Becoming a simultaneous two-division champion in the UFC is no longer the novelty it once was during the eras of Conor McGregor and Daniel Cormier.
In recent times, it seems like every other headline features fighters like Ilia Topuria, Sean O'Malley, Islam Makhachev, Dricus Du Plessis, Sean Strickland, and Alex Pereira expressing their aspirations to claim dual titles by challenging other champions.
One UFC pundit in particular is tired of the 'champ vs. champ' talk. Commentator Jon Anik voiced his complaint in response to a Tweet on February 19:
"Yes. Gotta defend these titles..." Anik answered whether he was tired of the champ vs champ narrative.
Champ Champ Fights are Causing Divisional Logjams
The consensus seems to be that champions should be undeserving of a double-championship matchup unless they've defended their belt. Fans may be getting fatigued with the empty promise of double-championship matchups that appear to be getting ever more common.
Welterweight champion Leon Edwards was overlooking his eligible contender Belal Muhammad for a shot at Islam Makhachev, and now Makhachev's coach has also revealed he'd like his student to fight Edwards in the future. In addition to this, it was revealed that Edwards was offered three opponents for a UFC 300 title fight, none of whom were Muhammad, and two of whom reside in a different weight class.
Makhachev himself hasn't defended his lightweight strap against a native lightweight since he claimed the title in late 2022. In place of fighting a fellow lightweight, Makhachev fought featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski twice, and looks to be sitting out from fighting until Summer 2023.
Middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis registered his interest in fighting light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, granted he wanted to "clear out" the middleweight division first. "Poatan" was also partial to a double-champ fight when he teased a matchup with Tom Aspinall, before deciding to tackle Jamahal Hill at UFC 300.
These double-championship fights that don't come to fruition are becoming ever more prevalent in today's UFC. Not only are they undermining a roster of fighters who don't want to wait to challenge their champion, but they're also ruining the allure of double-championship fights overall.
As Anik mentions, these belts need to be defended before the champions can play around with other divisions.
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