Aaron Chalmers thinks he's ready to move up a level.
Fresh from his
third consecutive first-round victory, the Geordie Shore star made public his desire to test himself against a higher caliber of opposition.
After stopping opponent Karl Donaldson within the first minute, Chalmers took to the centre of the BAMMA cage for an interview with former UFC fighter Paddy Holohan and it was then that 'The Joker' was asked who he'd like to face next.
In his native Newcastle, Chalmers took to the mic and announced that he wanted to meet Kevin 'Baby Slice' Ferguson Jr.
https://twitter.com/BAMMA/status/941797736470343681
Fight fans will know 'Baby Slice' as the son of combat sports legend Kimbo Slice, who sadly passed away last year.
'Baby Slice' has won his last two fights after losing his professional debut last November and, although relatively green, he does have something of a name when it comes to fighters at that level.
All three of his fights have come under the Bellator banner and, with BAMMA having worked in conjunction with Bellator on several occasions, Chalmers felt like it would make sense to be paired up with a somewhat inexperienced fighter from their ranks.
Viewers immediately took to social media to suggest that Chalmers was putting himself in over his head with his call-out.
https://twitter.com/NickTancock1/status/941800968957636608
https://twitter.com/questy88/status/941800426881601536
https://twitter.com/Bxrrett50cal/status/941799572921290752
https://twitter.com/SRDMMANEWS/status/941799524628131841
https://twitter.com/RyanGPalmer/status/941799060545130502
But amidst that criticism, it bears questioning: "Can Chalmers do anything to please these precious fight fans?"
He was criticised for having the nerve to give MMA a go in the first place and surprised many with his grappling knowledge.
He has since been ridiculed for fighting unknown and unheralded fighters with questionable talents but everyone must know that he can only fight what's in front of him. He's not the BAMMA matchmaker, after all.
https://twitter.com/AaronCGShore/status/941725398609440768
And now he's being lambasted for wanting to remedy that last issue by putting out a desire to face a real prospect.
In this sport, you're damned if you do and damned if you don't.
If Chalmers had continued to pad his record against lesser opposition, he'd provoke the ire of fans, but his ambition doesn't seem to have done him much good either.
'The Joker' should be applauded for having the confidence in his own skills to feel comfortable moving up a level.
And his appreciation for the 'squeaky wheel gets the oil' approach which has stood so many fighters well in progressing through the professional ranks ought to earn him a bit of credit.
He could quite happily continue to face the equivalent of punching bags and earn modest paycheques for the next few years.
Or he could look to make a legitimate career out of MMA by slowly moving up the levels and he's only going to achieve that by doing what he's doing.
Sure, 'Baby Slice' would be the favourite going into the bout if it ever comes to fruition but it's not like Chalmers doesn't know what he's doing and pitting a 3-0 fighter against a 2-1 fighter is nowhere near negligible.
You might find many reasons to criticise Chalmers but having the balls to ask to be matched up with a dangerous opponent is not one of them.
Let the man fight.
