Can anyone at 155 or 170 beat Islam?

[John Cena]

I'm thinking Islam cleans house at both 155 and 170 easily. Would winning both titles would put him over Khabib in the GOAT discussion?

 

[svmr_db]

Arman *can* beat him, he probably won't but he's got a better shot than almost anybody else at 155.

 

[kingmob6]

we'll find out soon enough, I'm kinda over seeing threads on this, no disrespect given to OP

 

[Arm Barbarian]

He's not beating most of the top welters, outside of dudes who can't grapple.

 

[humdizzle]

i could see him beating most of the WW division

however guys like Leon and Shavkat could give him some big troubles. They are massive and Leon has great TDD. Leon's range would also be a big problem

he probably walks through ian garry, jdm, colby, wonderboy... beats burns.

 

[Koala]

I think Shavkat and Leon Edwards can beat him
He tools Belal and Colby for sure

 

[Rektkid]

As a Makhachev fan, I'm hating the growing threads of making him out to be invincible. No one is. Take each fight as it comes and take it from there in this wild, unpredictable sport.

 

[Deleted member 504083]

No way to know how adding good weight will translate to fighting at WW, but he should be favored skill wise over everybody there.

Arman's the only guy who possibly has anything more than a punchers chance at LW imo

 

[NoSmilez]

I am not sold until he fights outside of the UAE.

 

[HP_Nut]

I am not sold until he fights outside of the UAE.

He beat Volk in Australia & Poirier in the US. I personally would favour Shav & Leon over him at WW

 

[NoSmilez]

He beat Volk in Australia & Poirier in the US. I personally would favour Shav & Leon over him at WW

His performances outside of the UAE have been less than dominating. Islam in the New Jersey and Australia isn't Islam in the UAE. It shouldn't make a difference in Jersey since the rehydration is the roughly the same as the UAE. Australia had a short rehydration time when Islam fought but they changed it now.

I favor those two men over Islam if it's outside of the UAE. We will find out by the next fight if Islam is on his decline or not. If he can return to form in UAE then he has some sort of advantage training and fighting there.

 

[blaseblase]

I am not sold until he fights outside of the UAE.

He just did. He's only fought in the UAE 4 out of 27 career fights.

 

[RockyLockridge]

He's already close to khabib so yeah he'd be over.

 

[NoSmilez]

He just did. He's only fought in the UAE 4 out of 27 career fights.

You aren't reading the other posts and jumping into conclusions.

 

[BJJ4Tone]

I'm thinking Islam cleans house at both 155 and 170 easily. Would winning both titles would put him over Khabib in the GOAT discussion?

Shavkat and Leon would both be really tough fights.
If Islam beat both of them, he would certainly be in special territory.

As far as the GOAT debate goes, I think it will be the same as it currently is with Khabib vs GSP or Jones. It all comes down to what you value.
Jones and GSP are certainly more ACCOMPLISHED than Khabib, so they have that argument in their favor.
But Khabib is the most dominant fighter we've ever seen, showed nary a moment of vulnerability and retired undefeated as champion, so he has arguments for him too.
There's really no right or wrong answer when it comes to the CONCEPT of the greatest of all-time, because at the end of the day, that's all it is, is a concept.

 

[The Siege]

His performances outside of the UAE have been less than dominating. Islam in the New Jersey and Australia isn't Islam in the UAE. It shouldn't make a difference in Jersey since the rehydration is the roughly the same as the UAE. Australia had a short rehydration time when Islam fought but they changed it now.

I favor those two men over Islam if it's outside of the UAE. We will find out by the next fight if Islam is on his decline or not. If he can return to form in UAE then he has some sort of advantage training and fighting there.

This is such a weird talking point.

In his 4 UAE fights:
- He finished Charles in 2 rounds, someone who is a kill or be killed fighter who rarely goes to a decision by Arm Triangle SUB
- A short notice Volk off the couch by KO/TKO
- Davi Ramos by decision
- Short notice Dan Hooker who isnt known for his grappling via Kimura SUB

Outside of the UAE:
- Dustin by D'Arce SUB after outstriking him
- FW Champ and #1 P4P Volk by DEC
- Short notice Bobby Green by TKO
- Thiago Moises by Rear Naked Choke SUB
- Drew Dober by Arm Triangle SUB
- Short notice debuting Arman by DEC
- Kajan Johnson by Armbar SUB
- Glieson Tibaue by KO/TKO
- Nike Lentz by DEC
- Chris Wade by DEC
- Leo Kunt by Rear Naked Choke SUB
- Loss to Martins by KO/TKO

He performs BETTER outside of the UAE lmao

 

[FreedomCricket]

I'm okay with giving him 155lb division.

I'm not giving him 170lbs until he actually fights at WW.

 

[sdpdude9]

At 155 currently Arman and Gamrot could be decent tests. At 170, I’d need to see him there but there’s reason to believe there’s several guys that could give him trouble.

 

[GreatSaintGuillotine]

At 170 for sure. Arman has a shot at 155

 

[amok attitude]

I'm thinking Islam cleans house at both 155 and 170 easily. Would winning both titles would put him over Khabib in the GOAT discussion?

Islam is probably p4p number 1 today, you cannot take him lightly. That being said, at 170, he never fought anyone elite. What about Leon, Khamzat, Burns, Colby, Kamaru, Shavkat ? All those guys are very good grapplers, they are big...i dont see Islam having an easy fight against any of those guys.