Islam fighting at welterweight would be a terrible idea

[blaseblase]

The lightweight title defense record is three. That's it. Every other division has had a dominant champion who remained unbeaten for years. Islam has a great opportunity to solidify himself as the lightweight GOAT. It would be foolish for him to abandon the goal that is right in front of him.

Cejudo won titles in two different weight classes but he's still lower in the GOAT conversation than DJ. Cormier won titles in two different weight classes but he's still lower in the GOAT conversation than Jones or Stipe. Conor is lower in the GOAT conversation than Aldo, Max, or Volk. We just saw Volk get KO'd at the age of 35 and he may end up lower than Aldo in the GOAT conversation if he can't turn things around.

There's something to be said for staying in your primary weight class and building a legacy that is hard to beat. And in the fight game there's a limited amount of time to do it. Islam at 170 is a conversation that should happen in a couple years with several more title defenses under his belt.

 

[Liverkick-king56]

Despite being elite wins I think people expect Islam to dominate Gaethje or Olivera so Islam probably feels pressure to "prove" himself against better competition to define his legacy.

Fans are way too quick to count out title challengers and want super fights.... it's literally why we got Volk off the couch instead of a full camp Gamrot.

 

[Get To Da Choppa]

The lightweight title defense record is three. That's it. Every other division has had a dominant champion who remained unbeaten for years. Islam has a great opportunity to solidify himself as the lightweight GOAT. It would be foolish for him to abandon the goal that is right in front of him.

Cejudo won titles in two different weight classes but he's still lower in the GOAT conversation than DJ. Cormier won titles in two different weight classes but he's still lower in the GOAT conversation than Jones or Stipe. Conor is lower in the GOAT conversation than Aldo, Max, or Volk. We just saw Volk get KO'd at the age of 35 and he may end up lower than Aldo in the GOAT conversation if he can't turn things around.

There's something to be said for staying in your primary weight class and building a legacy that is hard to beat. And in the fight game there's a limited amount of time to do it. Islam at 170 is a conversation that should happen in a couple years with several more title defenses under his belt.

The benefit of Islam fighting at 170 after only 3 title defenses is that he no longer has to be jealous of other people eating in front of him while he's half dead from cutting weight

 

[blaseblase]

Despite being elite wins I think people expect Islam to dominate Gaethje or Olivera so Islam probably feels pressure to "prove" himself against better competition to define his legacy.

Fans are way too quick to count out title challengers and want super fights.... it's literally why we got Volk off the couch instead of a full camp Gamrot.

I don't recall people calling for GSP and Silva to move up in weight after 2 title defenses. You gotta do the work to be great. "People" can say whatever they want right now, if he never solidifies his dominance at 155 all the people in the future will be looking at is his record.

 

[Genisys]

I don't recall people calling for GSP and Silva to move up in weight after 2 title defenses. You gotta do the work to be great. "People" can say whatever they want right now, if he never solidifies his dominance at 155 all the people in the future will be looking at is his record.

People aren't calling for Islam to move up though. Islam wants to do it for himself. I think he could move up and beat Leon or Colby.

 

[humdizzle]

two weight champ is more impressive than 4-5 defenses in your own division.

if alex beats jiri, imo he's accomplished more in the sport than izzy

 

[blaseblase]

two weight champ is more impressive than 4-5 defenses in your own division.

if alex beats jiri, imo he's accomplished more in the sport than izzy

No it's not, no serious person has Conor higher on the GOAT list than Max.

 

[maximus__]

two weight champ is more impressive than 4-5 defenses in your own division.

if alex beats jiri, imo he's accomplished more in the sport than izzy

Really? Is Conor thought of as the best FW or LW or even in GOAT conversation at all? BJ Penn or Randy Couture ? CCC?
It's been done in every weightclass in multiple major orgs.
That version of Conor that fought Alvarez was on par with prime Anderson entering the matrix, but he has no defences with either belt so he isn't even thought of as a top guy in his own divisions.

Alex gets ahead of Izzy by being 3-1 with him across combat sports. If he didn't have his kickboxing career wins against him, Izzy far outweighs him.

It's just guys moving up to fight in their actual weightclasses if they didn't cut weight.

 

[goOb]

Very solid points in the OP TS. Islam has a few more guys to beat at LW and they are some of the matchups he was able to bypass on his way to the title. The fact he has never fought Gaethje or Poirier still boggles my mind. He could easily take those fights possibly win and break the LW Title Defense record like you were saying, then move up.

 

[Ozze]

Agreed.
Plus, if he beat the names of Gaethje, Dustin, Gamrot, he would have a very strong resume considering he already have Charles and Volk.
(even though people will say Gaethje has no ground game, Dustin is old, etc, etc, etc....)

 

[Edward Henry Greb]

The lightweight title defense record is three. That's it. Every other division has had a dominant champion who remained unbeaten for years. Islam has a great opportunity to solidify himself as the lightweight GOAT. It would be foolish for him to abandon the goal that is right in front of him.

Cejudo won titles in two different weight classes but he's still lower in the GOAT conversation than DJ. Cormier won titles in two different weight classes but he's still lower in the GOAT conversation than Jones or Stipe. Conor is lower in the GOAT conversation than Aldo, Max, or Volk. We just saw Volk get KO'd at the age of 35 and he may end up lower than Aldo in the GOAT conversation if he can't turn things around.

There's something to be said for staying in your primary weight class and building a legacy that is hard to beat. And in the fight game there's a limited amount of time to do it. Islam at 170 is a conversation that should happen in a couple years with several more title defenses under his belt.

Completely agree.

 

[Arcticman]

No it's not, no serious person has Conor higher on the GOAT list than Max.

Conor has no title defences thats why, if islam wins and defends 2 belts then thats fairly inpresssive.

 

[BearGrounds]

The benefit of Islam fighting at 170 after only 3 title defenses is that he no longer has to be jealous of other people eating in front of him while he's half dead from cutting weight

Overeem gives zero fucks haha.

Watching people eat while cutting is brutal.

 

[LoveMyMMA]

He can still defend the LW title while fighting at WW.

If Volk had won against Islam - he still would've defended the belt at FW against Topuria.

I expect Islam to fight Charles in January/February. Then the winner of Colby/Leon next in May/June 2024.

That's exactly how I see it playing out.

 

[blaseblase]

Conor has no title defences thats why, if islam wins and defends 2 belts then thats fairly inpresssive.

Then he will be neither lightweight GOAT or welterweight GOAT. Also good luck getting through Shavkat.

 

[Tweak896]

I just think when he passes Khabib's LW defenses, the conversation will be interesting.

 

[cmw43]

I don't recall people calling for GSP and Silva to move up in weight after 2 title defenses. You gotta do the work to be great. "People" can say whatever they want right now, if he never solidifies his dominance at 155 all the people in the future will be looking at is his record.

Anderson moved up and had a LHW fight after 3 defences.

A lot of people wanted GSP to move up for the Anderson super fight.

 

[blaseblase]

He can still defend the LW title while fighting at WW.

None of these two division champs have been able to do that, except for Nunes who had a belt in a non-existent division. It isn't possible, especially when you are talking about two of the most stacked divisions.

Also none of these two division champs have been able to establish dominance in the higher division.

 

[Equinox Shadow]

Makhachev needs to defend his LW title against three or four more LW contenders, then move up to 170 and see what he can do. Cement his legacy by passing Nurmagomedov's streak by a few defenses.

 

[Senzo Tanaka]

He should break the record before he moves up. Maybe he’s thinking of retiring, is tired of the weight cut or just values a 2nd title more.

He’s one of the biggest weight cutters in the UFC and always looks horrible on the scale. It could be that simple.