So O’Malley skipped Merab for his title shot and Merab has not fought again. Now with the rematch perhaps in the works Merab is saying he will wait for his title shot again.
We have never seen a fighter with a giant win streak sit out over a year due to teammate politics and let two title fights happen while they just wait. Have just never seen it before.
Seems yet another good reason Usman is in Bellator while Makhachev is champ in UFC.
“If he vacates the belt and takes a vacation or something, I will fight for the belt with whoever will be next. Now, I don’t want to rush. I just don’t want any stupid fight, you know, because the fight doesn’t make sense. I don’t want to fight somebody that has a loss. What does this fight get me?
“I want to fight the top guys. I don’t want to test, I’m tested already. I proved it. My last opponents I dominated. … I’m the next guy after Aljo. So a good way would be to give Aljo a rematch and after that, I’m just going to wait for my title fight, and we’ll figure it out after. But I’m just going to fight for the title next – even if I have to wait a year or more.”
Merab is saying he will wait for Sterling to get his rematch first. Of course he says Sterling will win and then move up but he ignores it could be a trilogy if Sterling wins a rematch.
I agree, about the closest thing I remember was AKA, back with Fitch and Kos not wanting to fight one another while both were chasing title fights with GSP.
The only other guy that’s sat for a long time and passed on title fights was Leon. He was inactive for nearly 2 years (in part due to covid regulations), but he sat by and watched Masvidal get 2 shots, Burns etc.
It’s a dangerous game for Merab to play, especially with other fighters in line that could make solid main events, and likely make the UFC alot more money
Will be interesting to see how this plays out. While this rematch gets worked on and Merab sits out…Sandhagen has a three fight win streak, Vera wants a shot, Cejudo is around maybe and Umar and Song are climbing the ranks.
Pretty chickenshit Aljo wants a rematch after his buddy waited around all this time for a title shot…some friend…Chito will be 100% next and Dana is praying Merab and Aljo lose in the meantime
“I want to fight the top guys. I don’t want to test, I’m tested already. I proved it. My last opponents I dominated. … I’m the next guy after Aljo. So a good way would be to give Aljo a rematch and after that, I’m just going to wait for my title fight, and we’ll figure it out after. But I’m just going to fight for the title next – even if I have to wait a year or more.”
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Mr. Epo can go to the back of the line. He chose to not to fight for the belt. He has no one to blame but himself, when his boring ass gets passed over.
Yeah, agree. Aljo just got KO’d in the second round. If Merab is willing to wait… again… then so should Aljo. Let Merab fight OMalley and if OMalley wins, angle for the rematch. But realistically, neither Aljo nor Chito should be next. Its Merab then Sandhagen.
