Edwards tools Islam

Man, i think skill for skill, islam is above Leon. And that's probably why he would be the favorite in bets.

But I think Leon just have the skills to beat him.
Leon has developing an Anti-wrestlers style for years. And He's just too good in it, he figths very well in his backfoot, with a lot of lateral movements and keep poking his enemy's at range.
Speaking of striking, I think Islam like to be in the backfoot too and have a really good left hook(southpaw) counter.

But he could do it against Leon?
Leon is bigger and better in this game. Islam's only option would be the grapple, which Leon is pretty good deflecting

So IMO, Leon gets that.
 
Islam is obviously more skilled but Leon is much bigger. 15lbs is a world of difference, not to mention reach and power. Despite what your girlfriend said, size does matter
 
Leon's last 4 training camps have been training for forward pressure wrestlers - Usman x2, Colby, Belal. That's 4 training camps in a row training to defend takedowns, hold the centre of the cage, and keep the fight at kicking range.

He just beat Usman (3rd fight), and Colby by somewhat clear decisions by defending takedowns, getting back up to his feet, holding centre and keeping the fight at kicking range. I assume he will do the same to Belal.

If Leon fought Islam next, that's 5 training camps in a row preparing a very similar game-plan vs a wrestler.

This idea that if Islam gets a takedown he's just going to sub Leon easily or hold him down for entire rounds seems unlikely to me. Volk survived full 5 rounds with Islam, Poirier almost survived 5 rounds - both of them had success in defending takedowns, and getting back to the feet when they were taken down, and avoiding submissions when they were taken down. People talk like the fight is over as soon as Islam gets you down, but it's not the case.

Leon has never lost by submission.

You should generally always favour the fighter from the higher weight class in these match ups unless there's a giant skill gap in favour of the smaller man, or a massive stylistic weakness on the part of the bigger man. Considering Leon has been beating the welterweight grapplers comfortably recently, is on a 12 fight win streak, and the bigger man, I'd surprised that so many people think the Islam is the favourite.

If it does end up primarily a striking match I'd favour Leon to edge out a decision.

Leon gets underrated because he's a bit boring.
He's definitely boring but it's cause his style is frustrating for his opponents, he creates a pace where it's low output and the only output landing is from him.
 
He moved and fought Islam twice, are you on drug ?
Only to skip the line and fight for the belt, undeservingly. No risk going up a weight class and getting an instant title shot. Volk wouldn't ever move up to earn a title shot, same with Islam. Moving up a weight class, even as champ, should never result in getting an instant title shot. There is a reason why Islam about kills himself making weight. Dude won't risk going up to fight a top 10 guy at WW, only will do it if a title shot. These guys too scared to earn it. Alex is about the only one who did it right. Even Jon is too scared to earn it at HW.
 
Only to skip the line and fight for the belt, undeservingly. No risk going up a weight class and getting an instant title shot. Volk wouldn't ever move up to earn a title shot, same with Islam. Moving up a weight class, even as champ, should never result in getting an instant title shot. There is a reason why Islam about kills himself making weight. Dude won't risk going up to fight a top 10 guy at WW, only will do it if a title shot. These guys too scared to earn it. Alex is about the only one who did it right. Even Jon is too scared to earn it at HW.

That's how it works, welcome to the UFC. Your example is Alex, who was gifted a titleshot because of his animosity with Adesanya, after 3 fights ?

The same Alex that moved to LHW, because he lost the MW belt and was gifted another titleshot after a stinker against Blacho ? You must be kidding.

Islam had to get 10 wins in a row to get a titleshot, that's more than Pereira has in his UFC career.
 
Islam did look good in his win against Dustin but he didnt look great. Dustin is also at the end of it now and just scraped by his last opponent when was reckless and got finished. Wasn't too long ago Dustin was also Ko'd stiff by Goethe.

Leon is used to fighting bigger guys and I could see him outsriking Islam.

Islam didn't look threatening at all last night. He was cut open with an elbow.

Like I said its not like Dustin is in his Prime anymore.

Leon has the belt and on a winning streak also.

Dont think the fight would happen anyway.
 
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For as much as I don't care for either fighter...both of them fighting each other has my full attention.
Excellent matchup in regards to both their styles and both their skills & techniques.
 
Weight classes exist for a reason. Leon easily walks around heavier than Islam if he wants. Islam could win, but it would be a real struggle.
 
Islam will dominate Edwards, extra 15 pounds, more strength and cardio. Islam is a better grappler than Usman, just wait and see. He has a tougher fight in Arman first.
If it was so easy he would not be killing himself to make 155, genius
 
You do realize Dustin’s knowledge of grappling is leaps and bounds above Edwards right?



Some of you bots who’ve never trained can’t possibly comprehend that styles make fights… an undersized RDA well past his prime took down Edwards and passed to side mount, undersized Gunnar easily mounted him for a whole round, Colby switched him and Leon had no answer, also defending takedowns from Usman who has no knees at this point in his career and most his takedowns come via upper bodylock is completely different than a guy with an immense arsenal like Islam.


I’m not saying it’s a slam dunk for Islam, but it’s an entire different fight. Edwards has a great line of defense at stopping takedowns, but once that level of defense is penetrated he doesn’t have the skillset or knowledge on the ground as Dustin. Islam is also not like Marty, in that he’s a submission threat from everywhere.


For sure it’s an interesting fight, but there is a path to victory for Mak.

Dustin is not that superior to Leon grappling wise more so considering the size gap.

Poirier is likely to get beat by Colbi, Usman, and even Nelson and RDA (not so past prime 5 years ago) at WW, let alone to get in a bad position at some point which is the best those guys managed to do to Leon. All of them ended up losing.
 
I agreed with this sentiment before watching Makhachev beat Porier…
 
That's how it works, welcome to the UFC. Your example is Alex, who was gifted a titleshot because of his animosity with Adesanya, after 3 fights ?

The same Alex that moved to LHW, because he lost the MW belt and was gifted another titleshot after a stinker against Blacho ? You must be kidding.

Islam had to get 10 wins in a row to get a titleshot, that's more than Pereira has in his UFC career.
Alex went up to LHW and earned a title shot by beating Jan. Alex wasn't gifted a title shot at the higher weight class like Volk was, and Islam is wanting to get gifted a title shot at WW just the same. Alex and Islam wouldn't ever move up a weight class and have to earn a title shot like Alex did. Beating a top 5 guy in Jan isn't being gifted a title shot you goof. Keep opening your mouth and proving how much of a goof you is be.
 
Only thing I’d add is Islam cut mad weight and would be a whole different dude at 170lbs

But Leon is sharp af and could def give Islam all he can get
 
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