thought Justin should have beat him to get his own title shot, and when that fight fell through, Justin instead fought a guy directly 2 steps below Hooker and got it anyway.

So when Arman beat the #1 contender and a guy fthe UFC had booked to fight for the title in Charles, and the guy the UFC had slotted in what was essentially an eliminator in Hooker, then anyone still thinking Arman should deserves a sideline might as well think the UFC should have just cut him entirely

It seems fairly obvious to me they expected Paddy to beat Gaethje just like they expected Fiziev to beat him to prop up the rising star like they have done so many times in the past by sacrificing a 'washed' legend.
Well that didn't work out. Just like when Rashad was supposed to cement his legitimacy on Lyoto's corpse... which back fired spectacularly. Now as Mohawk has correctly pointed out their stuck. That said this wouldn't be the first time a "Champ" has side stepped an interim belt holder to fight a "Washed Ex-Champ" (No shade on Stipe. But let's be honest, he had moved on with his life.) Meanwhile you can't blame Gaethje for wanting to Stay Active/Fight/Get Paid doing what he loves. Who's Idea the interim belt was and the reason behind it... Is it really that important???

 

[Koya]

How is it a mess? Ilia will fight Gaethje, Arman can fight someone else in the meantime, then Ilia can fight Arman.

Sounds like you're being a bit of a drama queen.

So you're thrilled about the uncertainty that the Ilia Vs Gaethje fight will give you ? You totally don't know how it's going to unfold after watching Gaethje struggle with Paddy and Topuria starch the two guys who searched Gaethje ? And I know styles makes fight, but in this case it makes it even more of a given that Ilia will steamroll Justin.

It's an unnecessary fight.

 

[Ronald Ringpiece]

So you're thrilled about the uncertainty that the Ilia Vs Gaethje fight will give you ? You totally don't know how it's going to unfold after watching Gaethje struggle with Paddy and Topuria starch the two guys who searched Gaethje ? And I know styles makes fight, but in this case it makes it even more of a given that Ilia will steamroll Justin.

It's an unnecessary fight.

Ilia is clearly likely to win but it's hardly making LW a mess, is it? Arman is the one who has caused this problem. As I said, Gaethje and Ilia can fight and Arman can go next.

He didn't make weight when it was his time. Headbutted his next opponent at the weigh in. He generally struggles making weight.

He fought at the end of November. I suspect the UFC (quite rightly) didn't want to gamble on him not making weight again at the end of January. Imagine your first numbered event with your new broadcaster and your main event gets pulled because one of the fighters didn't make weight. Not a great look. They cannot rely on him.

 

[Koya]

You do realize that making arman vs illa right now would be WWE tier match making right?

You realize when the WWE just wants to make the match up they think fans will be most interested in, the just make the match up regardless right? If this were the WWE, gaethje would just lose the interim title to Arman on raw the week before wrestlemania like you want him to.

this isn't the WWE.

Timings are made, Matches are scheduled. The guy gaethje was supposed to fight was hooker. the same guy who you want to give the shot to for arman beating. If gaethje beat hooker instead of fiziev, We already know you'd ignore that and want the fight to go to arman anways.


I know most of that goes over your head, but what about OTHER FIGHTERS who have HAVE BEEN FIGHTING and SHOWING UP TO THEIR FIGHTS and NOT TURNING DOWN FIGHTS

Why should they have to sit in wait while arman never fights and gets THEIR title shots? Because that's the match up KOYA FROM SHERDOG wants? Maybe grow up a little.

arman can fight BSD and solidfy his contendership. Then he can fight the winner of Illa vs Gaethje.

M
I've been around sherdog for more than 15 year and it's legit in the top 10 worst takes I have seen here. And boy did I see bad ones.

 

[Koya]

And he only fought once in that time and it wasnt until somewhat recently. He didn't have to wait 13 months he could have rebounded against gamrot right away and probably got put into the vacant title fight but he chose not to.


His current situation is the consequence of his own decisions not the consequence of pulling out a fight. He made decisions after that lead here.

He said repeatedly he wanted to fight sooner but the UFC didn't offer him anything.

He offered to fight Gamrot on short notice as a replacement at catch-weight but the UFC refused, he just couldn't make the weight on one week notice which is the case of 99% of fighters.