mma / Columns

UFC Ruins A Special Moment In Two Weeks

November 29, 2016 | Posted by Jeremy Lambert

On November 12, Conor McGregor made history. He became the first fighter ever to hold two UFC titles at the same time.

On November 26, the UFC stripped Conor of his featherweight title.

Two weeks. The UFC let history last for two weeks before they decided that Conor had his moment, and it was time for the spotlight to be back on them.

The whole thing was botched from the start. The UFC couldn’t be bothered to have Conor’s second title at ringside at UFC 205 just in case he won the lightweight title. Then, because Dana White still doesn’t know any better and refuses to take responsibility for anything, he blamed Conor for not bringing the belt.

Two weeks later and it seems obvious as to why they had to take Tyron Woodley’s title to give to Conor instead of presenting him with his featherweight and lightweight titles. They never planned for him to hold the featherweight title for very long.

Conor hadn’t defended the featherweight title since he won it in December of last year. He fought three times this year, generated more revenue than any fighter in UFC history in those three fights, but didn’t defend the featherweight belt.

Meanwhile, Jose Aldo fought Frankie Edgar for the interim featherweight title, which is now the undisputed featherweight title, and now Anthony Pettis will fight Max Holloway for the interim featherweight title because the UFC felt they needed a title fight to save UFC 206 once Daniel Cormier dropped off the card. Because people weren’t going to buy a PPV headlined by Pettis vs. Holloway, but make that fight for an interim title, and watch the buyrate skyrocket.

The best part is that Aldo doesn’t really care about being the interim or undisputed featherweight champion. He wants a rematch against Conor McGregor, and he’ll likely move up to 155 to get it. That means the winner of Pettis vs. Holloway will become the undisputed featherweight champion even though the fight is for the interim interim featherweight title. Got all that?

All of this could have been avoided.

The UFC could have let Conor keep both titles, had him defend the belt against Aldo in early 2017, and just done without a title for Holloway vs. Pettis.

If Conor decides that he has other plans, then you ask him to give up his featherweight belt. But you don’t strip him of the title at midnight on a Saturday during a card that no one is watching. Cheap fuckers.

Stripping Conor of his first title accomplishes only one thing for the company. It shows that they are the dominant being in the relationship with McGregor. Aldo doesn’t benefit because being recognized by the company as the “undisputed” champion doesn’t erase those 13 seconds in December until he fights McGregor again. Pettis or Holloway get a chance to win an interim title, but who the hell hasn’t won an interim title in the UFC? And if they become the undisputed champion without defeating McGregor or Aldo, how does that make them look good?

The UFC did this because they don’t want fans to think that anyone is bigger than the brand. And right now, Conor is most certainly bigger than the brand. He’s been able to do things that others have only talked about or dreamed of doing. He’s set monetary record after monetary record. The UFC can survive without Conor, but he can also survive without them.

The UFC puts so much stock in titles, but never makes them feel important. They’ll put the interim tag on any belt. They’ll put more emphasis on being “the pound for pound best” than being the champion. Title shots aren’t given on merit, but what will do better business.

Conor McGregor holding two belts simultaneously should have been a marquee moment in MMA history. Instead, the UFC forgot the second fooking belt and, two weeks later, took his first fooking belt.

article topics :

Conor McGregor, Jeremy Lambert