Mailbag: What are Tom Aspinall’s options right now? And what is the next great UFC rivalry?

Effectively, what do we now have right here, a down week in MMA?

That’s proper, of us, this weekend is without doubt one of the rarest occurrences in skilled sports activities: a Saturday with out the UFC. On condition that (and that this previous weekend’s card was as memorable as a Tuesday afternoon crew assembly), our subjects this week are largely discussions of doable futures. So let’s get our Dr. Unusual on and dive proper in.

Tom Aspinall and Jon Jones

“Jon Jones is hiding away in Thailand taking part in with Hasbulla like he’s a child and doing something however unifying the belts. What can Tom Aspinall do, if something, to power the UFC’s hand since they’re apparently OK with preserving him on ice ready for Jones indefinitely?”

Nothing. Tom Aspinall can do nothing to power anybody to do something on this scenario. It’s the unhappy actuality that he faces.

With the UFC’s market energy, fighters have nearly no leverage in anyway. Fighters who aren’t stars are nearly fully beholden to the desire of the UFC, however at this level, even the largest stars within the sport can not power the UFC’s hand. The one actual weapon any star has to wield on this battle is a refusal to struggle, however that doesn’t work when the problem is getting Jon Jones to struggle him within the first place. That’s like making an attempt to interrupt up together with your ex-girlfriend — it doesn’t work.

So Tom is functionally caught in limbo, ready for Jon to comply with struggle him, for the UFC to up their supply to Jon, or for the UFC to lastly name it quits and strip Jon. And there may be nothing Tom can do about it.

That being stated, if I have been in Tom’s nook, I’d be telling him to do two issues. The very first thing I’d do is take a struggle with another person. Each cheap particular person acknowledges Tom Aspinall is the actual heavyweight champion at this stage, so simply defend your belt. There’s no quantity of cajoling or needling you are able to do that’s going to make Jon Jones budge, so transfer on and demand the UFC offers you a struggle towards whoever. And in case you congratulate Jones on an ideal profession and a cheerful retirement, effectively, that wouldn’t be the worst concept.

And the second factor I’d do is name the UFC out over this nonsense. Aspinall is now the longest-reigning interim champion in UFC historical past and is quick approaching 600 days as interim champion. That’s an objectively horrible search for the UFC, and it’s genuinely indefensible. They’re actively hurting your legacy to kowtow to a person who could by no means struggle once more. Eff that. Get up for your self. I imply, what’s the worst they will do to you, make you sit? You’re already doing that. Begin airing grievances as a result of a overwhelming majority of individuals know you’re in the appropriate right here, and make them do their friggin’ jobs.

The Subsequent Nice Rivalry

“Which two fighters do you suppose will kind the subsequent nice UFC title struggle rivalry?”

Man, it is a nice query, nevertheless it additionally raised one other for me: what’s our most up-to-date nice rivalry? I suppose the reply is Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya, however they solely fought twice in MMA, and now it appears a 3rd (fifth?) struggle won’t ever come. Nonetheless, that’s most likely the latest massive one as a result of Dricus du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland positively doesn’t rely.

Anyway, as for the subsequent nice one, I believe individuals wished it to be Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria, however I’m uncertain we get there. These two nonetheless could find yourself combating, however at this fee, it looks as if will probably be a one-time deal, winner-takes-all.

There’s a case for Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley, if “Suga” can pull off the upset over Merab subsequent month, however there’s additionally each probability that if that occurs, the UFC tries to bury Merab and shield O’Malley, so I don’t find out about that.

There are lots of doable nice rivalries at 170 proper now, the most well liked division within the sport, however that can also be too onerous to name. There are such a lot of contenders proper now its onerous to think about there being lots of repeat enterprise within the close to future. So with that in thoughts, I’m prepared one into existence: Dricus du Plessis and Reinier de Ridder.

It’s no secret that I’ve been one of many greatest supporters of each DDP and RDR for a few years now, and we’re so shut to those two lovely violence weirdos getting matched up with each other. If RDR throttles Robert Whittaker later this yr, he’s leaping the road at middleweight, and when DDP (that’s proper, I stated ‘when’) beats Khamzat Chimaev, we’re all arrange for the best-worst middleweight struggle you’ve ever seen. And if RDR wins, DDP has executed sufficient to warrant a direct rematch, which means these two could effectively find yourself combating a number of instances earlier than it’s all stated and executed. No less than, I hope.

Most More likely to Succeed

“Who do you suppose is the most certainly fighter not at the moment ranked within the prime 5 of their division to win a belt?”

There are lots of actually good choices for this query, a lot in order that there are a number of individuals who qualify that I believe will do it. So with that in thoughts, right here’s a short listing by weight class of individuals in rivalry.

Flyweight: Joshua Van — He’s 23 years previous, and superior. If he continues to enhance, he’s effectively set as much as seize a gold finally, although flyweight has many younger hitters coming down the pipe.

Bantamweight: Patchy Combine — That is type of dishonest since Combine solely simply signed with the UFC and consequently doesn’t have a rating, however yeah, he’s actual good.

Featherweight: Jean Silva — I used to be enamored with “Lord” since his Contender Collection efficiency, and nothing has modified my thoughts. Additionally, Kevin Vallejos, who’s 23 and insanely proficient, with shades of Ilia Topuria. That’s a dude to be careful for.

Light-weight: Paddy Pimblett. Ilia Topuria isn’t ranked at light-weight, so he qualifies, however setting that apart, Pimblett received me over. I wasn’t a giant believer in him initially, however he continues to enhance, and he’ll get loads of probabilities.

Welterweight: Ian Machado Garry. Joaquin Buckley and Michael Morales are guys I’d wager to struggle for a title, however I’m much less assured of their capability to win it. Garry will get lots of hate however he’s a rattling wonderful fighter and nonetheless tremendous younger.

Middleweight: RDR — Duh. But additionally Caio Borralho is legit.

Gentle Heavyweight and Heavyweight: Jailton Almeida? These weight lessons are TERRIBLE.

As for the ladies’s weight lessons, Mackenzie Dern is the one one who may do it, however that’s very questionable.

But when I needed to decide one “finest” choice, give me Machado Garry. I’m simply very, very sure that he’ll struggle for a title at the least as soon as, and he’s a extremely nice fighter, in a weight class the place lots of turnover may be coming.

Largest Loser

“Which present UFC champion do you suppose is most certainly to lose their belt subsequent? Together with whoever you expect to win the vacant light-weight belt.”

The oddsmakers recommend it’s Julianna Peña, and I are likely to agree. Peña defends the ladies’s bantamweight belt towards Kayla Harrison at UFC 316, and I believe she’s about to get run over.

Then, circling again to the primary query, I believe Jones is finally going to have to surrender the belt, so he’s fairly seemingly for me as effectively. The identical may be stated of Zhang Weili, who seems headed as much as 125 subsequent, however in the intervening time, let’s not embody these two.

Apart from Peña, the champion I believe most certainly to lose their belt within the cage subsequent is both Jack Della Maddalena or Alexander Volkanovski, relying on who defends their belt first. I’m sorry, Australia, that’s very impolite of me, nevertheless it’s how I see issues.

JDM will defend his belt towards Islam Makhachev later this yr, and whereas I wouldn’t wager the home on Islam, I do like his probabilities. Belal Muhammad gave Della Maddalena a tough go of it, and Islam is significantly higher than Belal. He’s the very best fighter on the planet for a purpose, and I’m giving him the advantage of the doubt.

As for Volkanovski, his win over Diego Lopes was legitimately inspiring stuff. With the ability to get high-level wins while you’re previous your prime is the hallmark of true all-time greats. However that’s a wonderful line to stroll. Volkanovski doesn’t look to me like he’s in his apex kind anymore, and whereas he bought away with it towards Lopes, I don’t know the way for much longer he can stave off Father Time.

Thanks for studying and due to everybody who despatched in tweets (Xs?)! Do you will have any burning questions on issues at the least considerably associated to fight sports activities? You then’re in luck as a result of you may ship your tweets to me, @JedKMeshew, and I’ll reply all the great 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.