Be honest, In January 12, 2025 did you imagine a world when JDM was WW champ?

[Pechan]

Honestly this is kind of crazy given how stacked that division is and how long the line of contenders is, no Ian Machado, no Sean Brady, no Shavkat, JDM is the new fucking champ, crazy sport.

 

[TITS]

They might as well have given the belt to the janitor at the Apex center.

 

[Rhood]

No
And I can't imagine him keeping the belt either.
He hasn't been through the ringer of the WW division yet.

 

[Nathan LaMontagne]

I didn't think it'd happen this soon, assumed shavkat was next in line and you know how the UFC loves one title fight a year.

 

[TankAbbott4Eva]

Surprised but not shocked, he had some luck with not having to fight Shavkat (who he did call out of course). But yeah killers everywhere in this division, even if he can defend once or twice it's a great effort.

 

[MMAFanCal]

Not at all. I could not have cared less about JDM in January. Once I started learning more about him, I predicted he will win against Belal (albeit, my prediction was a round 4 or 5 KO/TKO finish).

 

[taugrim]

Honestly this is kind of crazy given how stacked that division is and how long the line of contenders is, no Ian Machado, no Sean Brady, no Shavkat, JDM is the new fucking champ, crazy sport.

I thought JDM was ascending but still a ways from being ready for a title fight.

He proved me wrong. JDM masterfully executed a well-designed game plan. Plus he showed championship mettle in that 5th round, when he got up from his back and proceeded to smash Belal.

It's great to see fighters really grow. I'd say Paddy has also really surprised his last couple fights.

 

[ChrisBenoit]

I can't see him having a long run. Islam or Shavkat beats him.

 

[SamuraiBro]

Yes, I did. Young upcoming fighter with a 17 fight win streak and improving fight by fight. Fights to finish and never just accepts bottom position if taken down.

 

[WoozyFailGuy]

Yes, I did. Young upcoming fighter with a 17 fight win streak and improving fight by fight. Fights to finish and never just accepts bottom position if taken down.

This. If you couldn't see it in the Gilbert fight I don't know what to tell ya.

 

[shorinryu86]

I expect Shavkat and Khamzat to be champions of this division, not him.

 

[SamuraiBro]

Islam is a harder fight for JDM than Shavkat is. Shavkat is wide open to get hit and doesn’t have the grappling Belal or Islam does.

 

[usernamee]

After watching him vs Hafez and Burns no not really. WW being so rasslin heavy it didn't seem likely. But he proved me wrong against Belal.

 

[Nihongi]

They might as well have given the belt to the janitor at the Apex center.

You are literally one of the worst posters on this forum.

 

[TITS]

They should have just let him get his ass kicked by Leon Edwards in London like originally scheduled instead of shifting the bouts around. They should've just had Ian Garry or Sean Brady fight Belal at 315 instead of this soup kitchen reject.

 

[kingofthecans]

Honestly there's been a few guys I couldn't have seen becoming champs. Been crazy the past few years. Strickland.... Strickland....

 

[burningspear]

No and Islam is licking his lips.

 

[fortheo]

Yes. Dudes tough as nails, one of the better strikers in the division, and he scrambles like his pants are on fire.

 

[Skarsgard]

I'm still not entirely sold on the guy. There are so many questions that come with beating older guys, champ or otherwise. He looked solid enough on Saturday and it was a good win.
His narrow wins in his last few don't give me much confidence in his longevity, though.

 

[phoenixikki]

JDM’s got that killer instinct, and I wouldn’t be shocked if he was already on the path to greatness. Did I imagine him as champ? Nah, I wasn’t out here playin’ Nostradamus. But could I see him takin’ over? Hell yeah, the dude’s got the skills to make waves.