What you’re saying is technically correct, but it is wrong to hold it against him. You’re implying he has avoided defending his belt. This is not the case. He signed a contract, went into camp, made weight for a title defence and fought an opponent in a gruelling war that was deemed fight of the year and won. It’s not his fault his opponent missed weight and was deemed ineligible to win the title.
Haven’t disputed any of it being his fault I’m also not implying he has tried to avoid defending his belt, in fact I would argue the opposite, he has tried and is always willing but the fact remains that he hasn’t, best intentions aside.
Everyone gets very defensive of Rob which I get, he’s Aussie, a wonderful ambassador for the sport and an incredible fighter when fit and healthy. He’s also been horribly unlucky, borderline cursed and my only points are
- there is an extremely solid case to be mounted for an interim title OR him being stripped (if we count the Romero fight which we should he will still almost certainly be inactive for 12 months by the time he recovers from this)
- talk of him being underrated seems odd to me, he has wins over Romero and Souza in terms of his divisions elite (arguably Brunson as well) is injuries and illness have affected that (if he’s well that resume has Rockhold and Gastelum as well)
Circumstances have conspired against him and I worry he will be a cautionary tale.