Does anybody else feel like this is one of - if not the most - intriguing matches at bantamweight right now? The last fight was Rafeal winning the first round decisively, wisely doing only what was necessarily to ensure the second, and then 'going into prevent mode' to secure a 30-27, 29-28, 28-29 split decision victory. A sagely fought battle and an entertaining fifteen minutes, though I must say I was left with a strong hankering for ten minutes more, as neither athlete seemed hurt nor fatigued, and the 10-9 system had Rafael forced to play it as a fighter who is paid more to win, irrelevant of whether victory comes by way of decision, dq, or finish.
Nevertheless, here we are, years later, and Asuncaso is on a 4 fight winning streak, 10-1 as bantamweight, and his sole loss comes from 1 of the 2 fights he split with TJ Dillashaw, the current champ. On the other hand, Marlon is 15-1 at Bantamweight, with a victory over a prime Miguel Torres, two brutal knockouts in his past two UFC fights, and a WSOF championship reign that ended not by defeat, but rather by his decision to join the UFC. Yet, his sole bantamweight loss, via his first UFC fight, was still that 3 round spilt decision loss to Asuncao, a fight which he'd taken after fighting seven previous five rounders, and where once again it can't be understated how he wasn't showing any signs of injury or fatigue upon the final bell, only the harsh realization that being down two rounds to none against a crafty veteran usually earns you a 10/9 third round, and thus a 29-28 loss.
With all that said, is there any objection to why these two should not headline the next Brazlian card via a FIVE ROUND title elimnator? In the meanwhile, let TJ and Cruz fight one more time, and let the loser of Asuncao vs Marlon fight the loser of that fight, and the winners battle it out for the strap. Thoughts?