Arman Tsarukyan Backs Islam Makhachev’s Decision To Turn down Ilia Topuria

[Streeter]

Water is wet

 

[AL-Tappo McSnappo]

Ducks of a feather quack together

Yes ilia is a duck

 

[Mohawk Banditó]

La Leyenda is only accepting Islam as his next opponent. As it should be, brother.

Ah, of course he gets his selection, but the current champ and #1 contender don't.

 

[Aurelian]

Ilia declined to fight arman so people should keep the same energy and call him a duck

Aren't they both Georgian? I know Arman is technically Armenian, but he's ethnically Georgian. I thought this was just standard country men bullshit.

 

[188912345]

Ah, of course he gets his selection, but the current champ and #1 contender don't.

Because he wants the opportunity granted to other champs when moving up. (Conor, Adesanya, Jones, etc), that UFC promised him.

Also, he's seeking the more difficult fight, according to the odds. His team is not floating around the idea of fighting Gaethje for a title.

 

[Mohawk Banditó]

Because he wants the opportunity granted to other champs when moving up. (Conor, Adesanya, Jones, etc), that UFC promised him.

Also, he's seeking the more difficult fight, according to the odds. His team is not floating around the idea of fighting Gaethje for a title.

And Islam wants the opportunity to fight a LW contender, or even get the same opportunity to move up for a title, and yet is being called a duck. And just as I'm sure Arman's team is also not floating the idea of fighting Gaethje.

 

[xhaydenx]

Ah, of course he gets his selection, but the current champ and #1 contender don't.

Champ has to fight challengers, and Arman gave up his spot when he hurt his back trying to impress Nina.

 

[188912345]

And Islam wants the opportunity to fight a LW contender, or even get the same opportunity to move up for a title, and yet is being called a duck. And just as I'm sure Arman's team is also not floating the idea of fighting Gaethje.

It contradicts his previous fierce stance on fighting anyone that the UFC deems worthy, who can make 155 lbs.

It also contradicts Islams quote about not wanting rematches (Arman, Charles), that he prefers fresh matchups.

Ilia is the closer fight, according to the odds.
He has beaten Arman and Charles already.
Who else is a top LW coming off a win? Gaethje, who is 0-2 by submission losses in title fights, and got knocked out by Holloway 2 fights ago. The same Holloway Ilia recently KO'd, becoming the first fighter to crack his legendary chin.

"And despite links to a rescheduled title fight with Oliveira in his next Octagon walk, Makhachev has opened as a staggering -600 betting favorite to defeat the above-mentioned, Gaethje, who sits as a +425 betting underdog – having staked his claim for a fight for gold with the former."

Those odds are from 2023, bet they're even more in favor of Islam now.

 

[StanTheMan]

It’s not about money it’s about ego

You guys telling me the dudes with the suction cups on their back and wrestle bears cant accept millions of dollars to ragdoll some inferior non dagastani




Look at their reasoning . “If I beat a 145er youll just say I beat a little guy. “
Brother what the fuck do you care of my criticism
If you? Are you a fighter or not?

Honestly why are little guys having to move up to fight you? Shouldn’t you have already moved up to challenge your greatness as p4p?


These guys wanna have their cake and eat it too. They wanna pretend they don’t trash talk or are true martial artists but in spirit of competition you should be putting on the best fights not protecting legacy .

No wonder they call you McNugget. LMFAO.

 

[Mcnugget]

UFC trying to MAKE it about ego not money.

They shoulda not done that shit on the sly

They should be like hey Islam if this guy moves up, you want the first crack? ohohoho we know how ppl dont like you crushin 145ers but this is a big money fight, its mega tits huge, we gonna pay 14 gorillion dollars.

But instead they just TOLD Topuria that if he moves up he gonna get instant crack at it.

Islam: WHAT? I didnt say shit. Who is another short guy? where is he? Geev me the real money crazee Dana.

Dana: oh look see Islam doesnt want to fight, Topuria, this kid, he wants to fight. They should def both fight so people dont think someone's chicken, and for alot less then they want for it.

Oh I think the ufc likes messy fight matchmaking these guys got all the time in the world to stall negotiate and film instagrams.

So I don’t care if Islam doesn’t wanna fight ilia. But I do wonder why he’s not calling people out or whatever and trying to find a worthy opponent.

Maybe im
Cranky bc the ufc seems to move slower than it used to. Less momentum

 

[Mohawk Banditó]

Arman gave up his spot

Ilia gave up his belt.

It contradicts his previous fierce stance on fighting anyone that the UFC deems worthy, who can make 155 lbs.

I can see that stance changing when he fought literally the best guy in the entire UFC twice and got shit on for it.

It also contradicts Islams quote about not wanting rematches (Arman, Charles), that he prefers fresh matchups.

Kinda not, no. I said 2 things, 1 was fighting at WW which does satisfy fresh rematches, and the other I said was fighting LW contenders (which Ilia isn't) but doesn't necessarily mean Arman. I think Arman earned his shot so I brought up Arman especially, but I heard word Islam was interesting in Gaethje, which is a fresh matchup

Ilia is the closer fight, according to the odds.

Odds don't judge close fights, they are a money making measure.

He has beaten Arman and Charles already.

The Arman fight was 6 years ago, and Arman has beaten 9 people since.

Who else is a top LW coming off a win? Gaethje, who is 0-2 by submission losses in title fights, and got knocked out by Holloway 2 fights ago. The same Holloway Ilia recently KO'd, becoming the first fighter to crack his legendary chin.

And people thought Max depleting himself to take that fight was a mistake. It's MMAmath outside of the division that matters for the conversation. Gaethje is coming off of a ranked LW win. Ilia is coming off a FW defense, just like the last FW Islam beat.

"And despite links to a rescheduled title fight with Oliveira in his next Octagon walk, Makhachev has opened as a staggering -600 betting favorite to defeat the above-mentioned, Gaethje, who sits as a +425 betting underdog – having staked his claim for a fight for gold with the former."

Those odds are from 2023, bet they're even more in favor of Islam now.

I'm sure they are. Good money in that.

 

[Aurelian]

Ilia gave up his belt.


I can see that stance changing when he fought literally the best guy in the entire UFC twice and got shit on for it.


Kinda not, no. I said 2 things, 1 was fighting at WW which does satisfy fresh rematches, and the other I said was fighting LW contenders (which Ilia isn't) but doesn't necessarily mean Arman. I think Arman earned his shot so I brought up Arman especially, but I heard word Islam was interesting in Gaethje, which is a fresh matchup


Odds don't judge close fights, they are a money making measure.


The Arman fight was 6 years ago, and Arman has beaten 9 people since.


And people thought Max depleting himself to take that fight was a mistake. It's MMAmath outside of the division that matters for the conversation. Gaethje is coming off of a ranked LW win. Ilia is coming off a FW defense, just like the last FW Islam beat.


I'm sure they are. Good money in that.

Odds are also a tool to gauge public opinion. Public opinion says Ilia has the best chance of beating Islam out of everybody else, even Arman. Wouldn't that be the fight people want to see?

Above all else, weight classes and title fights, UFC is a business and making fights people want to see is what they ideally want to do.

 

[188912345]

Is this a new thing where fans become primarily fans of the careers of fighters, where they want the easier match-ups to protect their legacies? Instead of simply wanting to see the biggest and most competitive fights.

We saw it with people defending Jones ducking Aspinall and now we have the same thing with Islam ducking Topuria.

if Khamzat wins the belt and then ducks DDP, calling out Izzy/Strickland, I definitely won't be in here running interference for him.

 

[moosaev]

UFC screwed Topuria. They was like yea move up and fight Islam without tellin Islam.

Khabib knows about these kind of games. UFC try to pressure these guys to make big fights without UFC givin up the pussy.

PAY THESE MEN, WANKERS

UFC never told him to move up, Topuria is lying. He didn’t want to do the weight cut and he bet that the UFC would be forced to give him a TS if he vacated. If you listen to his words carefully it’s clear he was never promised the TS.

 

[moosaev]

This! Why do Islam's dirty work for him?

Retarded logic. Why is Garry doing Belal’s dirty work by fighting and potentially beating Prates, or vice versa? Top contenders fight each other to see who deserves it more.

 

[Cooliox]

Arman only cares for Arman

 

[BluntForceTrama]

yea fuk that nationality confused bitch. entitled bastard thinks hopping hoping the line is automatic.

beat it

 

[Mohawk Banditó]

Odds are also a tool to gauge public opinion. Public opinion says Ilia has the best chance of beating Islam out of everybody else, even Arman. Wouldn't that be the fight people want to see?

Above all else, weight classes and title fights, UFC is a business and making fights people want to see is what they ideally want to do.

I don't hang my hat, or my accusations of ducking especially, based on what other people think is a good fight.

None of this conversation is about what the UFC wants to do though, it's based around people acting like Islam is being too selective by not fighting the guy who is being extremely selective.

 

[Thepaintbucket]

There are three parties involved. Everybody has to agree in order for it to happen. It's Illia Topurias fault for failing to mix the right ingredients together.

 

[Aurelian]

I don't hang my hat, or my accusations of ducking especially, based on what other people think is a good fight.

None of this conversation is about what the UFC wants to do though, it's based around people acting like Islam is being too selective by not fighting the guy who is being extremely selective.

What the UFC wants to do is pretty relevant if you're the champ. If you're not the champ I fully support the freedom to pick and choose your fights to a certain extent.

I should note I'm cool with Ilia taking a LW fight first, but I definitely think the UFC wants to capitalize on this opportunity as a money fight.