Why would the UFC make Rivera/Moraes knowing they weren't going to book TJ/DJ?

[Megalodon]

The UFC is so dumb.

They're not making TJ vs DJ, but they booked the closest thing to a top contender in Rivera to fight Moraes.

The top two ranked guys, Cruz and Cody, are both coming off of losses and Assuncao, the only other guy in the top 5 got beat easily by Dillashaw less than 2 years ago.

 

[McGeezle]

Giving Rivera a title shot just by default would be shit. He needs a top contender fight and this is it. Don't know why it's so far away though.

And they probably didn't know they weren't gonna make it

 

[Pakman]

Marlon is going to end Jimmie’s winning streak.

 

[Bend NvR Break]

Giving Rivera a title shot just by default would be shit. He needs a top contender fight and this is it. Don't know why it's so far away though

He had one scheduled vs Cruz and Cruz pulled out.

He needed a fight and Moraes was game.

If TJ wasn't busy doing his best to get beat up by MM he could have been fought Rivera.

 

[McGeezle]

He had one scheduled vs Cruz and Cruz pulled out.

Yeh so that'd be giving him the shot by default. Not his fault but still very underwhelming and reminiscent of DJ's opponents

 

[Bend NvR Break]

Yeh so that'd be giving him the shot by default. Not his fault but still very underwhelming and reminiscent of DJ's opponents

TJ got a TS off beating Mike Easton and has just lost to Assuncao 1 fight earlier. He was 9-2 at the time.

Jimmie Rivera is 21-1, 5-0 in the UFC and has wins over Faber, Brimage, Alcântara and Almedia. All known fighters in that division.

 

[McGeezle]

TJ got a TS off beating Mike Easton and has just lost to Assuncao 1 fight earlier. He was 9-2 at the time.

Jimmie Rivera is 21-1, 5-0 in the UFC and has wins over Faber, Brimage, Alcântara and Almedia. All known fighters in that division.

And it was uninteresting on paper. Also Barao was supposed to fight Assuncao who got injured.
However TJ vs the the winner of Rivera/Moraes will be very interesting, as opposed to fighting either of them now

 

[Bubba32]

Cuz rivera was never going to get the title shot regardless. Who wants a decision machine being champ?

TJ is fighting Cody.

 

[waldywaldy]

Because TJ vs DJ is going to happen.

Dana and DJ are both playing hardball. One of em will cave eventually.

 

[Bend NvR Break]

And it was uninteresting on paper. Also Barao was supposed to fight Assuncao who got injured.
However TJ vs the the winner of Rivera/Moraes will be very interesting, as opposed to fighting either of them now

Honestly there is no guarantee the winner fights TJ.

Cody and Cruz are still in the mix. Hell if TJ was game it would have been him vs Cody headlining the Holloway vs Frankie when Holloway pulled out instead of Cyborg vs unknown.

 

[Bend NvR Break]

Cuz rivera was never going to get the title shot regardless. Who wants a decision machine being champ?

TJ is fighting Cody.

Cruz is the GOAT 135 pound fighter and his nickname is the Decisionator.

 

[BRASIL WAND]

The UFC is so dumb.

They're not making TJ vs DJ, but they booked the closest thing to a top contender in Rivera to fight Moraes.

The top two ranked guys, Cruz and Cody, are both coming off of losses and Assuncao, the only other guy in the top 5 got beat easily by Dillashaw less than 2 years ago.

To be fair:

1. NOBODY wants to see Decision machine Jimmie Rivera in a title fight

2. Loss of not Cruz slapped around Silly Dilly with one working foot

3. A Cody rematch would also be marketable

4. Dilly is 1-1 vs Assuncao. And if by “easily” beating Assuncao you mean spamming TDs late in an uneventful 3 round fight then I guess...

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

Marlon is going to end Jimmie’s winning streak.

Won't end his whining streak, though

 

[ChinaMMABlog]

The UFC is so dumb.

They're not making TJ vs DJ, but they booked the closest thing to a top contender in Rivera to fight Moraes.

The top two ranked guys, Cruz and Cody, are both coming off of losses and Assuncao, the only other guy in the top 5 got beat easily by Dillashaw less than 2 years ago.

pretty sure TJ vs. DJ will still happen. doubling down since Dana said it's not going to happen ...

 

[Kaiokenrye24]

The UFC is so dumb.

They're not making TJ vs DJ, but they booked the closest thing to a top contender in Rivera to fight Moraes.

The top two ranked guys, Cruz and Cody, are both coming off of losses and Assuncao, the only other guy in the top 5 got beat easily by Dillashaw less than 2 years ago.

Also the fact that no one wants Assuncao to fight for a title

 

[snackgod]

The UFC is so dumb.

They're not making TJ vs DJ, but they booked the closest thing to a top contender in Rivera to fight Moraes.

The top two ranked guys, Cruz and Cody, are both coming off of losses and Assuncao, the only other guy in the top 5 got beat easily by Dillashaw less than 2 years ago.

cause ufc didn't know dj was ducking tj until now.

 

[snackgod]

Giving Rivera a title shot just by default would be shit. He needs a top contender fight and this is it. Don't know why it's so far away though.

And they probably didn't know they weren't gonna make it

so it rivera fault that cruz broke his hand and he didn't get to fight at ufc 219.

 

[laleggenda27]

Because TJ vs DJ is going to happen.

Dana and DJ are both playing hardball. One of em will cave eventually.

I like MM, but he has no leverage. We've seen champions in the past try to hand pick opponents, but they were usually high-profile champions who brought in revenue. MM doesn't sell PPVs, so he simply doesn't have the leverage to turn down title contenders. And he surely doesn't have the leverage to demand a spot on the highest profile card of the year in an attempt to cash in on the back of other champions.

If the UFC wants to do MM vs. TJ, they should just tell MM he has two options: (1) accept the fight; or (2) be stripped. Simple as that. I certainly will root for MM to get paid a reasonable purse, but he's not in a position to demand money above his actual value.

 

[McGeezle]

so it rivera fault that cruz broke his hand and he didn't get to fight at ufc 219.

So you're just making shit up that I didn't say? You fool. I even said I know it's not his fault in my next post