Never before in the history of mixed martial arts have champions been so open about ducking top contenders. It has become so commonplace for a champion to publicly seek a “money fight” in lieu of facing a top challenger that fans have become desensitized to it.
Joe Rogan commented recently that if champions are not going to be defending their titles against the top contenders in the world, then what do the championships even mean?
Randy Couture and others have been lobbying Washington this year to extend the “Ali Act”, a series of boxing regulations, to apply to MMA as well. If that were to occur it would mean a 3rd party would be in control of UFC title fights, ensuring the promotion cannot choose a popular contender over a more deserving one.
This article takes a look at 4 champions who have been accused of ducking the top challengers in their division.
Tito Ortiz
Tito Ortiz recently retired again, his last fight being a submission victory over Chael Sonnen in Bellator. There was a time when Tito Ortiz was the face of the UFC. It was Ortiz on all the posters, DVD cases and promo materials.
From UFC 25 to UFC 43 the organization’s most recognizable personality was Tito Ortiz, only fans began to realize that Ortiz was ducking his top challenger, Chuck Liddell.
Ortiz would claim that Liddell and him were training partners, and would never fight. Liddell however, did not share the same sentiment and was looking to fight Ortiz for the title. Only Tito would take a year off after defeating Ken Shamrock at UFC 40. Liddell in the mean time would lose an interim title fight to Randy Couture.
Liddell left for Pride after losing to Couture, but returned to take on Ortiz at UFC 47, KO’ing him in the 2nd round. The next year Liddell would defeat Couture for the LHW belt. He defeated Ortiz again at UFC 66, his fourth straight title defence.
I think that a system needs to be put in place that requires that Title holders defend their Belts against top ranked contenders before anyone else. I also think that they should be required to defend their titles x times a year not be allowed to wait for a year or longer and not fighting barring they’re healthy enough. They given today’s Champions to much power determining who they will or won’t fight and that’s if they decide to. I agree that these guys deserve a lot more then they’re paid but money/drawing power shouldn’t stop a guy from getting a title shot that they’ve earned. As it stands right now the ONLY reason that McGregor is still the Champ is being protected because he’s the most marketable and why Also didn’t get a rematch. And if history repeats itself McGregor will retire after Mayweather schools him without ever defending it.
The “money fights” are one thing but when you have Bisbing vs. Dan Henderson as Bisbings first defense that’s not a deserving challenger or a money fight. Personally think Romero would stomp a mud hole in bisbing. He’s a lot like Rich Franklin, good at a lot but not great at anything
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