Where is Max and why is he not fighting for the interim belt?

[dipstickjimmy]

I don't think Max's run at a LW belt should be hindered just because illia decided to move up a weight class too, but I can see why it does affect his path to a lw title shot for many fans.

Anyone who moves up should be starting at the top 10 and working their way up. Unless you are a dominating champion (so not Ilia with 1 defense). GSP deserved a MW title shot as the dominant WW champ who never lost the belt. Anderson could have moved to LHW to fight for the belt if he wanted with no argument. Jon could have just fought Stipe right after the Reyes fight no issue.

Max was not the FW champion anymore. He lost it to Volk in 2019 and lost an immediate rematch. Won 2 and got a 3rd shot at Volk but lost that in 2022. Won 3 in a row including the BMF fight with Justin at LW but then lost to a FW in Toppy. Beat Dustin in Dustin's retirement fight.

For sure that should put him in the mix but the UFC ought to be match making to build their champions and their championships value. Matching anyone in an Interim title without having Arman reflects very poorly on the UFC and Topuria. Pretty clear someone wants to keep Toppy away from Arman. He was the #1 contender. Dana says he missed weight for a title fight which is the worst thing you can do. Yet Yoel missed weight for a title fight and was rewarded with a title fight....for which he missed weight and yet was a favourite of the UFC.

They had Arman weigh in as the official backup for the Vacant title fight so that should be enough. But Sloppy Toppy insisted he should have to win a fight so Arman goes and fights down in the rankings and beats Hooker (only guy that would take the fight). Now he is on hiatus and they book Paddy vs Justin for an Interim which ices Arman even more. Cant have Toppy come back and not Unify because champs have to unify (except when they don't want to).

Booking Lopes to rematch Volk is more BS erroding the value of a UFC belt. Lopes say you need to be active. Well Murphy fought in April and won his fight, same month Lopes lost to Volk. Lopes beat Jean Silva by KO. Murphy beat Pico (who is higher level than Silva) by highlight KO. Makes no sense to go back to another rematch that was a clear decisive conclusion.

Jake Paul's match making is more legit at this point.