MMC
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Wish they did not stuff the MENA titles on this card and kept them to their own events like they were before but overall I like this card, this is going to be a crazy long event though
2024 MMA General Discussion and Fight Announcements
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MMC
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Feels like a matter of time before Shavkat vs Usman or Colby gets announced for the interim title for 310. I could see them wanting to save Usman for JDM and giving Colby the Shavkat fight
I am not exposed
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I would be stunned if Colby agreed to fight Shavkat. Last I saw, Covington was calling out LWs.
MMC
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MMC
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If Usman won’t do it I don’t know who else they’d give it to besides Colby. Probably saving JDM for Australia (maybe against Usman), other option would be Brady but I don’t think he has the name value for them to want to book that fight yet, particularly as a new main event for a PPV. Shavkat/Colby works better as a main event
pistolpete11
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I really thought it would be Usman. He's getting up there in age, has no claim to actually deserve a title fight, and while he's not my favorite fighter, dude's a fighter. Stepped in short notice, up a weight class against Chimaev and preformed well? Respect. In terms of name recognition, gameness, and desperation, Usman checks all the boxes. Or at least, thought he did.
Colby checks the name recognition and desperation for sure. Not sure about the gameness. He laid it on the line against Usman, particularly the first time, but he seems more interested in hand picking 'money' fights, not fighting young, hungry killers like Shavkat. Prove me wrong, Colby. I'd put Edwards in this category, too. He seems very measured. Don't think he'd risk losing again on short notice.
I think Brady, JDM, and Garry are all in the same boat, i.e. not desperate enough to take their shot at the title on short notice against someone like Shavkat nor big enough names to sell a PPV.
Another guy that I think checks all the boxes is Burns. He's not a name to casual fans probably, but given the circumstances....
MMC
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Guess we’re doing Cedric Doumbe’s Contender Series on PFL Europe now
MMC
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MMC
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Definitely shouldn’t be Burns, on a 3 fight losing streak and unlike Colby/Usman those were all non title fights
MMC
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VanillaCoke
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How so? Probably one of the best fights they could make. Most importantly I just hope Shavkat stays on the card.
Edit - Ok so Garry isn't as highly ranked as I thought, although WW rankings are still bs. Still a good interim fight to make though. This is mostly down to who is willing to step in to fight Shavkat on short notice.
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pistolpete11
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That's why he'd be desperate enough to take the fight. When it's on short notice, 'deserving' it goes out the window.
Agree. Nothing is going to be perfect (other than Usman IMO), so Garry would be fine. Other than the bigger names, he's the only one that has any sense of promotion, too. I know Shavkat is a big star in his part of the world, but they desperately need something for the NA audience.
Then he'll lose. Who cares?
Buckley would have been fine, too, but he hasn't exactly shown to be championship level either.
I expect Shavkat to win but Garry is legit, I don’t like him but he can fight. Sure he didn’t look good beating Page but Page is almost impossible to look good against…and he did still beat him after all
bov
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If they're doing an interim title, it should be a worthy top tier contender. I guess if Usman, Covington, Edwards and JDM all declined it would make some sense. But Garry hasn't done enough to surpass those guys yet, even if they have some recent losses. It's not a travesty but there are more deserving options out there by the looks of it.
pistolpete11
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If they wanted the fight, they should have said something. As far as I am aware only Usman, Garry, and Buckley said publicly they wnated it and then Usman said publicly he didn't want it.
He is a top-tier contender. He's 8-0 in the UFC. Trying to claim the likes of Covington deserve it more, or that he hasn't done enough to surpass him, is risible. Colby shouldn't even be ranked.
The rest of those guys could have accepted the fight if they wanted it.
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MMC
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bov
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He hasn't demonstrated he can beat a top tier WW. Neal was a split decision and he looked bad against MVP, barely won a lackluster fight. Usman, Edwards and Covington are proven at the highest level, despite some losses. At least JDM has a finish over Burns. Garry has yet to break into the top tier.
If it's a non title fight then fair enough.
Covington hasn't had a relevant win in years. Wins against Neal and MVP are far better than anything he has done recently, regardless how much you nitpick the performances. It's not like Covington finished a list of killers on his way to the top either.
The point about Garry not yet breaking into the top tier is also redundant, because if he beat Shavkat that would prove he belongs. It's not like he would be getting the actual title shot, it's a title eliminator more than anything, and trying to claim he's not yet in that conversation is bogus. Sorry but I'm not going to continue entertaining someone who genuinely thinks Colby deserves an interim shot more than Garry.
pistolpete11
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Exactly. This is the point. If he loses like we all expect him to, who cares? Shavkat gets the interim belt and he'll fight Belal like he was supposed to. If Garry wins? Good on him. That's maybe the best win you could get in the division and will more than earn him a shot at the full title.
....also highly doubt Colby wants to get beat up by Shavkat anyway.
