Media Belal heel turns on Islam, "he's planting the seeds for easier matchup"

[Conan the K-9]

As bad as it is, wanting to fight an all-time great WW who's coming off a dominant win, and a close decision against the current MW champ on short notice, is nowhere near as bad as Topuria and some fans wanting him to fight Paddy.

Usman is a more interesting matchup for Islam than Paddy/Gaethje are for Topuria.

Paddy, Gaethje and Topuria are in a different weight class. No one should be interested to see them fight for the WW belt.
We want to see the WW contenders fight for the belt at WW. Those same guys who climbed the ladder, but got sidelined because a champion from the lower weight class wanted an undeserved title shot.
Morales, Garry and Prates. Even Belal deserves it more than Usman.

 

[nonoob]

In Chicago, Belal was recently seen driving around with the Superfreaky Rick James.

Spoiler

Dayum, Rick James slapped TF outta Usman !

View attachment 1126442

 

[TheNewGame]

He has never been even close to submitted and out grappled Luke Rockhold easily.

40 year old retired alcoholic Rockhold off the couch and unable to breathe 2 seconds into the fight?

Costa has never fought any great grapplers anywhere close to their prime.

And there were zero back takes in either of those fights you mentioned. I don’t know what you were watching.

There is no one in the current MW roster who possesses more interesting style against the current champion. Others will be just dominated more badly.

Robocop is even a tougher matchup than Costa. Costa has less of a punchers chance than DDP.

 

[Superior]

This cherry-picking shit needs to stop, there are several strong contenders that should fight for the title.

Shavkat, Morales, Garry.

 

[Conan the K-9]

Costa has never fought any great grapplers anywhere close to their prime.

Robocop is even a tougher matchup than Costa. Costa has less of a punchers chance than DDP.

Everyone said that Rockhold will out grapple him, but he didn’t. It’s hard to fight grapplers in their prime when there aren’t any.

And that’s a back take attempt, not a back take my friend. Zero control was achieved there.

It would be interesting to see how Robocob, Viera, or even how Brunno matches up with the champ, but none of them is even close to a title shot, and I don’t think anyone of them can out strike the champ, they would do worse than Costa.

 

[andgonsil]

Belal was just ducking Islam during his short reign

 

[chinarice]

Morning Report | Belal Muhammad: Islam Makhachev is ‘planting seeds’ for ‘easier’ matchup with Kamaru Usman

Belal Muhammad rips Kamaru Usman being in welterweight title consideration.

www.mmafighting.com

I mean, maybe he's not wrong or maybe he is wrong because Usman gave Khamzat all he can handle and Islam will probably grapple fuck Morales to bolivia. Or maybe Ali is trying to double dip and get both Islam and Usman his clients paid.

But, here's the thing, because they trained together Islam actually showed Belal the respect to wait until he lost to JMD before fighting for the WW title.

while on the other hand Belal is talking shit and wants to fight Islam.

This would be a face turn, my guy. Not sure you get pro wrestling, to call it a heel turn lol

 

[188912345]

1-2 in my mind, short notice Usman 9 days notice moving up weight class to save card yet give the toughest fight to current middleweight champion. Context brother.

Khamzat was 10-8ing him before the hand injury and he was also reportedly sick with a fever.

It was also a couple of years ago.

I think that's also important for context.

Valiant losses shouldn't be grounds for title shots.

 

[richardjohnson]

Prime Costa did manage to hold relic Romero to only one takedown in three rounds 7 years ago (Romero's last ever UFC takedown and coming off a 14 month lay off), which is impressive even though Romero was unable to land another meaningful takedown for the rest of his career.

If guys like Oluwale Bamgbose and Marvin Vettori take your back, just imagine what Khamzat would do. He isn't getting Khamzat off him, sorry to say.

Costa is the most overrated journeyman of all-time.

Costa had a competitive fight with old man Rockhold, that should tell you just how overrated he is.

Edit: Vettori made easy work of Costa even after the bullshit stunt Paulo pulled to get a size advantage. But yeah, terrible matchup for Khamzat.

 

[Kevster]

Quite the mental gymnastics being performed to justify a cherry pick.

It’s Islam’s career, he can do whatever he wants, but let’s call a spade a spade.

 

[gracie_barra_samurai]

Belal's lost his bathtub membership.

Interesting how he started looking crap again after he stopped training with Khabib.

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

“No one else deserves it but the easiest fighters to beat!”

~ Islam’s manager and fans

 

[Kung Fu Kowboy]

After seeing the recent Paramount Promo...

Belal isn't sniffing another main card anytime soon

 

[SkinnyClaw]

If it was before the Buckley fight I'd understand it, but why are people acting like Usman is a washed bum who will get mauled by Islam, when he's just had one of his best performances, and it was all grappling? I don't believe Usman deserves it at all, but the fight itself is interesting and I'd watch it no problem if they announced it.

 

[JKS]

It’s not about being competitive or fitting style, otherwise Costa should get the title shot at MW. He has also only lost to champions and title challengers at MW.
You just can’t get a title shot with that level of inactivity like Usman, while there are guys who are undefeated and really active in front of him.

Is Costa the 2nd best MW of all time with 5 title defenses?? If not then why even make the comparison?? Not only that, Costa has lost to numerous other fighters like Vettori, Strickland and WHitaker. Usman only lost in title fights to Edwards. It's a pretty absurd comparison you made lol.

Context matters. After a WW title run that is second to only GSP, Usman has lost twice to Leon, both in title fights. And then came back to beat Buckely.

Nothing wrong with this fight.

 

[JKS]

If it was before the Buckley fight I'd understand it, but why are people acting like Usman is a washed bum who will get mauled by Islam, when he's just had one of his best performances, and it was all grappling? I don't believe Usman deserves it at all, but the fight itself is interesting and I'd watch it no problem if they announced it.

People who say Usman is washed is just pure stupidity. Pretty clearly beat Buckley. Took on Khamzat on 8 days notice up a weight class and fought to a Majority Decision. Usman still has it.

 

[Mohawk Banditó]

People who say Usman is washed is just pure stupidity. Pretty clearly beat Buckley. Took on Khamzat on 8 days notice up a weight class and fought to a Majority Decision. Usman still has it.

Should "have it" against someone in the top 5 then

 

[JKS]

Should "have it" against someone in the top 5 then

So he should fight someone in the top 5 while the champ is calling him out and he gets a direct shot??

What sense is that lol.

 

[Conan the K-9]

Is Costa the 2nd best MW of all time with 5 title defenses?? If not then why even make the comparison?? Not only that, Costa has lost to numerous other fighters like Vettori, Strickland and WHitaker. Usman only lost in title fights to Edwards. It's a pretty absurd comparison you made lol.

Context matters. After a WW title run that is second to only GSP, Usman has lost twice to Leon, both in title fights. And then came back to beat Buckely.

Nothing wrong with this fight.

No but the argument was that, it’s a competitive matchup.

No one who is as inactive as Usman has been last years, should be in the talks for a title shot. No matter former champion or not.
Does Adesanya deserve a title shot next?

 

[Sycho Sid]

So he should fight someone in the top 5 while the champ is calling him out and he gets a direct shot??

What sense is that lol.

Buckley was 6 months ago, he could have taken a fight between then and now. It will be nearly a year yet again between fights for him