Mailbag: How can the UFC be as fun as Eddie Hall vs. Mariusz Pudzianowski? Plus, UFC Kansas City

Howdy, people!

This previous weekend was a giant one in MMA. Ian Machado Garry placed on a masterclass in opposition to Carlos Prates in the principle occasion of UFC Kansas Metropolis (after which held on for pricey life for the ultimate seven minutes), Anthony Smith made the stroll for the ultimate time, and, most significantly, Eddie Corridor and Mariusz Pudzianowski gave us the literal largest struggle of the yr to date. So let’s discuss all of it.

Eddie Corridor vs. Mariusz Pudzianowski

“What potential matchup within the UFC, any weight class, would have even a slight probability of being as enjoyable as Mariusz Pudzianowski x Eddie Corridor?”

Enjoyable reply: none. Actual reply: solely a handful.

I don’t know if I used to be the primary particular person to recommend it (in all probability not), however from the second Eddie Corridor annihilated two dudes without delay in an MMA struggle, I grew to become the loudest proponent of Corridor vs. Pudzianowski. I’ve a deep love and affinity for freakshow fights, and this was the most effective one to come back round in years. And although it was brief, I might say the struggle lived as much as the hype. At the least, I’ve but to see a single one that paid the $20 to look at it complain. It was 30 seconds of very foolish, fantastic nonsense, the type this sport is in determined want of.

And sadly, foolish nonsense isn’t the UFC’s enterprise. The UFC is at the moment strolling the horrible tightrope of being a “respectable” sport, whereas additionally being transparently un-meritocratic when it fits them. I’m not saying the UFC ought to go full Battle Circus, however embracing a little bit anarchy every so often wouldn’t harm them. Alas, that’s to not be, and since we all know that received’t occur, that ties our fingers for fantasy UFC matchmaking. Sure, Tom Aspinall vs. Brandon Moreno and Brandon Royval could be spectacularly enjoyable, but it surely additionally has a snowball’s probability in Hell of occurring. Listed here are some fights that might occur although, and presumably will.

There are in all probability a number of others that I’m lacking in there as a result of there are an excellent chunk of enjoyable and thrilling fighters within the UFC, however you get the concept. You don’t wish to have freakshow fights each weekend, however mixing one in each couple of months makes them appointment viewing. And at this level, there’s little or no appointment viewing occurring within the UFC.

Ian Machado Garry

“Does Garry get a title eliminator after this struggle? Additionally, Jack Della Maddalena vs. Garry subsequent could be enjoyable. We want Shavkat vs. Belal Muhammad subsequent. (I anticipate Belal to dominate JDM).”

Right here’s the factor: the welterweight title image is as clear as mud proper now.

Below regular circumstances, Garry, coming off that nice efficiency in opposition to Prates, could be one struggle away from a title shot. He’s already extremely ranked, he gave the No. 1 contender hell on brief discover, and he simply appears to be like nice in opposition to the brand new hotness at 170. However these aren’t regular instances. The truth is, all the things is totally jacked up proper now.

Maddalena might be the fifth most-deserving man for a title shot proper now, and but he’s going through Muhammad subsequent Saturday as a result of timing was on his facet. However relying on how that struggle goes, all the things can get thrown into chaos. If JDM wins, Islam Makhachev is all however a certainty to get the primary crack at him, leaving Shavkat out within the chilly. And if Belal wins, Shavkat may nonetheless be a sufferer of circumstance, as a result of a lot is going down whereas he’s on ice. Garry is now surging and going to be a backup fighter, Joaquin Buckley has a chance to knockout Kamaru Usman, and Sean Brady simply obliterated Leon Edwards. Contenders are piling up at 170 kilos proper now.

If I needed to guess, I’d say Shavkat nonetheless has the within observe for a title shot (assuming Belal beats JDM), that means Garry will get a No. 1 contender bout in opposition to both Brady or Buckley. But when Kamaru Usman beats Buckley, all bets are off. There’s nothing the present UFC loves greater than giving undeserved title photographs to former champions (see O’Malley, Sean).

Anthony Smith

“Look, I like Anthony Smith and he looks like an excellent dude however when dud he turn into a UFC legend?”

Concerning the time he refused to give up in opposition to Jon Jones, basically throwing away his probability to be world champion and persevering with the Jones mythology, I suppose.

I’ve a number of respect for Anthony Smith. He’s a man who isn’t particularly proficient and stumbled so much early in his profession, however via sheer power of will, crafted a stable UFC run and parlayed that right into a media profession. That’s genuinely spectacular and galvanizing, and worthy of commendation. However hol-y have been they laying it on thick on the printed on Saturday. In the event you didn’t comply with MMA, you’d have thought some all-time nice was retiring, and that’s not remotely the case.

We will all be trustworthy about what degree of fighter Anthony Smith was: he was good however not nice, and he benefited massively from competing in two dangerous weight courses. Go try his CV and inform me what’s his greatest win? Washed Alexander Gustafsson? Washed Shogun Rua? Washed Rashad Evans? Sincere to God, it’s in all probability Volkan Oezdemir, which is an efficient win, however we’re not out right here saying Nikita Krylov is perhaps a Corridor of Famer. Anthony Smith ought to be recommended for what he was capable of accomplish and for a greater profession than most, however we will pump the brakes on the hagiography.

That being stated, I do want the UFC did extra issues like they did on Saturday. No, Smith isn’t an all-time nice fighter (or perhaps a one-time nice fighter, actually), however he hung round lengthy sufficient and giving him a sendoff was a pleasant hat tip to one of many sport’s nice overachievers.

And in addition, credit score to Smith. I beloved his angle all struggle week and on struggle night time. “Lionheart” was dedicated to his retirement all through, went out giving a younger man a shot to maneuver up, and wasn’t bitter or greedy about something. Smith clearly was at peace together with his choice to stroll away and approached all the things with the appropriate mentality. Very, only a few fighters have that degree of self-awareness, and I used to be joyful to see him so joyful whereas making the stroll for the ultimate time.

Zhang Mingyang

“Can we truly know if Zhang is an efficient fighter? Or is he a product of sunshine heavyweight being horrible? Each? I like him so much however kinda suppose he may truly simply not be that good. Additionally, god, I wish to see Zhang struggle Johnny Walker as a result of nobody dies higher than Johnny Walker.”

It’s in all probability a little bit of each, however we actually don’t have any concept. Mild heavyweight is a dumpster hearth, and so it takes little or no expertise to crack into the High 15. What we do know is Zhang hits arduous, and he’s not a complete fool, however time will inform how good he truly is.

And sure, I’ve stated many instances that Johnny Walker is among the greatest die-ers within the sport. That is good matchmaking.

UFC 317

“Which is extra ridiculous, that we nonetheless don’t have a headliner for UFC 317 Worldwide Battle Week or that they’re gonna let this Jon Jones debacle drag on for one more yr?”

Neither is nice, however the Jones scenario is dramatically worse.

At the least with the Worldwide Battle Week, we all know who’s in all probability headlining. It’s going to be Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria, until Jack Della Maddalena upsets Belal Muhammad. Then it’s going to be Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira for the vacant/interim light-weight belt. So mainly, we are going to know what’s going to occur in two weeks, someway.

As for the Jones stuff, it’s genuinely indefensible. The reality is, it’s been indefensible this whole time. The Stipe Miocic struggle was a farce; everybody knew it was a farce, they usually did it anyway. In the event you’re a champion, you defend in opposition to the No. 1 contender, and an interim champion is at all times the No. 1 contender. By any rational measure, Jon Jones’s heavyweight title run is a sham, and daily the UFC permits it to proceed is a slap within the face to Tom Aspinall and to you, the followers.

God prepared, sooner or later quickly they may put an finish to this nonsense and Jones will both struggle Tom or surrender the belt and we will all transfer on.

Thanks for studying and because of everybody who despatched in tweets (Xs?)! Do you will have any burning questions on issues no less than considerably associated to fight sports activities? Then you definitely’re in luck as a result of you possibly can ship your tweets to me, @JedKMeshew, and I’ll reply all the nice ones! It doesn’t matter in the event that they’re topical or insane, simply as long as they’re good. Thanks once more, and see y’all subsequent week.