Dana needs to forgive Arman: when history is on the making, it has to be made.

[Rubios]

First: I'm the biggest Khabib fan. Him punching Conor while shouting "Let's talk now" and calling him a bitch between rounds has been the best time the UFC has ever given me.
Plus, the "unscathed, never bled, only lost 2 rounds".

But Islam doesn't only hold the record of LW title defenses. He is on a 15 winning streak, one away from AS record.

UFC can have another fighter, a current one, to sit on the table along the all time greats. All of them from the golden era (GSP, DJ, Silva...) and with Jones nearing his twilight.

But Islam needs Arman in his resume. I understand Dana may be mad at him, but it's about Islam's legacy.

He should book a fight with Arman whenever Islam wants. If Mak gets the win and reaches 16, and before moving to 170 -he wants to wait until Belal is no longer champ anyway-, he should take another LW fight (Hooker/Gaethje winner, re-match with Charles, whoever is the #1 contender ATM) and try to set a new absolute winning streak (17).
This would also mean 6 title defenses at LW, twice than any other former champion.
Against strong, not questionable opposition.

An then, once Belal doesn't hold the WW belt anymore, go for it.
Win or lose, no one could deny he is one of the greatest ever. Well, if he become double champ, I dunno where I'd put him...

Topuria is great, Alex is great (although 37), DDP is great... but Islam is the only fighter right now close enough of being GREAT.

 

[VinceArch]

You are aware Islam has already fought and beaten Arman, right?

 

[LoveMyMMA]

Islam needs a new name to his resume.

Sick of these rematches.

 

[Blanqa Blanqua]

Best thing for Islam's legacy right now IMO, is Belal / Shavcat winner. I hope Dana makes it happen

 

[WoozyFailGuy]

"Khabib only lost two rounds"
Yea if we completely ignore the existence of Gleison Tibau

 

[Sean Chowdhury]

"Khabib only lost two rounds"
Yea if we completely ignore the existence of Gleison Tibau

23 year old boy strength khabib vs roided 190 pound prime tibau and he still did more damage and pushed him against the fence. Tibau has an argument to win but it's not as bad of a look as people act like it is

 

[Rubios]

Islam has already won vs Arman... when he was a prospect in a short notice fight.

He needs solid title defenses against the top opposition to stop the naysayers.

 

[Rubios]

Best thing for Islam's legacy right now IMO, is Belal / Shavcat winner. I hope Dana makes it happen

Yes. Don't know if he'd be willing to fight Belal, though.

But why not secure (nothing is secure in MMA, let's say "try to secure") the 16 or even an all time 17 winning streak before moving up?

 

[JustOnce]

I wanna see that fight but that was a big mistake. He needs a win and Islam doesn't need Arman.

 

[Hymen Crusher]

Only an mma can a guy just not fight someone because where they train. We had to suffer through aljo because merab wouldn't fight him. Belal and Islam should fight. Anything to get rid of him if shavkat doesnt.

 

[fightfan70]

its weird to me how so many fans are deeply concerned about another mans legacy.

i just want to see the best fights, champ should be fighting number 1 contender no matter who he is.

didnt islam even say out loud, it does not matter who they put in front of him?

neither islam nor arman are the same fighter they were when they fought last.

i think a fight with a more patient less reckless charly olives goes quire differently too.

no one else besides dustin is worthy.

 

[volcom5]

In hindsight he should’ve agreed to the fight when it was offered. At this point he’s unreliable when it comes to making it to the fight. He needs to show the UFC that he can be make it to a big fight again.

 

[mangokush]

Arman took away Dana's snow & blackjack money since Dana had to pay Moicano almost a million to save the card because Arman was to have a bad weight cut under the guise of an "injury"

Arman will never get a title shot for this
Dana's pettiness will make sure of that

 

[sabretitan]

Agree ts, unfortunately we all know how dana is..
I just really want to see that fight

 

[LeBron]

Nah I think if you “get injured” that close to a fight you have to get punished

 

[Luckyme]

First: I'm the biggest Khabib fan. Him punching Conor while shouting "Let's talk now" and calling him a bitch between rounds has been the best time the UFC has ever given me.
Plus, the "unscathed, never bled, only lost 2 rounds".

But Islam doesn't only hold the record of LW title defenses. He is on a 15 winning streak, one away from AS record.

UFC can have another fighter, a current one, to sit on the table along the all time greats. All of them from the golden era (GSP, DJ, Silva...) and with Jones nearing his twilight.

But Islam needs Arman in his resume. I understand Dana may be mad at him, but it's about Islam's legacy.

He should book a fight with Arman whenever Islam wants. If Mak gets the win and reaches 16, and before moving to 170 -he wants to wait until Belal is no longer champ anyway-, he should take another LW fight (Hooker/Gaethje winner, re-match with Charles, whoever is the #1 contender ATM) and try to set a new absolute winning streak (17).
This would also mean 6 title defenses at LW, twice than any other former champion.
Against strong, not questionable opposition.

An then, once Belal doesn't hold the WW belt anymore, go for it.
Win or lose, no one could deny he is one of the greatest ever. Well, if he become double champ, I dunno where I'd put him...

Topuria is great, Alex is great (although 37), DDP is great... but Islam is the only fighter right now close enough of being GREAT.

I understand where you're coming from but it's possible there's another reason why Armen pulled out.

There are rumors floating - Bisping and Josh Thompson - that the UFC doesn't believe Armen really injured his back and instead had weight cutting issues. If that's true, there's no chance Dana will grant him another title shot until he proves he can make weight. We'll find out what the real story is in the coming weeks.

 

[Nausicaa]

First: I'm the biggest Khabib fan. Him punching Conor while shouting "Let's talk now" and calling him a bitch between rounds has been the best time the UFC has ever given me.
Plus, the "unscathed, never bled, only lost 2 rounds".

But Islam doesn't only hold the record of LW title defenses. He is on a 15 winning streak, one away from AS record.

UFC can have another fighter, a current one, to sit on the table along the all time greats. All of them from the golden era (GSP, DJ, Silva...) and with Jones nearing his twilight.

But Islam needs Arman in his resume. I understand Dana may be mad at him, but it's about Islam's legacy.

He should book a fight with Arman whenever Islam wants. If Mak gets the win and reaches 16, and before moving to 170 -he wants to wait until Belal is no longer champ anyway-, he should take another LW fight (Hooker/Gaethje winner, re-match with Charles, whoever is the #1 contender ATM) and try to set a new absolute winning streak (17).
This would also mean 6 title defenses at LW, twice than any other former champion.
Against strong, not questionable opposition.

An then, once Belal doesn't hold the WW belt anymore, go for it.
Win or lose, no one could deny he is one of the greatest ever. Well, if he become double champ, I dunno where I'd put him...

Topuria is great, Alex is great (although 37), DDP is great... but Islam is the only fighter right now close enough of being GREAT.

Islam does not need Arman if he moves to 170 or 185. He already beat Arman. Yes, Arman is the top contender at 155 but if he beats a top 3 at 170 or top 3 at 185, it would be much more significant for his legacy than beating Arman at this moment.

 

[BowserJr]

Islam needs a new name to his resume.

Sick of these rematches.

This is one of the few instances where a rematch makes sense and is interesting

 

[Söze Aldo]

 

[wrb]

Dana should forgive Arman because the UFC put Arman on the back burner at the beginning of his career when he could have been in the top 10 at the same time Islam achieved that ranking. It's hard for me to think this was an accident; it seems more likely they didn't want another potential Islam while they were promoting Islam. Additionally, Arman clearly won the Gamrot fight, which adds to the peculiarity as it occurred simultaneously with Islam fighting Oliveira, and that decision kept Arman sidelined for an even longer period.


Only the UFC knows the extent of their manipulation in these matters, and it worked because Islam became champion. Fortunately, Arman wasn't hurt, and he's still young. Moreover, Arman deserves a second chance just for the questionable decision against Gamrot alone, not to mention being overlooked for so long. Before anyone responds: Nothing I've said diminishes Islam's amazing abilities or suggests that Arman can beat him; it simply means that something clearly prevented Arman from becoming the next lightweight rising star immediately after his first UFC fight.