Charles of the Bronx e Islam makhachev faced each other in UFC 280.
Official UFC commentator Jon Anik sparked controversy by ignoring Charles of the Bronx on the list of possible opponents of Islam makhachev about the next lightweight title challenge (up to 70,3kg). In an interview with 'Bloody Elbow', the commentator prioritized Justin gaethje e Ilia Topuria as candidates.
Jon Anik stated that Justin gaethje deserves the chance to fight for the lightweight belt after winning Raphael Fiziev by unanimous decision in the UFC 313 last Saturday (8). The commentator argued that victories by decision can be more strategic than quick finishes in certain contexts.
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“He has to fight against Islam makhachev for the title. I don't know what else he could have done to prove himself, and sometimes decision wins are better than knockouts. If there had been a quick knockout, it might not have been as convincing. Justin gaethje will be inducted into the Hall of Fame twice,” Anik said.
The narrator also mentioned Ilia Topuria, featherweight champion who announced a move to lightweight as an alternative. However, he highlighted that the Georgian still needs to prove his place in the new category.
“It looks like Topuria has the advantage, but does he deserve the chance without fighting in the division? Islam has already defended his title twice against a featherweight (Volkanovski), and that could influence the decision,” he concluded.
The absence of Charles of the Bronx in the debate drew attention. The Brazilian, who beat Gaethje in 2022 and is first in the ranking, was not mentioned by Anik, even after defeating Michael chandlerin November 2024.
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