Bisping criticises Makhachev's fight frequency and praises Volkanovski
Former middleweight champion and now commentator Michael Bisping has criticised Islam Makhachev's fight frequency after the Russian decided to skip UFC 336, and held Alexander Volkanovski up as the opposite. He says Makhachev fights once a year and hand-picks his opponents.
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A insatisfação em torno de Islam Makhachev ganhou mais uma voz de peso. Ex-campeão dos pesos-médios do UFC e hoje comentarista, Michael Bisping criticou a frequência de lutas e a gestão de carreira do russo, que decidiu não atuar no UFC 336 e aguardar a definição dos próximos passos nos meio-médios.
Num vídeo publicado no seu canal, o britânico elegeu Alexander Volkanovski como contraponto e pôs em xeque o quanto o reinado de Makhachev atrai o público.
"Ele [Volkanovski] é a verdadeira essência do lutador. Ele aceita os desafios. Ele se mantém ativo. Ele não é como o Islam, que luta uma vez por ano e fica escolhendo a dedo contra quem vai lutar, enquanto deixa os desafiantes se enfrentarem", atacou.
A fala alimenta o debate aberto desde a confirmação da ausência do campeão na edição 336. Parte da diretoria e dos atletas dos 77 kg demonstrou incômodo com a espera; Henry Cejudo saiu em defesa do russo, argumentando que é natural um campeão querer ver os postulantes se enfrentando em uma eliminatória.
A posição de Bisping reflete a preferência de boa parte da comunidade por campeões mais ativos, perfil associado a Volkanovski nas defesas de título nos penas e nas subidas de categoria. Com a disputa do cinturão interino por Carlos Prates e Michael Morales agendada para o começo do próximo ano, falta saber quando o campeão voltará para unificar os meio-médios.
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