Belal will never sniff another title shot again, Topuria's gamble and other takeaways from the weekend

[Rataria]

Issy wont fight Ilia , ever. It has been ordained.

Deal with it.

Issy aint tryna stay at 155 anyay. He eat that good punani nowdays

 

[DiazSlap]

4. White belts shouldn't be allowed to make threads

5. This thread sucks and only provides TS’s unwanted opinions.

 

[hbombbisping]

According to his team, when they're asked about it in interviews? Come on.

While this is true to some degree and we don't really get to see these guys sparring at 100% capacity, I'm fairly confident by the eye test that Usman is roughly the LW equivilant of Umar. Their styles are reminicent... only Usman has more upside because he's even younger and relatively longer for his division.

Umar would be champion today if there wasn't a cardio freak of nature at BW whom Umar gave his most difficult test as champion to date in a fairly closely contested decision, even despite the fact that Merab has already gone through murders row.

I'm reasonably sure both Umar and Usman will eventually become UFC champions. Iron sharpens iron. When you train with the best day in and day out you become the best (especially with their work ethic)... even less accomplished teams right now (Fighting Nerds for instance) are proof of this.

5. This thread sucks and only provides TS’s unwanted opinions.

You mean I'm the only one giving my opinion in this thread? Brilliant lol

 

[fortheo]

I think belal is AT WORST two wins away from a title fight. I wouldn't be on him doing it, but it is certainly possible we see him in a title fight again if he takes out another guy like Gary or shavkat.

 

[WoozyFailGuy]

I'm reasonably sure both Umar and Usman will eventually become UFC champions. Iron sharpens iron. When you train with the best day in and day out you become the best (especially with their work ethic)... even less accomplished teams right now (Fighting Nerds for instance) are proof of this.

This is nice in movies, but the reality is that everyone has a ceiling and only a few fighters break through, signifying their greatness.

Umar would be champion today if there wasn't a cardio freak of nature at BW whom Umar gave his most difficult test as champion to date in a fairly closely contested decision

Umar did give Merab a good fight, that's a fact I won't take away from him, but he was pushed with a single top win, which was a contentious 48-47 with Sandhagen, not the 50-45 that one Abu Dhabi judge sold it as. That was the issue that some people and Merab himself (especially after his climb) complained about and the issue I have with "Umar would be champ," we simply do not know that. He has not shown enough against top competition.

He was also emoted on multiple times during the fight, which is a very clear way of showing the difference in levels between two opponents.

Merab's gameplan was to tire Umar out and it worked, he embarrassed him in the later rounds and convincingly won IMO.

Umar and Usman may very well go on to become greats in their own rights, time will tell, but I don't think it's nearly as certain as you contend.

 

[hbombbisping]

This is nice in movies, but the reality is that everyone has a ceiling and only a few fighters break through, signifying their greatness.


Umar did give Merab a good fight, that's a fact I won't take away from him, but he was pushed with a single top win, which was a contentious 48-47 with Sandhagen, not the 50-45 that one Abu Dhabi judge sold it as. That was the issue that some people and Merab himself (especially after his climb) complained about and the issue I have with "Umar would be champ," we simply do not know that. He has not shown enough against top competition.

He was also emoted on multiple times during the fight, which is a very clear way of showing the difference in levels between two opponents.

Merab's gameplan was to tire Umar out and it worked, he embarrassed him in the later rounds and convincingly won IMO.

Umar and Usman may very well go on to become greats in their own rights, time will tell, but I don't think it's nearly as certain as you contend.

In reality we're talking about a team that has had back to back p4p #1 fighters in the world, as well as a young up and coming Strikeforce champion and his brother who just gave the UFC BW champ his toughest defence to date in a close decision. Umar did better than Cejudo, Aldo, O'Malley and Yan. It's not really debatable. He's still years away from fighters prime which is generally around 32-33 and Merab is getting old. He'll be 35-36 by the time they fight again if he holds on to the title and Umar is only getting better. I think he beat Corey fairly easily as well and disagree with your judging. Umar, Usman, Khabib and Islam are a combined 93-2. Barring any unforeseen career altering incidents, both brothers will become UFC champions. I'm as sure of it as I was that Islam would take the throne while Khabib reigned.

As Dana says though, I guess we'll see how it all plays out.

 

[CatchtheseHands]

Usman is as overrated as the last guy called Usman and would be a middle of the pack ranked fighter in the UFC.


Belal is now behind Islam, Shavkat, and Garry for a shot, arguably.

He's got at least two years before he sniffs it again and I jsut don't see it happening again. I'm actually glad workhorses like Belal and Merab got belts. I'm also glad that Belal held onto it only a short time.
Merab I like now though.

I think Belal could get a TS again within 3 wins depending on who he were to beat. He already has wins over Brady and Leon. If he could beat Buckley and Garry for example he very much could get a TS off that but easier said than done.

 

[hbombbisping]

I think Belal could get a TS again within 3 wins depending on who he were to beat. He already has wins over Brady and Leon. If he could beat Buckley and Garry for example he very much could get a TS off that but easier said than done.

Regarding Belal, even if he were to defy the odds at 36, the UFC would still most likely cock block him, put roadblocks in front of him and age him out. Stick a fork in him.

 

[TITS]

No, the propaganda that LW is the most stacked division because the largest amount of average sized men can cut to that weight is just that, propaganda but that's a whole different story.

However, it's also propaganda to pretend that Hughes and Usman haven't been fighting cans, washed vets, and journeymen in PFL/Smellator while being each others only serious competition outside of shab and i guess primus.

Usman in his last 4 wins has Bendo and Patricky, who are both beyond washed. In his NC he had to roid to get past Primus. Oh, imagine, another Eagles fighter testing positive, it's almost as if there seems to be an inherent issue at that gym, strange...

Hughes I'm actually more impressed with, but like with Usman, I predict he would be a middle of the road ranked fighter.

That's the issue with Smellator/PFL, the 4 guys in each division they have who might be talented are stuck facing the same subpar competition outside of eachother, plateauing them. Guys that get cut from the UFC go over there and win tournaments, Kasanganay who is a highlight reel meme for Buckley gave Eblen the fight of his life, who was also supposed to be able to come over and smash the UFC's MW division, but would end up getting fucking flatlined by anyone in the top 10.

There is a trend which seems to be the reversal of what it was before, when other organizations were much closer competitively to the UFC their fighters who eventually came over and became champions were called B-Leaguers, while now since it's popular to hate the UFC (with good reason) people are attributing a much higher skill level to fighters who have done little to nothing to prove they aren't B-leaguers.

How much is the UFC paying you to shill for them?

$1200 at least.

 

[CatchtheseHands]

Regarding Belal, even if he were to defy the odds at 36, the UFC would still most likely cock block him, put roadblocks in front of him and age him out. Stick a fork in him.

Despite losing, Belal put on the most exciting fight of his career and very likely the most memorable one too. After that performance I think the door is still very much open for him. I don't think the UFC would be as against giving him another shot anymore if he could work his way back, but that doesn't mean I think they'd be in a rush to give him another one either. He at least still has a much better chance than Leon ever will at sniffing another TS. The door is closed shut and bolted down for that boy.

 

[Bowel-forged Stool]

5. Thinking your belt color on a forum dicates your knowledge of the sport, ability to rationalize a thought or write coherently lol

You’ve obviously never spent a day in a dojo in your life or you’d show more hespect for sensei @Koro_11

 

[Hog-train]

5. Thinking your belt color on a forum dicates your knowledge of the sport, ability to rationalize a thought or write coherently lol

The more belts you achieve, the more Shertarded you get and knowledgeable in the Force.

And if you didn't know, all Shertards are 6'4" 240 of pure muscle with 5% body fat. You're only a scrawny white belt that is 150 lbs soaking wet.

 

[TITS]

Despite losing, Belal put on the most exciting fight of his career and very likely the most memorable one too. After that performance I think the door is still very much open for him. I don't think the UFC would be as against giving him another shot anymore if he could work his way back, but that doesn't mean I think they'd be in a rush to give him another one either. He at least still has a much better chance than Leon ever will at sniffing another TS. The door is closed shut and bolted down for that boy.

Here's what I can see happening:
Usman ekes out a lay-n-pray decision against Buckley.
Usman and Belal, both wanting a quick turnaround, fight each other (hyped grudge match) in September.
Belal starches Usman, putting himself back in the title picture, Usman retires.
Brady and Garry both lay massive eggs in their next fights, setting themselves back years.
At this point Boxcar Jack will no longer be champion, and back to mopping floors and cleaning toilets at his local soup kitchen.
Belal vs Shavkat happens early 2026, Belal tosses Shavkat and regains the title.

 

[balkanbomber85]

4. White belts shouldn't be allowed to make threads

By experience this guy is most probably a black belt. Im like 99,9% sure this is his 5th account, with @hbombfromhell being one of his deleted accounts. Go check it out, same agenda, same writing style, everything!

 

[ejazahmednit]

Belal needs to string atleast two consecutive wins to even think about a TS
I think he wont clamor about it either. He knows his ceiling and winning the belt is an awesome achievement

 

[LetThemBleed]

Here's what I can see happening:
Usman ekes out a lay-n-pray decision against Buckley.
Usman and Belal, both wanting a quick turnaround, fight each other (hyped grudge match) in September.
Belal starches Usman, putting himself back in the title picture, Usman retires.
Brady and Garry both lay massive eggs in their next fights, setting themselves back years.
At this point Boxcar Jack will no longer be champion, and back to mopping floors and cleaning toilets at his local soup kitchen.
Belal vs Shavkat happens early 2026, Belal tosses Shavkat and regains the title.

View attachment 1094829

So of your belief is that Belal who has exactly 2 finishes in 8+ years is going to starch Usman who himself is on a 3 fight skid and at best would be coming off as you described a dull decision? Then Belal on a mighty one fight win streak over a shot Usman gets a title shot, in early 2026 against Shavkat, who will what have miraculously healed in time to fight and then beat presumably Islam if you assume JDM will lose to the latter. Man I wish I had a some of whatever you were smoking.

 

[CatchtheseHands]

Here's what I can see happening:
Usman ekes out a lay-n-pray decision against Buckley.
Usman and Belal, both wanting a quick turnaround, fight each other (hyped grudge match) in September.
Belal starches Usman, putting himself back in the title picture, Usman retires.
Brady and Garry both lay massive eggs in their next fights, setting themselves back years.
At this point Boxcar Jack will no longer be champion, and back to mopping floors and cleaning toilets at his local soup kitchen.
Belal vs Shavkat happens early 2026, Belal tosses Shavkat and regains the title.

View attachment 1094829

Quite the fan fic you got there lol