Double champ Valentina?

Very recently I published an article discussing the future of the UFC Women's Featherweight division now that Amanda has dropped her Bantamweight belt to Julianna Pena. While writing said article, I very briefly talked about their rematch. Then; Valentina's rematch against Amanda then came to mind. This was/is a very controversial victory for Amanda. We'll never see the trilogy though, but that's fine. However, let's say Amanda loses the rematch against Pena, doesn't take the rematch at all, or decides to wait for the rematch for some tune up fights first. What if Valentia steps up and wants Pena's Bantamweight belt?

A very quick refresher, throughout UFC history there have only been 4 fighters that were double champions simultaneously. Those 4 fighters are; Conor McGregor, Henry Cejudo, Daniel Cormier, and surprise surprise Amanda Nunes. 3 men and only 1 woman have this insanely prestigious honor. Can Valentina become #5 and only the second woman in UFC history to become double champ?

Let's see why she should and why she should not go for double champ status. Then as always I'll share my personal opinion.

Why she should

I'm one of Valentina's biggest fans, and I think she won the rematch again Amanda. I'd love to see her finally take the Bantamweight title. Valentina has constantly evolved and gotten better with every single fight. She's ready to take that 135 belt and make her legacy absolutely untouchable. Valentina is not old by anyway shape or form, and she's absolutely in her prime, that's beyond obvious. However Valentina is 33 at the time of publishing this article. If she waits too long, she may miss her chance to solidify double champ status. So, she should take this opportunity as soon as possible.

So let's say Valentina does win the Bantamweight belt. I honestly thinks this puts her above Amanda as the Female GOAT. I'm sorry but with how piss poor the Featherweight division is, being champ of both 125/135 is way more impressive than 135/145. I'm sorry Amanda, I know you have no control over how weak your division is and you did obliterate all the top talent the Featherweight has to offer, especially being the first woman to make Cyborg look like an amateur. This is one of many reasons why I highly support trying to build the Featherweight division. But with both flyweight and bantamweight's depth, this puts Valentina as the undisputed GOAT in my opinion. At that point Valentina would have accomplished the same acolytes as Amanda, with a ridiculously impressive resume outside of the UFC. I'll talk more about that later ironically.

Why she shouldn't

Valentina's dominance as Flyweight champion is enough to have her be a lock in the Mount Rushmore of female MMA fighters. Sure being double champ would be nice, but is it necessary? No it's absolutely not necessary. She could and probably should just keep making her name absolutely untouchable in the Flyweight division, instead of stretching herself thin fighting two divisions. At the time of publishing this article she's won 6 consecutive title defenses. Instead of trying to capture 135lb gold as well, lets see her do something that will hands down solidify her place in the GOAT conversion men or women. Let's sit back and watch Valentina try to beat Demetrious Johnson's record for most consecutive title defenses. I absolutely think she can do it. At the pace she's going and just how far ahead she is of every other woman currently at 125lbs, dare I say she could shatter that record by the year 2025 if not earlier.

If she wins, there might be a false narrative that Valentina couldn't get the job done with Amanda in her way. Thus invalidating her Bantamweight belt win, which I would hate to see since I'm a huge fan of hers. We see this all the time, especially in boxing with all the guys who won gold in Floyd's absence but never beat him. Or, every time Jon Jones' Light heavyweight belt was stripped and others won without beating him. But it is what it is.

Finally: Valentina already has a very impressive resume outside the UFC that she's been building ever since she was only 15 years old. Gold medals, a record of 57-2 in pro/am Muay Thai/kickboxing, and even an unbeaten professional boxing record. Now granted that record is only 2-0, but that's two more wins than Conor. Sorry I had to throw that in there. Anyways Valentina has already done enough. There's no real need for the double champ status. Once everything is all said and done, if Amanda is still viewed as the GOAT. Valentina will still be the A2 to Amanda's A1.

My verdict:

I openly admit I'm bias, I am a huge fan of the bullet and whatever she can do to continue solidifying her legacy I support her all the way. Let's go bullet!!!

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