Paddy Pimblett doesn’t understand why Jon Jones still has his UFC heavyweight championship after everything that just went down with the lightweight title picture.
Earlier this month, pound-for-pound best, Islam Makhachev, vacated his UFC lightweight title in pursuit of welterweight gold. This came after Makhachev’s friend, Belal Muhammad, lost his UFC welterweight title to Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315 (highlights HERE). Makhachev wasn’t going to fight Muhammad due to their close relationship so JDM needed to win in order for Makhachev to get his chance at the 170-pound title.
While in the past UFC would allow champions to move up to get a shot at double champ status the promotion has been a little more strict of late. The true specifics of Makhachev vacating his title remain unknown, but it’s possible UFC brass didn’t want the lightweight title left in limbo as Makhachev moves up to welterweight. After Makhachev “vacated” his belt, UFC matchmakers booked a new lightweight title fight between Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira for UFC 317 this June.
So what does all of this have to do with Pimblett? Well, the rising lightweight contender doesn’t believe Makhachev should have vacated anything. “Baddy” feels like Makhachev has accomplished enough inside of the Octagon to get a chance to become a double champion. Pimblett is also confused how Makhachev could vacate his belt while Jones — who can’t get a deal done for his next fight — hasn’t been stripped of his UFC heavyweight title.
“I don’t think they should make Islam vacate,” said Pimblett in a recent interview with TNT Sports (entire interview shown above). “If you’re making Islam vacate, [Jon] Jones needs to be stripped. If you’re making Islam vacate after four defenses, fighting people on short notice, you should let him try to be double champ.”
Thoughts on all of this?
