Does Leon Have A Chance Against Islam?

[The Siege]

Well, if he beat Islam he would have at least 4 defenses, as he has to get past Belal first for it to even happen.

And while other people have more than that, it would be 4 unique opponents, which is more than Usman's 3 since he only had rematches. Which would pretty much just put him behind GSP and Hughes.

If you're in the same light as Usman, Hughes and GSP, then you're already in the conversation.

I'm not joking, I totally forgot to add it. I was thinking Usman, Colby, and Islam is a good 3 fight title defense streak.

Yes, I would put him at #3 with Usman, Colby, Belal, and Islam as defenses. Especially since he has 2 head to head wins against Usman himself.

 

[TheRealWill]

First of all brilliant fight tonight! Respect to both warriors.

Leon is a phenomenal striker but Islam is too, the difference I think is that Leon can bring a wider variety of strikes to the fight.

However I do notice that kicking at Islam is a very big risk due to the threat of the kick being caught and then that leading to a takedown.

Another thing is that Leon has drastically improved his grappling over the years even being able to take Usman and Covington down.

However both Usman and Covington aren’t submission threats the way Islam is. Both don’t really hunt for submissions they just kinda grind you out and establish dominant positions. Conversely Islam is a master of submissions and just proven tonight you have to be on your A-game when on the ground with him.

I feel like this is a tricky fight to call and naturally will come down to if Leon can defeat a much improved Belal.

What do you guys think?

Personally I’m leaning slightly towards Leon but I of course could be wrong.

Pretty good breakdown. I agree with basically everything, including slightly favoring Leon. Would love to see it though.

 

[ThePimblettEra]

A lot of ya'll gonna get a reality check when Leon either stops Islam or decisions him with ease.

Panic wrestling/smothering style is only effective against guys who aren't equipped to deal with it.

Leon is rangey and has solid fundamentals, he's not gonna get wrestlefucked and he ain't gonna gas out stuffing the shots -- he'll pick Islam apart.

 

[The Siege]

A lot of ya'll gonna get a reality check when Leon either stops Islam or decisions him with ease.

Panic wrestling/smothering style is only effective against guys who aren't equipped to deal with it.

Leon is rangey and has solid fundamentals, he's not gonna get wrestlefucked and he ain't gonna gas out stuffing the shots -- he'll pick Islam apart.

Whats the reality check lol almost everyone in this thread is picking Leon. I think Makhachev is a more complete fighter than Leon, but I am not betting on him beating Leon.

 

[JBJ was here]

Belal and Colby would beat Islam too

Colby? How high are you? Colby can't even beat himself off these days his hands are so weak. He's losing to Islam 99/100, the one win being a freak noncontact injury.

 

[RockyLockridge]

Colby? How high are you? Colby can't even beat himself off these days his hands are so weak. He's losing to Islam 99/100, the one win being a freak noncontact injury.

Colby could out pace him. Clear cardio edge goes to Colby scrambling ability is also very good. If he can almost lose to Dustin or volk, he can lose to Colby. Colby isn't in his prime anymore because he never fights but 2021 colby has it in the bag that's easy money imo

 

[ThePimblettEra]

Whats the reality check lol almost everyone in this thread is picking Leon. I think Makhachev is a more complete fighter than Leon, but I am not betting on him beating Leon.

Dunno barely read the thread lol.

Just know that the guy has a lot of fanatics.

 

[The Siege]

Colby could out pace him. Clear cardio edge goes to Colby scrambling ability is also very good. If he can almost lose to Dustin or volk, he can lose to Colby. Colby isn't in his prime anymore because he never fights but 2021 colby has it in the bag that's easy money imo

Rocky, who haven't you predicted would beat Islam "easily" yet? It seems like everytime I see you discussing a hypothetical matchup, Islam is always getting "easily" beat.

Reading your posts, one would think he wasn't the P4P #1 and an undisputed Champ, sheesh.

 

[RockyLockridge]

Rocky, who haven't you predicted would beat Islam "easily" yet? It seems like everytime I see you discussing a hypothetical matchup, Islam is always getting "easily" beat.

Reading your posts, one would think he wasn't the P4P #1 and an undisputed Champ, sheesh.

This is a ww.

I've bet on Islam every fight he's had at lw.

I gave Charles and Islam zero chance at beating Islam. I have receipts for that. Matter of fact, Islam let me down against Dustin I bet he'd win under 3.5 and lost that bet.

When I see someone struggle with a fw, I find it hard to put a ww over him. Sorry not sorry.

 

[The Siege]

This is a ww.

I've bet on Islam every fight he's had at lw.

I gave Charles and Islam zero chance at beating Islam. I have receipts for that. Matter of fact, Islam let me down against Dustin I bet he'd win under 3.5 and lost that bet.

When I see someone struggle with a fw, I find it hard to put a ww over him. Sorry not sorry.

I agree that WW is a different game, but saying Colby of any era beats him easily is so off base it's not even an argument worthy of having.

Could he beat him? Yes. But Islam is the better striker, better in the clinch, better overall MMA grappler, and better BJJ player. I don't know how that translates to beating Islam easily.

 

[Edward Henry Greb]

A lot of ya'll gonna get a reality check when Leon either stops Islam or decisions him with ease.

Panic wrestling/smothering style is only effective against guys who aren't equipped to deal with it.

Leon is rangey and has solid fundamentals, he's not gonna get wrestlefucked and he ain't gonna gas out stuffing the shots -- he'll pick Islam apart.

My take as well.

 

[RockyLockridge]

I agree that WW is a different game, but saying Colby of any era beats him easily is so off base it's not even an argument worthy of having.

Could he beat him? Yes. But Islam is the better striker, better in the clinch, better overall MMA grappler, and better BJJ player. I don't know how that translates to beating Islam easily.

Colby went neck and neck with Usman twice

 

[The Siege]

Colby went neck and neck with Usman twice

Islam and Usman are very different fighters lol

Islam is a patient counter-striker who stays at KB range, who heavily utilizes trips, reaps, and throws in the clinch and against the fence, who has subbed multiple elite fighters using various submissions.

Kamaru is a wrestle first fighter who uses boxing when needed, he uses the clinch primarily to push his opponent to the fence, his wrestling shots are primarily singles or doubles. He has one sub and that was on TUF. He also has shot knees.

 

[RockyLockridge]

Islam and Usman are very different fighters lol

Islam is a patient counter-striker who stays at KB range, who heavily utilizes trips, reaps, and throws in the clinch and against the fence, who has subbed multiple elite fighters using various submissions.

Kamaru is a wrestle first fighter who uses boxing when needed, he uses the clinch primarily to push his opponent to the fence, his wrestling shots are primarily singles or doubles. He has one sub and that was on TUF. He also has shot knees.

Usman would beat Islam easy

 

[The Siege]

Usman would beat Islam easy

This has nothing to do with what I wrote

 

[Brigfa2]

Islam wants to go up now because the Woodley, Usman, Colby era Khabib ducked is over and a striker is the champ right now. He is doing that Izzy and GSP tactic, going up when there is an easy matchup

 

[StonedLemur]

He’s very big and quite long too.

He makes very good use of his reach much like Izzy.

When I read the first sentence I thought this post was going in a very different direction sir lol

 

[Cowboy Kurt Angle]

 

[C0NCH3TO]

This version of Leon is done.

 

[Mammothman]

Any version of Scott gets grapplefucked.