With news breaking this week that former BAMMA Lonsdale Lightweight Champion Marc Diakiese had signed with the UFC it left me wondering just who were BAMMA going to feed to their current Lightweight Champion Martin Stapleton.
The bout between Stapleton and Diakiese had been highly rumoured for months and it seemed almost inevitable that the pair would meet in their next respective bouts. But with Diakiese being signed to the UFC the promotion now have a tougher task on their hands as to who will be the next competitor at 155lbs.
So in typical #WHOATV fashion we have compiled a list of fighters we would like to see fight Martin Stapleton in his next Title defence;
Damien Lapilus
I think whilst it may be difficult to push for the rematch given that these two don’t really have any genuine dislike for each other, that Lapilus is probably just as deserving at another crack at the Title than anyone else. The first bout ended in disqualification following an illegal knee to Stapleton but up until that point Lapilus was very much in that fight. Lapilus does have a bout scheduled in August in Dubai but following that I could vouch that the Frenchman deserves another crack at the Gold.
Rob Sinclair
Former Champ Vs current Champ pretty much sells itself and put this fight in the North of England and sit back and enjoy. Sinclair does have a fight lined up against Charlie Leary at FCC 17 on 24th September but I would be expect to see his experience get him through that tough test and open up the possibilities of a fight with Stapleton. Stapleton is looking to defend his belt against the toughest names in Europe and “C4” would definitely offer him that opportunity.
Andre Winner
Andre Winner is someone who is always only one or two fights away from Title contention and I think it would be more than acceptable to slot him straight into a Title fight in a return to BAMMA. Winner last fought for BAMMA in April 2015, picking up a win over Colin Fletcher and whilst since then he has gone 1-2, is an experienced 155lbers who on any given night can cause a problem for the elite of the European Lightweight division.
Winner of Redmond Vs McGann
There is no denying that Paul Redmond could of walked straight into a BAMMA Title fight but I do like the fact that they are giving him a tough youngster in Jack McGann in his promotional debut. I do also feel that the winner either way is deserving of a shot at Stapleton. McGann is riding high off the back of a win in Russia under the Fight Night Global promotion, whilst Redmond is keen to get back to winning ways after a short stint in the UFC. Both of these names for me would be a stable part of the 155lbs division in any European promotion and likewise I think its just a matter of time before either man will get the chance to prove they can hold a major European Title.