Aldo was definitely gifted the UFC belt. Cruz's fight with Jorgensen was essentially the first UFC Bantamweight title fight, that's how I remember the fight being promoted. Just as the Bendo/Pettis fight on WEC 53 was essentially promoted as the winner would be the next UFC LW belt challenger, except the Edgar/Maynard rematch due to the UFC 125 fight going to a draw got in the way of that.
BOTH Cruz and Aldo were WEC belt holders.. and BOTH remained champions when the WEC divisions were absorbed by the UFC. It was natural to keep the existing champions. Same goes for the Strikeforce women's bantamweight division. Rousey is already the champion. It's not like she is coming from another country or foreign promotion. They are both owned by Zuffa.
What? Yeah bro I'm not disputing any of that.
All I'm saying is that people saying Cruz was gifted the BW belt are in error. The Cruz/Jorgensen was "officially" for the UFC BW Title.
New divisions should be introduced with a bang i.e. tournament style champion decider.
What would have really been the point of that though? Aldo had demolished two top challengers in retaining what was recognized as the pinnacle of the 145 division at the time. Unless Zuffa had brought in DREAM FW's right as they shut down the WEC/asborbed the FW/BW divisions, there was zero point to a tournament.
AndersonSilvasMoney - Cruz and Aldo both got their titles after the WEC merger and defended them for their first fight, so why should Rousey be different?
no... considering her first fight is a title fight, the fact that they just gave it to her beforehand was for marketing... completely understandable...
dont really bother me as much as people keep thinking this is a huge thing for women's mma. It not. It's just a promotion of Rousey. If she loses her fight, then you will barely hear about women in the ufc again.
Money is to be had, based of Rousey. UFC is using her to get paid.
Virus x - Yeah I think its pathetic, I hope Rousey Looses the belt straight away and then looses her next fights. It will be the death of the womens division.
AndersonSilvasMoney - Cruz and Aldo both got their titles after the WEC merger and defended them for their first fight, so why should Rousey be different?
Clearly OP didn't just start watching MMA in the last year, but this thread makes it seem like it.
Virus x - Yeah I think its pathetic, I hope Rousey Looses the belt straight away and then looses her next fights. It will be the death of the womens division.
Well aren't you full of sour grapes...
Loose the belt. Is it too tight? I'd gladly be her belt loosener.
