Michael Bisping is calling out a concerning trend in the UFC: champions abandoning their titles in pursuit of new glory. But is it a fair criticism or a sign of the times?
Bisping, a former UFC middleweight champion, is not impressed with the recent behavior of some of his peers. The issue? Fighters winning a title and then swiftly setting their sights on a different weight class, leaving their original division in disarray.
Take Ilia Topuria, for instance. After just one featherweight title defense, he set his sights on the lightweight division, aiming for the 155-pound belt. And now, with the lightweight title in his grasp, he's already eyeing the welterweight division, targeting Islam Makhachev. But here's where it gets controversial: is this ambition or greed?
Khamzat Chimaev, the middleweight champion, is also part of this narrative. He plans to defend his title just once before moving up to light heavyweight to challenge Alex Pereira. However, Pereira has his eyes on a heavyweight clash with Jon Jones, who, according to Bisping, is 'running' from Tom Aspinall.
Bisping laments the days when champions would defend their titles multiple times against legitimate contenders. He suggests a fighter should defend their belt at least three times before considering a move to another weight class. Otherwise, they should vacate the title to keep the division active and competitive.
Bisping's perspective raises an interesting question: In an era where fighters are increasingly chasing legacy and multi-division dominance, is it fair to expect them to stay in one division for an extended period? Or is this the new normal, and should fans and fellow fighters adapt their expectations?
What do you think? Are these fighters chasing greatness or avoiding tough challenges? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
