The article discusses the current state of MMA, focusing on Tom Aspinall‘s inability to force a fight with Jon Jones, potential future UFC rivalries, fighters likely to win titles, and predictions on which current champions might lose their belts next.
Well, well, well. A down week in MMA, huh?
Yep, this weekend’s a rarity in sports—a Saturday without the UFC. Last weekend’s card was as thrilling as a Monday morning meeting, so we’re diving into future possibilities. Let’s get our Dr. Strange on, shall we?
Tom Aspinall and Jon Jones
Jon Jones is off in Thailand, playing with Hasbulla, avoiding belt unification. What can Tom Aspinall do? Nada. The UFC’s power leaves fighters with little leverage. Even stars can’t force the UFC’s hand. Refusing to fight? Useless when you can’t get Jones in the ring.
Tom’s stuck, waiting for Jones to agree, or the UFC to strip him. If I were advising Tom, I’d say, take another fight. Everyone knows he’s the real heavyweight champ. Demand a fight and congratulate Jones on a great career, maybe.
Also, call out the UFC. Aspinall’s the longest-reigning interim champ—600 days and counting. It’s a bad look for the UFC, hurting Tom’s legacy. Stand up, air grievances, and make them do their jobs.
The Next Great Rivalry
Who’s up for the next epic UFC rivalry? Recent greats? Maybe Pereira vs. Adesanya, though they fought only twice in MMA. Dricus du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland? Nah.
People hoped for Makhachev vs. Topuria, but it seems unlikely. Merab vs. O’Malley could be it, but the UFC might bury Merab.
170 is hot, but hard to predict. Dricus du Plessis vs. Reinier de Ridder? Yes, please. If RDR beats Whittaker and DDP takes down Chimaev, we might see some epic clashes.
Most Likely to Succeed
Who’s the dark horse to win a belt? So many good picks. Here’s a quick rundown by weight class:
- Flyweight: Joshua Van—young and talented.
- Bantamweight: Patchy Mix—new to UFC, but promising.
- Featherweight: Jean Silva—impressive contender.
- Lightweight: Paddy Pimblett—winning me over.
- Welterweight: Ian Machado Garry—underrated but skilled.
- Middleweight: RDR and Caio Borralho—both legit.
- Light Heavyweight/Heavyweight: Jailton Almeida—these divisions need help.
For women, maybe Mackenzie Dern. But if I had to choose, Machado Garry’s my bet.
Biggest Loser
Which champ’s likely to lose their belt next? Odds say Julianna Peña. She faces Kayla Harrison soon and might be in trouble.
Jones might vacate, and Zhang Weili could move up, but let’s skip them for now.
Jack Della Maddalena or Alexander Volkanovski might lose next. JDM faces Islam Makhachev, and while Islam’s not a sure bet, he’s favored. Volkanovski’s past his prime, and though he beat Lopes, Father Time’s ticking.
Thanks for reading! Got burning questions about combat sports? Tweet me, @JedKMeshew. Topical or wild, I’ll tackle the good ones. See y’all next week!