The UFC must strip Max Holloway to fill UFC 228

[Alpha_T83]

If it ends up that max's concussion issues could keep him out for an extended period of time or that he indeed have a "mini-stroke" as ortega alluded to in a LFA interview last night, I wouldn't have a problem with it. Not the time yet to strip him yet though just to save a September event that is gonna sell bad regardless whether Shevchenko or Ortega is the headliner. I would wait until the year end. maybe book a interim title between ortega vs. aldo/stephens winner

Basically Max needs to be able to schedule a fight by the end of 2018. He hasn't fought since Dec 9, 2017. I'd say give his medical team another week or two, but if they can't commit to a fight date by the end of 2018, then it's clear that the UFC need to strip Max.

 

[Sjb1888]

Just offer Till the fight and Colby can face the winner, no point holding things up for a interim belt that is meaningless anyway.

 

[Alpha_T83]

Max defended his belt in December, some 8 months ago. It's quite a bit premature to talk about stripping him.

Not really accurate at all.

The UFC haven't had a consistent policy for stripping champions. Often times it is their "golden ticket" fighters that get the most leeway (GSP, McGregor).

So far it has been "wait a year, and then strip them at some point". However, the policy should be "you must defend your belt within 12 months of your last title fight @ that weight class". Thus, if Holloway isn't able to schedule a fight by Dec 9, 2018, he needs to be stripped.

 

[Deezer]

Max Hollway is the legitimate 145 lb. champion. He won it and defended it.

Colby's is a Happy Meal belt they made up to sell PPVs.

Basically what I was just going to write.
You want to strip a legit champ who actually defends in todays day and age becuase they threatening to do it to one of the multiple interim made up belts theyve made over the last few years. None sense

 

[Alpha_T83]

Just offer Till the fight and Colby can face the winner, no point holding things up for a interim belt that is meaningless anyway.

I wrote an analysis about that -- I doubt Tyron Woodley would accept the Till fight. Firstly, Till is an enormous 170 pounder. Secondly, Till is very likely to miss weight again -- if that happens, Tyron is in a lose-lose situation. If Tyron declines to fight an overweight Till, the UFC will immediately strip his title. And if he accepts the fight against an overweight Till, he's fighting at a big disadvantage and could very well lose.

Tyron will likely greatly prefer to wait and fight Colby, is my guess.

 

[sonhow]

Not defending the belt is trend of the year..

 

[JayPettryMMA]

The UFC haven't had a consistent policy for stripping champions. Often times it is their "golden ticket" fighters that get the most leeway (GSP, McGregor).

Right, but it's never been this soon into inactivity to strip unless it's an interim champ recently.

So far it has been "wait a year, and then strip them at some point". However, the policy should be "you must defend your belt within 12 months of your last title fight @ that weight class". Thus, if Holloway isn't able to schedule a fight by Dec 9, 2018, he needs to be stripped.

But that's not the policy, as you already said. That's what you think it should be. It's July 21st today, about eight months and three weeks after he defended his belt. He withdrew from three title fights this year for various reasons, and we don't know how long he's going to be out for. December is four months out, let's give it a minute before we start calling for his head.

UFC 228 is in September, so why would they strip a fighter who was only inactive for ~10 months, even if your own criteria that's not enough to do anything by the time 228 rolls around.

 

[Benoitthegr8]

We need more interim belts, maybe a women’s atom weight division, or a men’s unlimited weight class for A level athletes like Sapp, Butterbean, Dave Bautista, they can have Brawk fight for the inaugural belt....!

Damn it WME needs more content

 

[Alpha_T83]

Edgar is booked for November and Stephens has some guy called Aldo to deal with, even if he wins what’s the chances he comes out unscathed?

Fights can be moved around -- it happens all the time. The UFC would just pay Aldo to accept a new opponent or take a later fight (or Edgar would be pulled from the Nov card, and that bout would be replaced later).

 

[Sjb1888]

I wrote an analysis about that -- I doubt Tyron Woodley would accept the Till fight. Firstly, Till is an enormous 170 pounder. Secondly, Till is very likely to miss weight again -- if that happens, Tyron is in a lose-lose situation. If Tyron declines to fight an overweight Till, the UFC will immediately strip his title. And if he accepts the fight against an overweight Till, he's fighting at a big disadvantage and could very well lose.

Tyron will likely greatly prefer to wait and fight Colby, is my guess.

You might be right, and to be honest Till shouldn't get the fight after missing weight anyway.

 

[Alpha_T83]

Right, but it's never been this soon into inactivity to strip unless it's an interim champ recently.

The UFC need to change their policy, pure and simple. The interim champion scheme isn't working anymore. Whittaker got leaped over by GSP, Ferguson is in limbo, and Colby is potentially being stripped after 1 month.

The UFC have ruined their interim title tool, and now their only choice is to have more real championship fights, which means being much more aggressive with stripping inactive champions.

 

[TJH Exitium]

STRIP EVERYONE!

Strip every champion.
32 Fighter Grand Prix tournament in every weight class to crown new champions
Re-legitimize all belts

 

[Sgt Smith]

Wouldn't suprise me if the UFC did. Seems to be the modus operandi with regard to belts the last few years.

 

[Mormont]

Fights can be moved around -- it happens all the time. The UFC would just pay Aldo to accept a new opponent or take a later fight (or Edgar would be pulled from the Nov card, and that bout would be replaced later).

None are being moved for 228. You need to accept the fact that it will be a very weak card so they can focus on more important cards in the UFC's eyes.

 

[snackgod]

Right now the UFC are threatening to strip Covington of his interim title, as a bargaining tool because they are desperate to fill UFC 228. But Covington just fought 5 hard rounds with RDA, and deserves time to heal up. Woodley is at least healthy and willing to schedule a fight, and should fight Colby around Oct-Dec 2018.

But the UFC has no other big fight to headline the UFC 228 card.

Their only real option is to strip Max Holloway of the Featherweight title, and have Brian Ortega fight either Stephens or Edgar @ UFC 228. This option would work, I'm sure. Ortega has stated he'd be ready to go *if* the fight is for the real title.

If Max isn't able to accept a fight by the end of 2018, then he should be stripped. The UFC need to start taking a stand against champions that are out for an extended period of time. They had a chance to do this with Woodley and failed, but they need to do it with Max. And Max should probably move to 155 anyway, because he clearly struggles to make 145 at this point.

no need to strip max unless he says when he healthy he go up to 155. t city can fight someone for a interm belt.

 

[Alpha_T83]

None are being moved for 228. You need to accept the fact that it will be a very weak card so they can focus on more important cards in the UFC's eyes.

I think it's more likely that UFC 228 gets cancelled if it continues as is. They can't justify that card right now. They need a higher profile main event to draw some interest. No one even knows who Nicco Montano is.

You'd rather see Max get to hold onto his title without defending for another 6-8 months than have the UFC save the 228 card?? That's a lot of fighters that won't get paid for their troubles if it gets cancelled.

 

[RomanJester]

How can you blame Woodley for wanting to make a big payday or 2 before he retires, and people give him shit but he always defended against top competition until now, just because you dont like him that shouldnt cloud your judgment, i feel like older Champions you can give a gimmick fight as they wont be around that long anyway, its the same with Cormier the Lesnar fight makes zero sense but Daniel deserves it, same with Bisping they gave him shit while the dude was clawing and fighting for years and finally getting that big payday, he deserved it, its even worse cause he is a cyclopse, imagine if you knew you had little time left to do your job, wouldnt you want to take the most profitable route?

his rematch with Wonderboy he fucking stared at him for 24 and a half minutes, his fight with Maia was a smoke break. That has nothing to do with liking him or not, if he doesnt want to fight, then he should bounce. What fucking money fight do you think he would ever get? GSP wants nothing to do with him and thats not because he's ducking him, he is not in the same class of fighter. Woodley fans are the absolute worst and defend him even when his fights not only suck but when he avoids fighting to hold out on a bigger fight that wont happen.

He wanted Diaz too, and McGregor, they both have 0 interest. Theres no money fight for him. Retire? How fucking old is he?

 

[snackgod]

You wont do anyone a favor if you strip Holloway, the winner will be called paper champion, Holloway vs Ortega has to happen, at the moment they are the 2 best Featherweights, until they fight we dont know who will win, show some patience, Holloway was willing to go and would have fought even in that state, you cant just take away a hard earned title because you cant wait.

well conor blind followers who blow up sherdog will always say no metter who champ there are paper champ since they never beat conor.

 

[Alpha_T83]

no need to strip max unless he says when he healthy he go up to 155. t city can fight someone for a interm belt.

Ortega has already stated he won't fight for an interim belt, and the interim belts are basically meaningless now. Whittaker was passed up for GSP vs Bisping, Tony Ferguson is in limbo, and the UFC is about to string Covington after just 1 month into his interim title.

Very few fighters are going to accept interim title fights anymore. The UFC is going to have to start stripping inactive champions more aggressively.

 

[snackgod]

Is anyone defending their belt lately???

ufc 225 had a title fight so did ufc 226 ufc 227 has 2 title fights.