Shavkat should turn this down imo. Epic fight it would be, but if edwards defends in June, then Shavkat/JDM in August, the challenger will be pressured to fight edwards on short notice.
These 2 can fight for gold next year
December is only 4 months for the challenger, while the champ would have 6.Why would they be pressured to fight Edwards on short notice? He's probably only going to fight twice a year. Very unlikely you're going to see Edwards ever turn around very quickly.
Edwards (assuming he gets past Belal) vs the Shavkat/JDM winner in December or early 2025 makes sense.
JDM is in a spot where he no longer has anywhere easy to go. If he wants a title shot beating Shavkat is the fastest and most difficult way there, but he will get it with the win and lose nothing if he loses. It's a ballsy and tough call out.
Looking at his history he's had a close fight over Bassil Hafez, a split over Kevin Holland, and a gift from Burns in a fight Burns was up 2-0, so he might as well make the most of where he is.
The other big positive is that no one expects him to beat Shavkat, who is likely the uncrowned champ at this point. A loss vs Shavkat does not push JDM back whatsoever. He can lose to him now, win a couple fights maybe, and then hopefully book a rematch. It's a win win fight for JDM.
He may feel that this is his only shot to get a title fight.That's a reeally quick turnaround for a broken arm. He would essentially need to start a camp in just over 2 months from now.
He should learn from Hooker and not rush things, the setback could be make his time out twice as long.
I agree Burns was up 2-0 but I'm not sure at all the judges would have agreed, the rounds weren't too decisive.
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On two of the judges official scorecards he was up 2-0. He was winning 3 as well until his stupid panic takedown attempt.
You aren't wrong but the UFC seems to be hesitant on making Leon-Belal. So now the other contenders have to fight each other because the UFC is scared to pull the trigger. Sure, the fight isn't exactly the most marketable but they're both clearly at the top. We made it through the Woodley era, we can sit through Leon vs Belal IMO.So Shavkat has to wait until August because no one else is willing to fight him? Sorry Shavkat deserves a titleshot at this point, winning another fight doesn't prove anything we don't know.
Depending how clean the break was might not need a ton of time to mend it where it sounds like they screwed everything tightly in place. Average recovery time is like 6-8 weeks on a pretty routine break isn't it?That's a reeally quick turnaround for a broken arm. He would essentially need to start a camp in just over 2 months from now.
He should learn from Hooker and not rush things, the setback could make his time out twice as long.