I was referencing the OP. I wasn't basing my opinion solely on Merab's merits (I realize it looked that way).
I was also insinuating what O'Malley still needs to do before even considering Super Fights..
O'Malley has only defended his title once. To put him in a Super Fight now without cleaning out his division first is fruitless. Especially to a guy who just won the belt and hasn't defended even once.
So if your not going to give the next shot to Merab fine, but at least give it to someone in the division. Super Fights should be a long way off for both O'Malley and Topuria..imo
This is the problem with this champ champ crap, Now O'Malley has a decision win vs the #5 ranked bantam let's let him fight right away for the Featherweight title. O'Malley has Merab to fight, Sandhagen to fight for starters while Ilia has an absolute killers row he somehow avoided into a title shot with Ortega, Rodriguez, Holloway, He will likely have to rematch Volk and you have guys like Evloev sitting at #5 ready to make A run at TopuriaNow that Sean O'Malley is virtually a superstar now, he has plenty of options to who he wants to fight.
Who would you like to Sean O'Malley fight next?
Ain't that the truth. I guess I'm still in a fantasy land where I think fighters should fight each other based off where they are in the standings. But you're right, it's about money. Always has been..Got it, all good
To be clear, the UFC doesn't run as a sport, its effectively the circus coming to town.
We know for a fact the UFC is keeping >85% of money generated from fights. I think its reasonable to suggest we should all generally agree the promoter keeping virtually all the money is disadvantageous to fighters.
Sean should be calling for whatever fights make him the most money. Especially now that he's on PPV share, his only responsibility is to earn the most money with the least risk possible. Anything other then that is karate movie stuff. These guys are exchanging brain damage for peanuts.
We could write a list of why the UFC isn't booked liked a meritocracy and fighters in general have no advocacy.
So long as the UFC runs bookings for whatever they think is best for their business interests, fighters should be doing the same.
No it's not, and I think you took my post in the wrong direction, considering your follow up statement didn't actually address it either. Yes, I DO assume the people who picked Sean vs Merab usually considered the effects (even if they don't explicitly say it in the examples you picked like you seen to think they did, but they didn't). But the people who picked Sean vs Ilia make NO mention, not even an implication, of what order fights would be happening, which there are more examples ofOf course that is taken into account. Anyone picking O'Malley vs. Topuria is choosing super fight over legit matchup within the division. So no one should vote for O'Malley to move up, expect for O'Malley himself and maybe a few of his super fans.
Edit - all these posts all consider what these super fights would do to both divisions:
Blatant cash grabs aren't entertaining, though.For a sport born with no weight classes, that many sherdoggers think it has "too many divisions already", they surely hate when someone goes after the champion from another division...
Omalley vs Topuria of course, i dont like Omalley and i think he loses to Merab 10/10 times, but i also like to be entertained while watching...
Fighting up a weight class for a current champion shouldn't be so easy to do. It needs to be earned. Volk earned by beating all the top contenders having multiple title defenses first. O'Malley has not earned it yet with only 1 title defense. You owe it to the division to defend your title at least a few times before chasing other belts.
Yeah no it takes more than repeating that some cage fighter is a superstar for him to be a superstar. LOL at this marketing attempt.
Anyways I think that Topuria sends Popsicle to the hospital on a stretcher. Merab is a more interesting matchup and I would like Merab to have a shot. This switching weight class business is horseshit anyways.
Even though that would be a fun fight I rather see both of them defend their belts first. A lot of hungry and/or game contenders waiting. Merab could very well beat Sean and it's possible Ilia could lose to Volk in a rematch or against someone like Max.
Sean has a very real chance against Merab in the first round. I'd even maybe favor him in the first. But from the second on, shit changes.For a sport born with no weight classes, that many sherdoggers think it has "too many divisions already", they surely hate when someone goes after the champion from another division...
Omalley vs Topuria of course, i dont like Omalley and i think he loses to Merab 10/10 times, but i also like to be entertained while watching...
I haven't seen anyone who doesn't want Suga/Sandhagen. It's just that (as you said) Merab deserves it now. Cory can fight the winner.Merab definitely deserves it. I’m the odd ball who wants O’Malley vs sandhagen though