Who deserves more criticism for inactivity over past several years : Stipe or Jones?

[Black Blood]

Both. Neither is a hungry up and comer anymore. Both are established champs who are financially secure. I don't blame them for not wanting to fight 3x a year. That doesn't mean I like it.

Stipe vs Jones was a real legit matchup 5 years ago, but not anymore. The UFC needs to let the division move on.

 

[AmericanUppercut]

JJ lost to Reyes, so...

 

[laleggenda27]

Neither.

Stipe literally has a full-time job as a firefighter (which is very honorable) and is 41 years old. And Jones spent almost a full decade fighting as a champion.

The UFC deserves the criticism for turning the HW division into a complete cluster. They let the real HW champ walk and consistently made terrible decisions after that. The ship could easily be righted by stripping Jones, elevating Aspinall to full champ status, and having Jones fight Aspinall when he's healthy (or fight Stipe in a non-title fight). Instead, they're hellbent on forcing a Jones-Stipe title fight on everyone.

 

[LEWIS540]

With Jones's history would not be surprised if his random hiatus in his peak physical and money-making years was not self imposed, nudge nudge wink wink.

 

[markg171]

The one who hasn't fought recently and isn't injured unlike Jones...?

Fuck you Jones haters are getting desperate.

 

[fightfan70]

who cares. does not affect my life.

is normal. shits been happening for 20 years

 

[kahymo]

you are asking us to choose

Dumb and Dumber

 

[Question]

I don’t think no one should get criticism for inactivity. Shit happens in life.
I think It's about what you deserve after said inactivity.

I had no problems with Colby never fighting, Stipe never fighting etc... I don't miss ya'll anyway.

Problem is the rewards these guys gets after the lay off. Hate that shit.

I love MMA and it's truly sad what the UFC is doing with the HW division.

The real problem is the UFC, they're the ones making the final decision at the end of it all. Most of these fighters are just doing what's best for themselves even if it doesn't make sense for the division.
Jones/Stipe holding up the division, Colby getting two undeserved title shots, Chito getting an underserved title shot, etc.

 

[Kyojiro Kagenuma]

I don’t think no one should get criticism for inactivity. Shit happens in life.
I think It's about what you deserve after said inactivity.

I had no problems with Colby never fighting, Stipe never fighting etc... I don't miss ya'll anyway.

Problem is the rewards these guys gets after the lay off. Hate that shit.

I love MMA and it's truly sad what the UFC is doing with the HW division.

Yea they're trying to pass off a fight with Jones and Stipe like it still means something. It's bs. It's just so Jones can get one final big name on his resume

 

[Kyojiro Kagenuma]

Neither.

Stipe literally has a full-time job as a firefighter (which is very honorable) and is 41 years old. And Jones spent almost a full decade fighting as a champion.

The UFC deserves the criticism for turning the HW division into a complete cluster. They let the real HW champ walk and consistently made terrible decisions after that. The ship could easily be righted by stripping Jones, elevating Aspinall to full champ status, and having Jones fight Aspinall when he's healthy (or fight Stipe in a non-title fight). Instead, they're hellbent on forcing a Jones-Stipe title fight on everyone.

No, they can't just strip Jones at this point. That would be pretty messed up. They should definitely force him to fight Aspinall

 

[Gamer2k4]

Also, I just realized that neither fighter has a victory over a current relevant/T5 ranked fighter in a looooooong time.

Stipe's W's vs someone who is still relevant/active in UFC: none
Jones' W's vs someone who is still relevant/active in UFC: 3: Gane (#2 HW), Reyes (#14 LHW), Smith (#10 HW)

Pretty crazy when you think about it.

It's not crazy at all when you think about it. Most fighters get worse the longer they fight, or stop fighting altogether. It's been seven years since Stipe fought anyone besides Ngannou or Cormier, and neither fighter still competes in the UFC. Everyone else he's beaten has aged out...which is to be expected when you're 41 and still fighting.

Jones is in the same boat - not to mention the people he beats tend to go in a downward spiral after their loss to him. Gus was 15-1 and finished 3-7. Smith went 5-6 after a respectable record leading up to the fight. Santos had won 8 of 9 and finished 1-5 (1). Reyes went from 12-0 to 0-4. Yet they were all at or near the top of the division when they fought him.

It's just the nature of being a talented fighter with longevity. You keep winning while everyone else you fight naturally regresses.

 

[SomethingCringetastic]

They were both scared of francis

 

[blaseblase]

Stipe has basically been retired and the division moved on without him, only reason he is in a fight is because Jones picked him. Jones is the one who talked about going to heavyweight and then was inactive for 2 years.

If Jones hadn't won the title I don't think we would ever have seen Stipe again.

 

[Streeter]

Yes

 

[Levi_]

Stipe was putting his own life in imminent peril while rescuing babies from burning buildings, so he gets a pass.

 

[laleggenda27]

No, they can't just strip Jones at this point. That would be pretty messed up. They should definitely force him to fight Aspinall

Everything about this situation has been "messed up." But forcing him to fight Aspinall would effectively be the same thing as stripping him, since it's pretty obvious that Jones won't fight Aspinall. So if the compromise is that the UFC tells Jones he has to either fight Aspinall or vacate the belt, I'm fine with that. Because Jones would vacate, Aspinall would be elevated to full champ, and the division could move forward. And the UFC could still do the silly Jones-Stipe fight (without a belt).

 

[Thepaintbucket]

Stipe is significantly older than Jon Jones and has been knocked out twice in his recent four fights. I don't blame anyone for wanting to take a break after a brutal loss and given his age, Stipes career was coming to a close after losing to Francis.

Jon Jones squeaked out two close decisions and then vacated the belt at like 33(?) years old.

 

[RockyLockridge]

Stipe, Of course. jones moved up divisions after a defense and had a hard time making a fight with ngannou work because he didn't want to resign after the gane fight. the ufc was trying to book him for atleast 9+ months and wanted to add weight to his frame. had he fought november in MSG he'd have fought twice in the year as we usually expect from him. Since is time away was actually spent bulking to a bigger weight class any amount of time he wants to take to do that, should be forgiven.

Stipe on the other hand, hasn't fought really for no good reason there have already been multiple title fights and title eliminators that have gone on with out him. The division has completely passed by because he's sitting and waiting on one last big cash out. he knows he doesn't beat jones whilst at age 42

 

[HHJ]

Jones.

Stipe faced KILLERS and Champions (former and new), in epic fights, while Jones faced comparative bums during the same timeframe.

This is one of the very few things that actually isn't Jones fault

 

[HHJ]

Why do they need to be criticized? If they don't want to fight, they don't have to, its not hurting me. Is someone here losing sleep, because Stipe isn't fighting enough?

Only if they are holding a belt,and not being stripped of it.

Granted I don't like it when they just walk back in and get a title shot but that's ufcs fault too