Lightweight champion John Jones ought to be deprived of his title, according to Paddy Pimblett.
Crackin' Some Facts About Paddy Pimblett's Perplexin' UFC Scene
The UFC lightweight scene's current state has Paddy "The Baddy" Pimblett scratchin' his head. Islam Makhachev, reignin' supreme in the P4P rankings, pummeled the lightweight division but recently relinquished the title, aimin' to shift up to welterweight. Some whispers point to UFC puttin' the squeeze on Makhachev to keep the division shakin'.
But what 'bout the heavyweight champ, Jon Jones? He's been holdin' onto that belt since March 2023, but defended it just last year against Stipe Miocic. Meanwhile, interim champion Tom Aspinall's been sharpenin' his teeth for a titular unification rumble. Pimblett expressed his thoughts on the chaotic situation in an interview with TNT Sports:
"I don't see why Makhachev had to give up the title like that. If they did that to him, they should do the same to Jones."
Makhachev'd proven his mettle, successfully defendin' the title a whoppin' four times, with the last three fights bein' last-minute bursts. Pimblett, on the other hand, is sitrin' pretty on a seven-fight win streak inside the octagon. In April, he put Michael Chandler down in Round 3.
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📝 Fun Facts:
Makhachev's choice to abandon the UFC lightweight crown wasn't motivated by the grim reaper from UFC, but rather, a thirst for a personal challenge at the welterweight division. Let's dig deeper:
- Harsh Weight Cuts: Makhachev's come complainin' 'bout the brutal weight cuts required to scrap in the lightweight division. It's been a pesky issue all through his career, with Makhachev frequently hopin' to sidestep these cuts[2].
- Bland Opponents: Makhachev's manager asserted that fightin' Ilia Topuria, movin' up from featherweight, wouldn't stir up much mischief for Makhachev, neither gettin' his juices flowin' nor boostin' his career[1].
- Two-Division Dreams: Makhachev's got his eyes on the moon, aimin' to become a two-division champion, which prompted him to venture to welterweight. This adventure is all about fresh challenges and competin' with the top dogs in a whole new weight class[2].
So whassup, Jon Jones? Since he's been en route to the heavyweight division, Makhachev's shift to welterweight doesn't precisely concern him. But any future moves Jones makes toward lower weight classes might be influenced by Makhachev's performance at the new divvy[1][3].
As for Paddy Pimblett? With Makhachev leavin' the lightweight throne empty, Pimblett's got a clearer route to the title. The upcoming dustup between Ilia Topuria an' Charles Oliveira at UFC 317's gonna crown the new ruler of the litter, and Pimblett might eventually tangle with that new boss[1][3]. Get ready! The UFC lightweight division is heatin' up!
The bookmakers are anticipating a shift in the UFC's lightweight division following Islam Makhachev's decision to compete in the welterweight division, and Pimblett's potential match against the new lightweight champion could stir up some interesting betting odds. Paddy Pimblett's seven-fight win streak in mixed-martial-arts, including his recent victory over Michael Chandler, positions him as a contender to challenge the new UFC lightweight champion.
