And Jones wasn't even supposed to get the shot when he did

Rashad couldn't face Shogun

Nobody is arguing that the champ is de facto best in the division, but generally speaking, yes, the champ is considered the best because it's the easiest metric to determine as much. Also, I believe Jones did close as a favorite against Shogun but it's revisionist to claim he was considered the best. Plenty of people thought Shogun as going to take him. Same goes for Franklin against Silva (or even Leben, for that matter).

The point is to try and match up the best in the division for the belt, otherwise there's no point to it existing. Bisping v. Hendo is a good fight, but while Bisping has the belt he has an obligation to fight a contender if for no other reason than the belt having value beyond historical significance. The bottom line is that the belt matters because people care about it, and given that it matters to have some standards for it.

Ugh I hate this fight so much. I feel we're gonna see Maia backpack him to a RNC a huge percentage of the time. Hopefully Condit can at least make it fun. I'd really like Maia to fight a good wrestler before he gets a title shot, not guys with average to bad TDD that he can just backpack.

I'd much prefer Condit vs Nick on his return, or if Nick wouldn't take it, give him Brown or Rory. And give Maia Hendricks vs gastelum winner, or Robbie vs Woodley looser.

In other news, Jones is pretty rustled about Big John reffing haha.



He also admits he used to be fake in the very beginning.

I don't think that's true.

Sure there was skepticism by some, but the SB thread was overwhelmingly pro Jones. Don't forget he took the Shogun shot immediately after beating Bader (like in-cage if I remember right) so it was an immediate 6 week turnaround. (Feb 5 - Mar 19)

Sure but there's always exceptions to the rule.

Bisping holding the belt after all that time, it being a rematch of an iconic fight (finish really), Hendo old as ****, situations like these don't come up often. It's a time sensitive match-up in every way.

Plus this is like the one fight they could give to Bisping that he might win. Him holding the belt for a second defense would be cool plus this helps with the UK market obviously.

Bisping getting mollywhopped by Weidman is just another fight. We don't have to be nits about everything. Fun is okay.

I just feel that if they could make their way to giving Bisping the shot to begin with this fight isn't all that crazy.

But I do get the point you are making TB and do not disagree.

Really this is all luke and Chris's fault. Between getting injured, being over confident and both of them being the unmarketable type of douchebag rather than the interesting type they left us with this.

Ya I've kind of talked myself into it playing devil's advocate but, right, there's no disagreement to be had.

It's just kind of a cutaway, a one-off. It's like we don't need to see old boxers getting choked out on a UFC card over and over but it was okay that one time. Anyway, everyone has held the belt except for Jacare and Hendo.

It doesn't happen too often but I'm with you here Irish. Besides those other fighters ****ed up by losing fights they shouldn't have and not showing up for fights and this is result of that. As soon as Bisbing won I said it's Hendo time and that's just a natural reaction to the cluster**** not just for me but obv for a lot of people. So make it so and move on. Say what you will about Jones he has just kept winning which hasn't allowed this to happen in his division.

meant to comment on this before:

Holly's situation in almost every meaningful way is analogous to TJ's. We'll prbly never see Holly/Ronda II bc Ronda knows she'd get Barao'd again.

To me, the belt is like the champ of March Madness or the SB.

It's single elimination so it drastically reduces the importance.

standard friday night cyka blyat

What the hell was that lol

That was some beautifull ground and pound Joe.

That girl in the white shirt was actually pretty impressive. One minute she is down taking soccer kicks to the head from some fat guy. The camera looks to the right then when it pans back to the left fat guy is face down and she is kicking him.

She ate a few more kicks to the face during the fight but was still out striking the guys when they came to her.

[QUOTE=StimAbuser;50323601]In other news, Jones is pretty rustled about Big John reffing haha.


/QUOTE]


No ****. Big John may actually deduct a point for a eye poke.

2 stacked shows and 2 crap shows make more than 4 so so shows

Luke Thomas has a been a proponent of that for a long time.

Thomas is a donk who doesn't like MMA really tho.

Jordan Breen is like me, we'll watch basically any two dudes. A fight is a fight. Entertaining and things to learn in every single one. Thomas only wants to watch 'elite' guys.

He's really a pretty ignorant guy. He has takes tho.

Thomas doesn't like the showmanship side of MMA, it's why he always talks about amateur wrestling and tournament BJJ. That being said he also rips Dana at every turn, including fighter treatment.

Breen on the other hand is all for making this as fun as possible.

He also openly talks about how he doesn't want to watch most MMA. In literal terms.

I just don't think he has time for sloppy technique mainly. He doesn't have an innate love of fighting I don't think really. The ignorance comes in disparaging the sport you cover to the audience, sportswriters are notorious for this, they get jaded or bored with it. Basically ****ting on the reason the audience is listening/reading you. Luke is a sourpuss no matter what tho.

I'm glad he's around even if he annoys me, I listen to his podcast at times.

I like you, Dodger, but man do I disagree with almost all of this. Luke doesn't stay connected to the internet 24/7 (literally) and write immediate post-fight articles because he doesn't like MMA. He also didn't give a shout-out to Conor's Curu Curu guard sweep against Diaz because he's ignorant.

I don't care to simply watch any two dudes fight. I put more value in elite competition. Luke and I are MMA fans just like you, homie.

Luke is basically a beer snob. When you get deep enough into something, you find your interest zeroing in while having less and less patience for anything outside that.

Ignorant may have been the wrong word choice but he's condescending to fans of the sport he covers. I mean sure, if you want to rap on Kimbo vs Shamrock obviously feel free. But he basically calls most undercard fighters 'just two donks'

The other stuff he does because it's his job. That's the point. I've listened to him speak for hundreds of hours. I said 'at times' because I'll stop listening for a stretch but then I'll pick it back up, just depends on my activity level and need for pods mainly. Same with MMA Beat. I'll rarely listen to Ariel as a counter-example, that's just interviews ftmp. Luke does indeed love grappling.

I'm not sure he's into the violence per se. Like I said, I identify more with Breen. I listen and read Thomas because I do like to hear alternative views, that's why I said he has takes (strong opinions).

I'm not like Eddie Bravo where I want them to just bleed but there's a satisfaction in watching a man go out.

Ya that's what I'm talking about.

The greats are able to keep their objectivity and passion for it like when they started. Roger Ebert comes to mind with movies. Or El D with food. It's having a real passion for it.

Like he'll go on vacation and come back talking about how happy he was to get away from MMA. I just don't think he loves it, it's okay though. He's good at his job ftmp.

Conversely Breen talks about how 24/7 if he's home a fight of some sort is going on in the background because that's what he'd do anyway. I don't listen to his podcast anymore because he's pretentious and pontificates too much so don't take me as a Breen fanboi. We're just more similar.