Weekend Mailbag: Jones vs. Miocic, Tyson vs. Paul fundamental occasions ought to have by no means occurred

This previous weekend had so much occurring. On Friday, Jake Paul gained a tepid determination over Mike Tyson in an eight-round boxing match that by no means ought to have taken place. Then on Saturday, Jon Jones stopped Stipe Miocic in the primary occasion of UFC 309 of their heavyweight title struggle that additionally in all probability didn’t must occur.

So with a lot to speak about, let’s dive proper in to this week’s questions.

A weekend of pointless fights

“Was this the carniest weekend in fight sports activities historical past? Like has there ever been a lot cash generated off so little fundamental occasion worth in gentle of Miocic & Tyson combating as previous as most anticipated?”

I’m certain it wasn’t the “carniest” weekend in historical past as a result of fight sports activities has been round for a very long time and there’s at all times one thing worse. That being mentioned, this weekend might effectively have been the worst one in my 20+ years of fandom.

Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson was one of many silliest, most meaningless fights in historical past. I mentioned that repeatedly heading into the occasion and if something I used to be solely confirmed extra proper afterward when Tyson admitted to nearly dying over the summer. Certain, a bunch of people watched it however no person loved the factor, Paul gained nothing from it, and we’re all simply fortunate that nothing horrible occurred.

Then we moved proper into UFC 309 which was solely marginally higher than Paul vs. Tyson. These of us who weren’t whole marks knew that Miocic was well-removed from his prime and would provide little resistance in opposition to Jones, even when Jones can be a diminished model of himself. And that’s precisely what occurred. Miocic regarded like he was shifting by molasses and hung round so long as he did just because Jones has by no means been a fighter to power the difficulty.

Actually this weekend was a reinforcement of the concept that most individuals don’t care about combating, they care about spectacle. These occasions had been bought as massive, significant fights and so big swaths of individuals tuned in solely to be upset by the fact that confronted them. However tune in they did, which implies we will all count on extra of those kinds of carnival sideshow fights sooner or later, as a result of that’s simply how enterprise works. Yippee!

Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall

“Ought to the UFC strip Tom Aspinall of the interim Heavyweight Championship now that Jon Jones defended the the the title at UFC 309?”

No, the UFC ought to strip Jon Jones.

I’m not one hundred pc sure however I imagine that is the primary time in promotional historical past {that a} division has had two titles working concurrently. There have been loads of interim champions within the UFC and even just a few who defended interim titles, however by no means one which defended an interim title whereas the “undisputed” champion defended his belt. It’s an extremely foolish scenario and one totally of the UFC’s making.

Happily, there’s a easy decision: unify the belts. However Jones directly stated he is not going to do that unless paid a king’s ransom. So the trail is evident, pay the person or strip him of the title. Given UFC historical past, a type of appears more likely than the opposite.

For all of the Jon Jones defenders on the market, the reality is that this: Jones is completely entitled to struggle the fights he desires, and if he desires to struggle Alex Pereira for much less cash as a result of it’s a neater struggle, that’s as much as him. However he’s not entitled to take action with the heavyweight title. Belts have obligations to the remainder of the division as a result of if champions don’t defend them in opposition to rightful contenders, the entire thing is abruptly professional wrestling. Underneath these phrases, Jones won’t have ever gained a title if Mauricio “Shogun” Rua mentioned “I’d want to struggle somebody simpler.” When you’re going to be the champion, it’s a must to do the job.

So Jones ought to go forward and chase down the Pereira struggle if he desires to, as long as he drops the title. And admittedly, it’s a little bit of a paper belt anyway as Aspinall is definitely the fighter beating related heavyweights and doing the work of a champion.

Trip, all I ever wished

“If Jon vacates the belt to struggle Pereira do you assume greatest case situation for Tom is Alex profitable after which combating Tom after getting the hype from beating Jon? Or is there some other reasonable struggle for him that’s even half as massive as combating Jon Jones?”

I genuinely assume it doesn’t a lot matter for Aspinall as a result of as issues stand proper now, Tommy Aspinall is profitable.

No fighter gained extra final week than Aspinall, regardless of the interim champion not even competing. Aspinall’s identify was in all places throughout Battle Week and that was even earlier than Jones began speaking. Jones’s absurd litany of excuses for why he doesn’t need to struggle Aspinall acquired Tom over in an enormous manner and by the top of it, Jones was simply outright admitting that he merely doesn’t need to take the danger except he makes life-changing cash. When arguably the best fighter of all time is saying “I’ll retire fairly than struggle that man,” effectively, you’re doing one thing proper.

That’s one (of many) issues I disagree with Jones about: Aspinall doesn’t need him. After all Aspinall would like Jones as a result of that’s actually the largest struggle obtainable and profitable it will catapult Aspinall into mainstream stardom, however Aspinall is doing simply high-quality proper now as MMA’s John Wick — the guy even the bogeyman doesn’t want to mess with. The following time Aspinall fights, he’s going to compete for the undisputed title — coincidentally the one factor he’s actually ever requested for — and even when it’s not in opposition to Jones it’s going to nonetheless be massive, as a result of Aspinall is now an attraction in his personal proper.

Charles Oliveira

“Why doesn’t Charles get introduced up extra when speaking about all timers? I do know he wasn’t P4P No. 1 whereas champ, however what he’s completed at lightwweight and his ending capability, he’s prime 30 P4P ever, no?”

I believe Charles is seen as an all-time nice? (Mike) Heck, only a few years in the past individuals had been (incorrectly) arguing he is likely to be the best light-weight of all time. I believe most individuals agree Oliveira is a future Corridor of Famer and an all-timer, and the person retains including to his resume as he grew to become the primary fighter with 20 profession post-fight bonuses after profitable Battle of the Night time on Saturday.

However to dig into the query a little bit extra, I believe the extent that Oliveira isn’t talked about in the identical manner that like, Dustin Poirier is comes down to a couple components.

First, there may be nearly actually an English bias because it’s tougher for American followers to gravitate in the direction of non-English audio system. Oliveira’s combating does loads of speaking, however the lack of soundbites in all probability hurts his broader fandom on this nation.

Second, whereas his highs are clearly extremely excessive, Oliveira additionally has some fairly disastrous lows. The person has been completed eight instances and had a repute (deserved or not) for quitting in fights for a few years. That type of factor sticks with you.

Third, Oliveira seems to nonetheless be within the prime (or close to prime) of his profession. Followers solely begin waxing poetic about all-time greats when retirement is on the horizon and Oliveira doesn’t appear near that proper now.

And lastly, whereas I do assume Oliveira is an all-timer, he’s in that bizarre spot the place he’s not significantly excessive on the checklist. When all-time conversations come up, persons are often speaking in regards to the 10-15 greatest guys. Oliveira is fairly clearly not in that crop and so as an alternative he form of falls into that subsequent tier with guys like Dan Henderson and Frankie Edgar and Joseph Benavidez as guys who had been unimaginable however not the most effective of the most effective of the most effective.

BMF Title struggle

“If Oliveira vs. Max Holloway does occur subsequent (I additionally hope that it does!), how do you see that struggle enjoying out?”

This shouldn’t be an “if.” This needs to be a “when.” The solely struggle that ought to occur subsequent for Charles Oliveira is a “BMF” title bout with Max Holloway.

I’ve written earlier than about how this period of MMA has a Four Kings like boxing did. Charles Oliveira, Max Holloway, Justin Gaethje, and Dustin Poirier are among the many greatest, most violent, most compelling fighters within the historical past of the game. All 4 are within the High-10 Most Thrilling Fighters Ever and so they have all fought one another. It’s an exquisite factor, with one obviously apparent exception.

A lifetime in the past Oliveira and Holloway fought at featherweight just for the bout to finish nearly instantly resulting from a bizarre harm. It was a struggle followers wished to see on the time and all of us felt as if we had been robbed. Now, the struggle is in some way much more compelling and if we don’t get it subsequent, it’s friggin’ felony.

And if it occurs, I do not know how the struggle goes down. Oliveira is massively improved since their first bout and seems to nonetheless be close to his prime. In the meantime, Holloway appears clearly diminished to me, however is likely to be higher off up at light-weight. Oliveira has improved defensively and has the grappling, however Holloway is the higher boxer and has extra energy than he used to. Something might occur in that one and it’s among the many fights I most must see occur.

Politics

“Do you assume that the UFC being so pro-Trump may have any impact on what streaming platforms they find yourself on?”

I hardly ever contact on politics right here however I wished to handle this as a result of I’m not going to get into political views and I believe there may be an attention-grabbing query in right here that, frankly, I don’t know the reply to.

Over the previous few years the UFC has made no bones about their affiliation with proper wing politics and particularly with Donald Trump. Dana White spoke on the Republican Nationwide Conference and Joe Rogan endorsed Trump earlier than the newest election, to not point out the broader enchantment to conservative concepts. However regardless of all that, the UFC was nonetheless largely apolitical. Sure it was conservative leaning and sure they confirmed like to Trump when he attended, however that’s not too dissimilar from most sports activities leagues. However Saturday felt completely different.

As he has completed many instances earlier than, Donald Trump attended UFC 309 and this time the entire thing felt a lot extra like a political rally. The President-elect had half of his future cupboard there with him, had an nearly absolutely devoted Trump cam to chop to throughout fights, and spoke with a lot of the fundamental card winners afterward. Jon Jones even did the “Trump dance” after profitable. Saturday night time felt as a lot in regards to the future president because it did in regards to the fighters and that appears like a reasonably large deal.

To reply the query posed, I don’t imagine the continued shift of the UFC in the direction of conservatism is prone to affect its upcoming TV rights deal. The UFC is solely going to go to the best bidder and there isn’t a broadcaster on the market who would disavow the mountains of cash the UFC generates as a result of they don’t agree with its politics, not less than not proper now. However I do surprise about longterm results on the UFC viewership.

There’s an apocryphal story about Michael Jordan refusing to endorse a Democratic politician as a result of “Republicans purchase Nikes, too.” Nicely, the UFC clearly doesn’t ascribe to that perception. And it’s totally doable that the promotion is correct and that this can solely serve to extend its profile among the many demographic it covets. Actually within the quick time period it’s going to. However long run I’m much less certain. In any case, there’s a motive most sports activities leagues attempt to stay apolitical.

In the end, this might all be meaningless, and the one manner we’ll know is to attend and see. However I’m actually fascinated to look at this all unfold as I believe issues will solely transfer an increasing number of on this course over the following 4 years.

Thanks for studying, and thanks for everybody who despatched in tweets (Xs?)! Do you could have any burning questions on issues not less than considerably associated to fight sports activities? You then’re in luck, as a result of you’ll be able to ship your tweets to me, @JedKMeshew, and I’ll reply my favourite ones! 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.