Mark Muñoz: UFC Middleweight Deserves a Title Shot

UFC 138 turned out to be an exciting fight card despite much criticism leading up to the event.  Due to a lack of title shot, big names or rivalries, the card seemed to be condemned by many MMA fans the moment it was announced. 

However, the night proved one again why this sport is one of the greatest. The unpredictability and talent of UFC fighters played out well and showed fans that some fighters don’t have to be the top three guys in the division for the event to be exciting. 

The card was topped off by Mark Muñoz vs. Chris Leben, a fight in which Muñoz put on a great fight and performance against Leben.

His strikes were crisp and he certainly brought pressure to "The Crippler." After dishing out some brutal damage to Leben’s eye, the fight was ended between the second and third rounds. 

With this win, Muñoz is on a four-fight winning streak. 

Muñoz, following his victory, did what seems to be the new standard in MMA: call out someone during post-fight interviews. He unsurprisingly called out the champ, Anderson Silva.

Muñoz did not approach it in a Diaz or Chael Sonnen style, but made his case for a title shot next. 

The middleweight division in the UFC is starting to become like the lightweights in the sense that there are numerous people making cases for the title shot right now. 

It is no secret that the most desired and best business move for Silva’s next opponent is Sonnen.

However, despite the desire and money, the UFC has not always necessarily gone in that direction (i.e. Georges St-Pierre vs. Silva). Other factors come into play in these decisions. 

Arguably, the most deserving fighter right now is Muñoz.

Sonnen has only one win after losing to Silva and then later being suspended for his elevated testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio after the Silva fight. This is a similar example as to why people wonder why Lyoto Machida is getting a title shot right now.

Losing and then winning one doesn’t usually merit a title shot. 

Muñoz, though, is very deserving of this shot currently. 

The other variables are the results of Jason Miller vs. Michael Bisping. Muñoz and Bisping are the two guys, statistically, that deserve the title shot the most.

If Bisping can dominate Miller, his name could be thrown in the mix. This fight takes place in early December, however, and Silva is expected to fight in the first quarter of 2012.

A title shot may be announced sooner than Bisping’s fight with Miller, but maybe not. 

Muñoz has shown great versatility in his MMA game, and has displayed that he can work well anywhere the fight goes. Not only that, but he can implement his game plan well.

His striking mixed with his wrestling is a great combination in MMA, and being great at both of these is a deadly formula to test against Silva.

Does Muñoz have the level of skills in these areas to beat Silva? Possibly, but having trained with Silva before does help Muñoz in some ways. 

Over the next month or two, we will see what the UFC brass will decide as far as a challenger for the best fighter in the world.

This will be prime time for Sonnen to keep asking for a title shot over Munoz and Bisping, and we will all ultimately see if the UFC decides to go the deserving path, or fan-pleasing path. 

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