Aljo "Likes His Chances" Against Illia...

[TheMMAnalyst]

I'm a fan of guys with limited or different skillsets who find a way to win no matter what, even if it is boring.

I can respect it - kind of a throwback appreciation for guys that have excelled at one thing but managed to make it work against a variety of styles/fighters (even if not that exciting or incredibly effective).

But I just can't help but hate it.

 

[TheMMAnalyst]

It's a great fight to make.

I can say with certainty that Merab will be picking Ilia. We're about to have a new Team Alpha Male-type collapse at Serra Longo

Aljo needs to get through Evloev first, that's a big challenge for him with a guy he likely he can't out-wrestle/out-grapple, so he's definitely going to have to work to earn it.

 

[The Siege]

It's a great fight to make.

I can say with certainty that Merab will be picking Ilia. We're about to have a new Team Alpha Male-type collapse at Serra Longo

Do you have any insider knowledge or are you just guessing based on their shared heritage?

 

[kingghidrah]

Remember no one gave Aljo a chance against the former GOAT Petr Yan, and Aljo absolutely wrecked him twice.

(ok, he won by fluke the first time and hugged him to a decision the 2nd time, but he won both fights)

 

[Rataria]

ALjo got himself a nice new glass bowl and some Pineapple Express

 

[WoozyFailGuy]

Do you have any insider knowledge or are you just guessing based on their shared heritage?

Guessing, but I've dealt with Russians, Georgians, Kazakhs and the like my entire life. They'll almost never go against one of their own unless they've been personally slighted. Not saying that's a bad thing at all, and the part about Serra Longo was just a shitpost.

 

[Söze Aldo]

He got chinned by O'Malley who has amateur level boxing compared to Ilia.

 

[flektarn]

Guessing, but I've dealt with Russians, Georgians, Kazakhs and the like my entire life. They'll almost never go against one of their own unless they've been personally slighted. Not saying that's a bad thing at all, and the part about Serra Longo was just a shitpost.

good friend vs countryman whose biggest goal in life was spanish citizenship. hmmm.

 

[Psychojoe86]

I'm struggling to come up with a less threatening matchup for Topuria at 145. He would completely dominate Sterling and have no fear of any effective offense.

 

[flektarn]

Someone with good grappling like Diego or Aljo does make it interesting. I like Diego's striking more. Always found Aljo's bad (anyone saying it's just "unorthodox" is coping). He had a HUGE reach at BW which made it work but it isn't great. Think either guy has a decent chance.

 

[OleBuffalo]

He must have forgotten Top started out as a grappler

He def didn't forget. He just knows that standing with Ilia is a terrible option for himself, and he also knows that there's a chance, however slim, he could maybe edge out a 25min grinding, grappling-based fight since simply having a great grappling background doesn't automatically mean you can apply it for 5 rounds in an mma contest without fatigue or moments of uncertainty. It's the only thing Aljo can test, so of course that's gonna be his outlook.

Cejudo also had a grappling background being a literal olympic gold medalist, and yet Aljo was able to grapple with him. I don't personally think Aljo would beat Top, but someone having a great grappling background doesn't make then an inpenetrable force on the mat. If that were the case then JJ shouldn't have taken down olympian DC, Hendo should've ragdolled everyone with his olympic greco roman, Viera shouldn't have gotten subbed by Anthony Hernandez, and a million other examples

thank you for your av btw

 

[Neck&Neck]

He’s sippin dat Funk Harbour Rum thinkin he’s the Conor Mcgregor of grappling
He ain’t backpacking The TopGunner
If he does I’ll get a Funk Master haircut

 

[7 others]

He def didn't forget. He just knows that standing with Ilia is a terrible option for himself, and he also knows that there's a chance, however slim, he could maybe edge out a 25min grinding, grappling-based fight since simply having a great grappling background doesn't automatically mean you can apply it for 5 rounds in an mma contest without fatigue or moments of uncertainty. It's the only thing Aljo can test, so of course that's gonna be his outlook.

Cejudo also had a grappling background being a literal olympic gold medalist, and yet Aljo was able to grapple with him. I don't personally think Aljo would beat Top, but someone having a great grappling background doesn't make then an inpenetrable force on the mat. If that were the case then JJ shouldn't have taken down olympian DC, Hendo should've ragdolled everyone with his olympic greco roman, Viera shouldn't have gotten subbed by Anthony Hernandez, and a million other examples

thank you for your av btw

Av's Aoki.lala

 

[TheMMAnalyst]

Someone with good grappling like Diego or Aljo does make it interesting. I like Diego's striking more. Always found Aljo's bad (anyone saying it's just "unorthodox" is coping). He had a HUGE reach at BW which made it work but it isn't great. Think either guy has a decent chance.

Diego has got a ton of power and confidence to sit in the pocket but he swings super-wide hooks and has pretty bad defense. He also doesn't have Aljo's wrestling game, just far more dangerous submission grappling abilities.

Aljo might be able to clinch/get early takedowns and make it a tiring, boring, dragged out grappling clinic, Diego would have to just blitz Topuria out of the gate and catch him with a wild shot or hit some insane grappling attack/transition.

Both highly unlikely, but I would favor Lopes chances ever more slightly.

 

[OleBuffalo]

Av's Aoki.lala

you're a goddamn hero

 

[TriangleMonkey]

Ilia has waaay better TDD and overall grappling than Sugar

The striking is another level both skill/power we already know

 

[The Siege]

Guessing, but I've dealt with Russians, Georgians, Kazakhs and the like my entire life. They'll almost never go against one of their own unless they've been personally slighted. Not saying that's a bad thing at all, and the part about Serra Longo was just a shitpost.

Ah gotcha, yeah I can see that happening.

If Merab wants to keep his friendship with Sterling, he will stay neutral and cheer them both on.

If he wants to really spice things up, he will go train with Ilia and give him insider info on Aljo lol the drama would be crazy

 

[TheMMAnalyst]

Ah gotcha, yeah I can see that happening.

If Merab wants to keep his friendship with Sterling, he will stay neutral and cheer them both on.

If he wants to really spice things up, he will go train with Ilia and give him insider info on Aljo lol the drama would be crazy

I see him pretending to stay neutral but secretly cheering for Illia.

 

[Doctor Grudge]

I dont think it'd go well for Sterling. Tbh Topuria seems like he can have a Jose Aldo like run. I dont think I'd even pick Islam to beat him.

 

[TheMMAnalyst]

He’s sippin dat Funk Harbour Rum thinkin he’s the Conor Mcgregor of grappling
He ain’t backpacking The TopGunner
If he does I’ll get a Funk Master haircut

You’ve got the hair to pull that off?