Who is Mical-left for Jono to fight?...
Now with everyone gone who didn’t like that joke, we need to talk about who is next in line for a shot at the newly crowned king of the Australian welterweight division.
Let’s take you back to the lead up of Hex Fight Series 28, that took place on November 18th 2023, where a 4-0 relatively ‘unknown’ to the wider public (I know, I know, you knew about him) Jono Micallef that took out a man that many believed to be in the waiting room with a ticket next in line for the UFC. Joseph Luciano (8-1 at the time), was one of the most UFC ready guys in the country. So much so that when Jono Micallef was announced by Hex Fight Series as one half of the 170lb title fight at the iconic Festival Hall in Melbourne, many asked if he was ready… Me, it was me that asked… But you have to understand that Joseph Luciano was previously scheduled to take on fellow top ranked kiwi Matt Vaile (12-3 at the time) in September on UFC weekend in Sydney for the Eternal MMA 170lb championship, at Eternal MMA 78 with the wider consensus pointing to the winner being elevated to the big show. While Jono was coming off a decision victory over, although a tough Jack James, it was just the 5th fight of a Hex Fight Series card.
It’s not to say Jono wasn’t a stud, I just didn’t know if it was exactly time. Well we all found out why I write, yet i'm rarely right…
Jono Micallef put on what some could have argued as the performance of the year. He pitched an absolute shutout in Melbourne. Taking the former #1 P4P (Aus) to a 50-45 victory. It was a remarkable performance by the Sammy Hayward coached protege. He did great, but he weirdly might have done too great…
But what now?.. Who’s next?.. What do you do when you’ve just taken out the number 1 guy in Australia, convincingly, in just your 5th professional fight. It’s probably too soon for the UFC. That 'too soon' I am unfortunately confident in, despite the track record of my previous ‘too soons'.
It’s not to say I don’t think Jono Micallef could hang with the best in the world. I’ve just got a feeling that the UFC aren’t going to throw the kitchen sink at a guy coming off 2 straight decision victories with a handful of pro victories despite the recent performances.
Now word is the great man and Hex are clambering to find him a fight for March 2nd. But my question still remains, against who?…
If you go to the Australian welterweight rankings on tapology.com (the closest we have to rankings in Australia), you’ll see a bit of a dilemma.
Even if they were welterweights (they are lightweights), Josh Togo & David Martinez are already matched.
Kitt Campbell is coming off a loss (all be it to the now UFC’s Kevin Jousset, but still).
Joseph Luciano was just beaten by Micallef and in a fashion where a rematch doesn’t excite me yet.
Aldin Bates & Kaleb Rideout are out because they’re scheduled for a 170lb Eternal MMA title bout in February in Perth, which is actually ironically the very belt Luciano dropped, vacated, got confiscated or repoed? by Eternal back in September.
You could book Jono against New Zealanders John Vake or John Brewin, but despite the talent and nice records, they are both coming off losses. So that doesn’t make a ton of sense.
You could maybe argue James Vake (John’s brother), but Hex would surely want to save that eventual bout for their heavily anticipated Auckland card in May Should it arise.
So you’re kinda out of options… everyone else is retired (Greg Atzori, Stu Dare), both of whom are also coming off losses.
Do you perhaps try and convince adopted Australian JJ Ambrose (technically #1) , to avenge close friend Luciano’s loss? He’s also a former Hex 170lb champ. That could make sense…
Maybe Craig Callaghan? then that's the list.. So I really don’t know…
I just really find it mighty poetic that a man I once asked if he was ready for a fight in November of 2023, I now find myself asking if anyone is worthy of him, just 2 months later…
Despite all of this I can be certain of one thing, I just Jono who he will face next…
Ok, shit jokes aside, who do you think should face the Hex Fight Series welterweight champion, Jono Micallef next?
