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The way I see it, there are four guys who you could argue for a TS. EDIT: The order I put these guys was random.
1. Raphael Assuncao- Perennial top five contender who's never fought for the Bantamweight title. It's funny and sad how this guy is probably the most deserving out of all, yet the least wanted or interesting to get it.
Why he should get it:
A. He's 11-1 in the division, and is currently on a 4 fight win streak, the longest streak out of the other 3 guys on this list.
B. He has a win over TJ, the current champ, and has Marlon Moraes on his current streak, the guy that many are saying deserves the TS the most.
Why he shouldn't get it
A. His former win over TJ doesn't really mean much now. It was many moons ago (5 years) and it was a super close decision that many scored for TJ. They then re-matched only to have TJ come on top in a somewhat uneventful, but absolutely clear victory. It's very hard to envision him winning considering their past fights, and where they currently stand.
B. He has the remarkable ability to make any fighter he faces look average, make the fight uneventful, and then win by split decision. He fights safe, and isn't that fun to watch. As much as he deserves it, only Raphael and his best friends want to see this fight.
2. Henry Cejudo- The former Olympic Gold Medalist and the only man to dethrone the once P4P king.
Why he should get it
A. It's another champ vs champ fight. The guy is willing to do what MM hasn't done during his long reign as champ, move up. It's a fun match up, and It's interesting to see how the top of Flyweight does against the top of Bantamweight.
Why he shouldn't get it
A. He just won the belt, and not even in convincing fashion. many had it scored for Mighty Mouse, and out of all the instant rubber matches recently, Demetrius would be one of the more deserving after reigning for so long. It's actually hard to argue against a rematch for MM.
3. Dominic Cruz- Still heralded by many as the BW GOAT. The guy hasn't fought in a long time, but he has been always vocal about ring rust not being real.
Why he should get it
A. Copy and pasted from above, he is still heralded by many as the BW GOAT. If TJ wants to be known as the greatest BW, Cruz is definitely a must on his resume.
B. Dominic is currently 1-0 with TJ. Despite the split among many fans, fighters, and media, Cruz got the nod in their last fight.
C. Stylistically, he is one of the most interesting and fun fights TJ can have right now.
Why he shouldn't get it
A. He hasn't fought in almost 2 years. He also hasn't had a single fight since losing the belt, even having to pull out of a fight with Jimmie Rivera. It doesn't make much sense to go from contender fight with Rivera, to TS, hopping over everyone who's been staying active.
B. This may not be an argument as to why he shouldn't get it, as it is for why he might not get it. TJ doesn't want him to get a TS. In all fairness, despite the close decsion, TJ didn't get his immediate rematch, and had to wade through the #2 contender in Assuncao, and then the next #2 contender in Linker before getting another TS. Meanwhile, Cruz got an easy money fight against Urijah Faber, and then skipped over everyone else for #5 ranked Garbrandt. TJ will most likely be spiteful about this until Dom fights somebody.
4. Marlon Moraes- The man who kicks you so hard, you die into a dab.
Why he should get it
A. While Assuncao has the longest win streak, Moraes has the most impressive, in impressive fashion. After eeking past a split decision with John Dodson, he proceeded explode Rivera's and Sterling's heads with kicks in the very first round.
B. He is one of the most exciting match-ups for TJ atm. A diverse skillset with knockout power to boot. His previous two fights both being performance of the nights, and is almost sure to give TJ an eventful run for his money.
Why he shouldn't get it
A. He lost to Raphael Assuncao, the other guy on this list. This is pretty much the only reason why he shouldn't be next imo. It doesn't seem right to let him go infront of the guy who beat him, when the guy who beat him has a longer streak and has also been staying active.
IMO, I'd say it should go to Moraes or Assuncao, but I reeeaaally don't care to see a trilogy with Raphael. What do you guys think?
5.
1. Raphael Assuncao- Perennial top five contender who's never fought for the Bantamweight title. It's funny and sad how this guy is probably the most deserving out of all, yet the least wanted or interesting to get it.
Why he should get it:
A. He's 11-1 in the division, and is currently on a 4 fight win streak, the longest streak out of the other 3 guys on this list.
B. He has a win over TJ, the current champ, and has Marlon Moraes on his current streak, the guy that many are saying deserves the TS the most.
Why he shouldn't get it
A. His former win over TJ doesn't really mean much now. It was many moons ago (5 years) and it was a super close decision that many scored for TJ. They then re-matched only to have TJ come on top in a somewhat uneventful, but absolutely clear victory. It's very hard to envision him winning considering their past fights, and where they currently stand.
B. He has the remarkable ability to make any fighter he faces look average, make the fight uneventful, and then win by split decision. He fights safe, and isn't that fun to watch. As much as he deserves it, only Raphael and his best friends want to see this fight.
2. Henry Cejudo- The former Olympic Gold Medalist and the only man to dethrone the once P4P king.
Why he should get it
A. It's another champ vs champ fight. The guy is willing to do what MM hasn't done during his long reign as champ, move up. It's a fun match up, and It's interesting to see how the top of Flyweight does against the top of Bantamweight.
Why he shouldn't get it
A. He just won the belt, and not even in convincing fashion. many had it scored for Mighty Mouse, and out of all the instant rubber matches recently, Demetrius would be one of the more deserving after reigning for so long. It's actually hard to argue against a rematch for MM.
3. Dominic Cruz- Still heralded by many as the BW GOAT. The guy hasn't fought in a long time, but he has been always vocal about ring rust not being real.
Why he should get it
A. Copy and pasted from above, he is still heralded by many as the BW GOAT. If TJ wants to be known as the greatest BW, Cruz is definitely a must on his resume.
B. Dominic is currently 1-0 with TJ. Despite the split among many fans, fighters, and media, Cruz got the nod in their last fight.
C. Stylistically, he is one of the most interesting and fun fights TJ can have right now.
Why he shouldn't get it
A. He hasn't fought in almost 2 years. He also hasn't had a single fight since losing the belt, even having to pull out of a fight with Jimmie Rivera. It doesn't make much sense to go from contender fight with Rivera, to TS, hopping over everyone who's been staying active.
B. This may not be an argument as to why he shouldn't get it, as it is for why he might not get it. TJ doesn't want him to get a TS. In all fairness, despite the close decsion, TJ didn't get his immediate rematch, and had to wade through the #2 contender in Assuncao, and then the next #2 contender in Linker before getting another TS. Meanwhile, Cruz got an easy money fight against Urijah Faber, and then skipped over everyone else for #5 ranked Garbrandt. TJ will most likely be spiteful about this until Dom fights somebody.
4. Marlon Moraes- The man who kicks you so hard, you die into a dab.
Why he should get it
A. While Assuncao has the longest win streak, Moraes has the most impressive, in impressive fashion. After eeking past a split decision with John Dodson, he proceeded explode Rivera's and Sterling's heads with kicks in the very first round.
B. He is one of the most exciting match-ups for TJ atm. A diverse skillset with knockout power to boot. His previous two fights both being performance of the nights, and is almost sure to give TJ an eventful run for his money.
Why he shouldn't get it
A. He lost to Raphael Assuncao, the other guy on this list. This is pretty much the only reason why he shouldn't be next imo. It doesn't seem right to let him go infront of the guy who beat him, when the guy who beat him has a longer streak and has also been staying active.
IMO, I'd say it should go to Moraes or Assuncao, but I reeeaaally don't care to see a trilogy with Raphael. What do you guys think?
5.
TJ VS CODY 3
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