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

[Neck&Neck]

If Islam moves up, it should be Ilia vs Paddy
Paddy did it better

 

[Kung Fu Kowboy]

People buy the PPV because it is the UFC...not for Fighter A vs Fighter B

 

[dipstickjimmy]

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.

If the UFC is gving Islam the opportunity to fight for the WW belt in the event JDM wins its because he is a company man and will fight Topuria if Belal wins. They would not announce Islam vs Topuria until after they see the result of Belal vs JDM. They would have to be confident in their relationship with Islam

 

[podsox]

People buy the PPV because it is the UFC...not for Fighter A vs Fighter B

But from espn leaks the ppv buys are WAY down

 

[Alpha_T83]

People buy the PPV because it is the UFC...not for Fighter A vs Fighter B

I strongly doubt that is true, because it wasn't true with the PPV numbers prior to the ESPN deal.

It would be very strange if all of a sudden the main event wasn't driving differences in PPV sales, although* we don't have the numbers anymore to prove that.

 

[Thepaintbucket]

They don't care for Belal so I'm sure they will be okay with Islam moving up. If Islam beats Jack, belal wont be fighting for a title until Islam is gone.

With the 155 belt wide open, the UFC can make some interesting match ups with Illa. All those people Islam already beat can bid for a title shot. And sooner or later Paddy the baddy will run into Illa and that shit will be hyped up

It works out for everyone except maybe Belal

 

[podsox]

JDM vs Islam doesn’t do close to the numbers that Islam/topuria does. Shocked the ufc is even considering it

 

[Mmmmmmma1234]

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.

Champions keep not wanting to fight lately. I think we can assume Ankalaev vs potan is penciled in for 317 if JDM wins. And maybe an interim championship with Illa moving up.

 

[RichardHarrow]

At this rate we’re getting Amanda Nunes

 

[KO Shotz]

and in that scenario he would vacate the 155 title and we would see Topuria vs Oliveira for the vacant lightweight belt.

Gaethje & Arman are in that conversation too. 155 & 170 are very exciting right now.

 

[MrBlackheart]

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

Ned Flanders’ mom?

 

[Dr Fong]

People buy the PPV because it is the UFC...not for Fighter A vs Fighter B

This is real retarded, sir.

 

[Conan the K-9]

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.

There is no way they can do both. If he is planning to go WW in the end of this year, he will be heavy on that sambo diet plan and cutting down to LW in between is not going to happen. This is probably the main reason why nothing is announced yet. It will most likely be Ilia vs Charles for the vacant belt.

Tiramisu camp might have even asked Belal to go up and vacate or retire, in case he wins against JDM. That’s why we got now Belal beefing with scamzat.

 

[Tweak896]

Champions keep not wanting to fight lately. I think we can assume Ankalaev vs potan is penciled in for 317 if JDM wins. And maybe an interim championship with Illa moving up.

Getting ridiculous. I understand once in a while one gets an injury, but seems like all the champs take so much time off now people basically accept it, well besides Jones because he's hated.

 

[Alpha_T83]

They don't care for Belal so I'm sure they will be okay with Islam moving up. If Islam beats Jack, belal wont be fighting for a title until Islam is gone.

With the 155 belt wide open, the UFC can make some interesting match ups with Illa. All those people Islam already beat can bid for a title shot. And sooner or later Paddy the baddy will run into Illa and that shit will be hyped up

It works out for everyone except maybe Belal

Maybe that's why Dana had his massive shit-eating grin when talking about the UFC 317 main event, which he still won't give us info on.

He's anticipating getting rid of a champion he hates and opening up 155 for bigger (PPV sale) matchups with fighters that could never beat Islam Makhachev.

 

[Meathead Jock]

The part of this I don't by exactly is that Islam will either be fighting at 155 or 170 in July with less than 2 months notice. Especially if going to 170, I would think he would want to be prepping for the weight gain

 

[Thepaintbucket]

Maybe that's why Dana had his massive shit-eating grin when talking about the UFC 317 main event, which he still won't give us info on.

He's anticipating getting rid of a champion he hates and opening up 155 for bigger (PPV sale) matchups with fighters that could never beat Islam Makhachev.

Agreed. Straight out of Dana White's opportunity playbook.