Let's be honest – Anthony Pettis and Max Holloway wouldn't be fighting for an interim title if Daniel Cormier was still healthy.
After all, their fight was only promoted to the main event of UFC 206 after a groin injury to Cormier, and any casual fan can tell you that you cannot headline a Pay-Per-View without a belt on the line unless your last name is McGregor.
Using that same honesty, let's not pretend Pettis and Holloway don't deserve to be fighting for that interim title.
It might seem a bit rich for Pettis to get an interim title shot off what was, until he snatched a guillotine in the third round, a so-so performance against Charles Oliviera, especially when Holloway is on a nine fight streak.
That would be forgetting, however, that Pettis is the former lightweight champion, and the UFC loves superfights.
Pettis had been threatening to go after Aldo for years and there's no question that matchup would sell bulk tickets.
Even considering the men he lost to in his last few fights, he's still one of the best in the world, so why not give him a shot in his new division.
The winner of their scheduled three-round fight was already likely the number one contender, whether that fight be against Jose Aldo or McGregor.
That McGregor had to give up his featherweight belt was a shame, but you can't expect two divisions to be held ransom to the whims of an Irishman who, for all we know, could move to welterweight should he feel so inclined.
He still made history and you can't take that away from the man.
Some fans will rage against Aldo once again being crowned the king of the division he ruled with an iron fist until McGregor usurped his throne, but give the man his due respect – one loss in 11 years should not diminish the greatest featherweight fighter ever.
It's also likely McGregor knew he would never return to featherweight. I'd be amazed if he does. It was always a brutal weight cut for him, and with his money made why would he put himself through that tortuous cut if he didn't need to?
That leaves us with Aldo and the winner of this Sunday's main event, either Pettis or Holloway. Regardless of who wins, the stakes are clear. The winner will have an opportunity to truly end the reign of Aldo, and perhaps goad McGregor into yet another superfight.
UFC 206 PICKS
With UFC Melbourne in the record books, I went 8-5 thanks to some horrible performances on the main card, which brings my total, since UFC 205, to 14-10. What did I learn? Well, first of all, never doubt Robbie Whittaker. Secondly? There are serious doubts over Jake Matthews. The hottest prospect out of Australia in years is now 3-3. The UFC should give him a relatively easy next up fight…but Holbrook was meant to be an easy fight for the 22-year-old.
PPV
Max Holloway v Anthony Pettis
I'll be honest, I've wavered over this pick. Pettis is such an unknown quantity at featherweight that it's hard to completely convinced he's in the right division. It's a big cut down for him, and against Charles Oliviera he was easily down two rounds before he snatched up a guillotine. He's not a knockout artist with his hands, but his kicking game and his submissions are superb. Pettis won't go for a takedown, but if he can create a scramble that's where he'll catch a submission. Holloway doesn't have the submission nous of Pettis, but where he wins it is through unrelenting forward pressure. He's never been knocked out and he's more than willing to take a shot to give two or three. Pettis excels when he's given room to move, but I can't see that happening. I'm taking Holloway by decision, but if I'm wrong, I'm not mad at all about the prospect of Pettis versus Aldo. HOLLOWAY BY DECISION.
Cowboy Cerrone v Matt Brown
Holy unrelenting violence, Batman! In the last couple of days Matt Brown has decided he really doesn't like Cowboy Cerrone, and Matt Brown is a guy you don't want to make mad. His greatest strength is his muay thai – he comes forward at all times, pushing a hellish pace and looking to batter his opponent with knees and elbows in the clinch. His greatest weakness is his submission defence on the ground and his inability to take body shots. Against Cowboy, those deficiencies are going to be amplified. Cowboy is also a muay thai specialist, but he holds a significant speed advantage over Brown and his submission game is sorely underrated. This won't last the full three rounds and Cowboy will emerge as the victor and a serious threat at welterweight. CERRONE BY SUBMISSION.
Cub Swanson v Doo Ho Choi
Doo Ho Choi, aka Korean Superboy, is a true prospect, a 25-year-old who looks like he'd be equally at home destroying Ronda Rousey in World of Warcraft as he is straight up knocking blokes out. A super-aggressive counter puncher, he's finished 12 of his 15 victories via knockout, and his three fights in the UFC have all ended in the first round, all by knockout. Cub Swanson is a crafty veteran but his performances of late have been wildly inconsistent. If he shows up switched on this has the potential to be a great fight, but I just can't pick against Choi's power. CHOI BY TKO
CHOI VIA TKO
Tim Kennedy v Kelvin Gastelum
Tim Kennedy hasn't fought in two years, presumably because he was just plain salty about the Yoel Romero result, but he is a big, powerful middleweight who leans on his effective grappling. He's got plenty of power in his strikes but not a huge amount of technique. Kelvin Gastelum, moving up to middleweight after he continually failed to make the welterweight limit, is a similar fighter, albeit younger and with better striking technique. He'll be undersized against Kennedy and while the popular tip will be for Kennedy to control Gastelum on the ground, I'm tipping an upset in a unanimous decision for Gastelum. Why? Because Kennedy is so obnoxious, there's no way I'm picking him. GASTELUM BY DECISION
Jordan Mein v Emil Meek
Emil Meek is largely known for knocking out Rousimar Palhares in 43 seconds in his last fight. He's a massive weltweight and he looks like a viking, which, you know, fair play. That's it though. Jordan Mein is a year younger than Meek and has recently returned after a brief retirement. He's got a record of 29-10, while Meek is 8-2-1. Meek can end it all early, but if Mein gets out of the first round, he wins this any way he wants. He's a much, much more rounded fighter than Meek, and he'll show his experience on Sunday. MEIN BY TKO.
FOX PRELIMS – picks in bold.
Nikita Krylov v Misha Cirkunov
Krylov takes the upset win to continue his frankly improbable rise up the light heavyweight rankings.
Olivier Aubin-Mercier v Drew Dober
Dober has defied expectations, improving everywhere over the last few years. He can take this and quite frankly, Aubin-Mercier is overrated.
Valerie Letourneau v Viviane Pereira
The former strawweight title challenger takes a decision in a fight that won't be pretty.
Mitch Gagnon v Matthew Lopez
Gagnon via submission is probably the safest play but honestly, this one is a bit of a coin toss.
FIGHT PASS PRELIMS
John Makdessi v Lando Vannata
Vannata nearly took out Tony Ferguson on short notice, with a full camp he's going to beat the brakes off Makdessi.
Jason Saggo v Rustam Khabilov
Khabilov owns a UFC knockout via suplex. Never go against the Dagestani Knuckle Game Cartel.
Zach Makovsky v Dustin Ortiz
Former Bellator champ Makovsky edges a decision in a ground-based war.
