Are we really waiting until UFC 315 to know the main event for UFC 317???

[Alpha_T83]

This situation is insane to me. The rumor is obviously that Islam Makhachev might move to welterweight if JDM beats Belal, and in that scenario he would vacate the 155 title and we would see Topuria vs Oliveira for the vacant lightweight belt. But that means by definition that Islam has yet to sign a bout agreement to fight Topuria @ UFC 317.

This just seems crazy to me. What if Belal wins and Islam changes his mind, and doesn't agree to fight Topuria @ UFC 317? You can't strip him. He has every right to sit out and fight later this year. So does that mean we could see Topuria vs Oliveira for the interim lightweight title @ UFC 317??

I've just never seen this before where an event that is 2 months away has to wait another 2 weeks to know the main event, because one of the champions might leave the division or might defend his belt, he's just not sure yet?

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

Matchmakers have tried nothing and they're all out of ideas

 

[TriangleMonkey]

Stars

The UFC lacks them

Poatan spoiled their bitch asses

 

[Shano123]

What's the excuse for Jones not fighting on 317? He dismantled stipe, took no damage and still fucking about?

 

[Poirierfan]

What's the excuse for Jones not fighting on 317? He dismantled stipe, took no damage and still fucking about?

Jones is too busy practicing his ducking skills and turning gay after midnight.

 

[sickness666]

May be it´s their new business plan.
Probably Dana´s words: Doesn´t matter who fíghts, there are already enough idiots who are buying the PPV anyways. And if not, ESPN money is still coming.
Dana doesn´t give a shit if it still get´s him a snowy driveway and he can slap his wife in the process.

 

[usernamee]

Matchmakers have tried nothing and they're all out of ideas

Matchmaker 1: I've got an idea!

Matchmaker 2: Is it a bad one?

Matchmaker 1: No I think this one's good!

Matchmaker 2: Then we're not interested

 

[dipstickjimmy]

This situation is insane to me. The rumor is obviously that Islam Makhachev might move to welterweight if JDM beats Belal, and in that scenario he would vacate the 155 title and we would see Topuria vs Oliveira for the vacant lightweight belt. But that means by definition that Islam has yet to sign a bout agreement to fight Topuria @ UFC 317.

This just seems crazy to me. What if Belal wins and Islam changes his mind, and doesn't agree to fight Topuria @ UFC 317? You can't strip him. He has every right to sit out and fight later this year. So does that mean we could see Topuria vs Oliveira for the interim lightweight title @ UFC 317??

I've just never seen this before where an event that is 2 months away has to wait another 2 weeks to know the main event, because one of the champions might leave the division or might defend his belt, he's just not sure yet?

I would assume Islam has agreed to fight Topuria in that instance. Not saying that is the scenario but if that were the scenario Islam would have already agreed to UFC 317 if that were the case. I would love it if Jon had already started his preparation for UFC 317 and is trying to sneak up on Tom and catch him unprepared for the title fight at UFC 317. I am quite sure Tom would fight Jon on 5 minutes notice and Jon would love to have some Percieved advantage at least in his own mind.

 

[tritestill]

It's pretty stupid and looks like that's what we are looking at, unless Islam is fighting Topuria and will fight WW champ regardless of who it is next.

 

[Chama]

May be it´s their new business plan.
Probably Dana´s words: Doesn´t matter who fíghts, there are already enough idiots who are buying the PPV anyways. And if not, ESPN money is still coming.
Dana doesn´t give a shit if it still get´s him a snowy driveway and he can slap his wife in the process.

Well... that escalated quickly !

 

[Daniel Henry]

JDM wins
Islam moves up takes belt
Illia vs Charles for lw belt
Illia wins vacates belt and moves to WW
Illia vs Islam 2026

 

[markys00]

Matchmakers have tried nothing and they're all out of ideas

This man speaks to the matchmakers everyday. He would know

 

[Tweak896]

Some reason it seems like the UFC has been putting together events closer to when they actually start lately. Feels like they've been shooting from the hip putting cards together last minute.

 

[CieloLuce]

I mean Jones is available to fight. They got Pantoja also in their back pocket.

I do think planning an event by waiting on the results of JDM vs Belal is crazy and desperate. UFC plans on the short terms and it's hurting them.

 

[RockyLockridge]

"It's going to blow your fucking mind. you're not even FUCKING ready for the UFC 317 main event, I'll tell you that much. If I told you now You'd die of shock or enter a extended period of psychosis if you had to wait until June 28th" - Dana White

Matchmakers have tried nothing and they're all out of ideas

Bunch of lazy beatniks

 

[CC27]

I mean if everyone else already knows the situation does it really matter? Kind of seems like three guys are preparing for the fight, either Islam stays if Belal wins and its him vs Topuria or if JDM wins Islam moves up and its Charles/Topuria for vacant title.

So really aint that big of a deal if all parties know. It would be one thing if nobody knows, nobody is preparing and we're waiting for May 15th before anything is done but that doesnt seem to be the case. And as for tickets May 16th Belal is champ and they announce Islam/Topuria and the rest of the card its still gonna sell out a month and a half later.

 

[Alpha_T83]

I would assume Islam has agreed to fight Topuria in that instance. Not saying that is the scenario but if that were the scenario Islam would have already agreed to UFC 317 if that were the case. I would love it if Jon had already started his preparation for UFC 317 and is trying to sneak up on Tom and catch him unprepared for the title fight at UFC 317. I am quite sure Tom would fight Jon on 5 minutes notice and Jon would love to have some Percieved advantage at least in his own mind.

But I keep thinking about that, and if Islam has agreed to fight Topuria, why not do both? Why not fight Topuria @ UFC 317, then fight JDM later this year. He could easily do both.

That leads me to believe that Islam must not have signed a contract to fight Topuria yet. Maybe he's "started training camp" and verbally agreed, but what happens when Belal wins, and Islam feels like he's not ready to fight Topuria at an event that's now 7 weeks away? Islam could easily back out if he's not feeling it.

 

[Deltron 6060]

Whoever it is it'll be better than 315 & 316.

 

[laleggenda27]

1. The scenario is very clear here: Islam either moves up to fight JDM or stays at LW to fight Topuria. Why all the hand-wringing?
2. Bout agreements are often signed very late in the process. When a fight is announced by the UFC, that generally means that both fighters have agreed to the fight (although sometimes even that's not true). But fight announcements don't mean that bout agreements have been signed.

 

[Domitian]

They probably have Islam/Ilia and Arman/Charles both planned for 5 rounds. They have options no matter what.