How LW should be matched up if it was legit sports league

[Koya]

Prize Fighting will ALWAYS be different from "regular" sports.

It doesnt make it any more or less "legit" it's just different, always been different, always gonna be different. Best to treat them as two different entitites.

There should be a middle ground tho. Entertainer and legitimacy need to be weighed in both. A Paddy TS at this point is s pure entertainment. I mean I would watch it, but he's not the most deserving.

 

[HHJ]

There should be a middle ground tho. Entertainer and legitimacy need to be weighed in both. A Paddy TS at this point is s pure entertainment. I mean I would watch it, but he's not the most deserving.

Well of course it's gonna create bad faith if you do it all the time.

 

[TheNewGame]

I don't think it's chin at all, Max just got out played. Simple as that. They could fight at WW or MW. Nothing Max was doing really effected Topuria. Though he did do better than everyone else trying to box Topuria. I think it's wild to think gaining 10lbs is enough, that shot he was caught with would've dropped him 10lbs on his frame. Plus Topuria has too many fresh matchups at LW, so does Max.

What's wild is people thinking this fight would 100% end the same way at LW when Max is the bigger man, and won't be quickly moving back to FW in his 30s with 35 pro fights after bulking up for the Gaethje fight. There's no way his chin was optimal after doing that, just like there was no way Volk's chin was optimal against Ilia after getting brutally KOd by Islam, then having the quick turnaround fight with him.

Was a close fight until the KO, not sure why some say Max had nothing for him.

 

[Rampage_Jackson]

man 155 used to feel so deep. Shits shallow as fuck now

 

[Skarsgard]

I don't think it's chin at all, Max just got out played. Simple as that. They could fight at WW or MW. Nothing Max was doing really effected Topuria. Though he did do better than everyone else trying to box Topuria. I think it's wild to think gaining 10lbs is enough, that shot he was caught with would've dropped him 10lbs on his frame. Plus Topuria has too many fresh matchups at LW, so does Max.

There are a ton of factors that come with cutting too much weight. It was a nasty shot, but the cut could have been the difference between getting sat down and just hurt along the fence. His reaction time is going to be worse while dehydrated. His cardio and pace isn't going to be as strong.

Not to mention the difference in power we've seen from Max at 155 vs 145. The shots that were making Ilia a little uncomfortable in the exchanges could very well have hurt him or made him more reluctant to engage.

 

[MisfitsBR]

I actually think despite beneils lost step he'd still beat moicano. unless your talking about someone else beating beneil

They fought this year, Moicano almost KOed him in the first round too, then he got tired and lost by decision lol, it was a bad fight.

But I'm talking about Dariush x Chandler as the author of the topic suggested, Dariush's chin is gone...

 

[Tweak896]

What's wild is people thinking this fight would 100% end the same way at LW when Max is the bigger man, and won't be quickly moving back to FW in his 30s with 35 pro fights after bulking up for the Gaethje fight. There's no way his chin was optimal after doing that, just like there was no way Volk's chin was optimal against Ilia after getting brutally KOd by Islam, then having the quick turnaround fight with him.

Was a close fight until the KO, not sure why some say Max had nothing for him.

I get that. But Max has been at LW a few times. He never looked like he had great power, even with his last second KO of Gaethje who was battered and they threw down recklessly. Topuria also put on some weight and some power, the fight with Olivera he put him out the 1st round. Everyone is welcome to their opinion, but Topuria gains as well, also he has less mileage and damage on him at this point.

There are a ton of factors that come with cutting too much weight. It was a nasty shot, but the cut could have been the difference between getting sat down and just hurt along the fence. His reaction time is going to be worse while dehydrated. His cardio and pace isn't going to be as strong.

Not to mention the difference in power we've seen from Max at 155 vs 145. The shots that were making Ilia a little uncomfortable in the exchanges could very well have hurt him or made him more reluctant to engage.

Max's 2nd time at LW looks better, I'll give you that. He has added sneaky moves to his usual game lately as well. But Topuria is just locked in right now and he looks even better at LW with more power. Max better eliminate the other possibilities if he wants a rematch.

 

[Skarsgard]

I get that. But Max has been at LW a few times. He never looked like he had great power, even with his last second KO of Gaethje who was battered and they threw down recklessly. Topuria also put on some weight and some power, the fight with Olivera he put him out the 1st round. Everyone is welcome to their opinion, but Topuria gains as well, also he has less mileage and damage on him at this point.


Max's 2nd time at LW looks better, I'll give you that. He has added sneaky moves to his usual game lately as well. But Topuria is just locked in right now and he looks even better at LW with more power. Max better eliminate the other possibilities if he wants a rematch.

The other possibilities are Arman and Paddy. Do you see either of them walking through Max?

I'm also not convinced that Ilia is that much more lethal at 155 than he was at 145. Charles just expected that he's always going to be able to walk forward through heavy shots and recover. Getting flatlined was an inevitability. If he ever defends the belt, we'll know a lot more.

 

[Tweak896]

The other possibilities are Arman and Paddy. Do you see either of them walking through Max?

I'm also not convinced that Ilia is that much more lethal at 155 than he was at 145. Charles just expected that he's always going to be able to walk forward through heavy shots and recover. Getting flatlined was an inevitability. If he ever defends the belt, we'll know a lot more.

Arman vs Max makes me very curious actually. Max TDD is pretty good, I haven't seen him controlled like that and on the feet it's nothing but free punches for Max. I like that fight even though Arman is likely getting titleshot. Maybe if Arman beat Topuria, that's great for the belt.

Paddy, is a giant LW and seems to have better plans than most at LW. Max should piece him up as well, but I'm thinking Paddy has a shot to squeak it out by mixing in clinch and punches, like making the fight not a boxing match.

I'd have Max a favorite in both fights actually, either one would be fun. See, that kind of new matchups is much better to me than rematching Topuria and Max at LW right now. Let them fight fresh matchups.

 

[fortheo]

And not an entertainment business before being a legit sport.

- Ilia Topuria Vs Arman Tsarykuan : champion Vs #1 contender

- Charles Oliveira Vs Max Holloway : can set up the next #1 contender

- Justin Gaethje Vs Paddy Pimblett : can also produce the next contender

- Dan Hooker Vs Renato Moicano : is fun

- BSD Vs Gamrot : moves the division forward

- Chandler Vs Dariush (when dariush recovers): see what they have left

I like the matches, but giving BSD Gamrot kind of feels like a step sideways for both guys. I'd prefer BSD vs. Paddy and Gaethje vs. Hooker, but gaethje is a diva so who knows what is actually possible

 

[Tito Tapped]

You don't think other leagues make decisions based on money over fairness?

What exactly are we comparing this to?

 

[Skarsgard]

Arman vs Max makes me very curious actually. Max TDD is pretty good, I haven't seen him controlled like that and on the feet it's nothing but free punches for Max. I like that fight even though Arman is likely getting titleshot. Maybe if Arman beat Topuria, that's great for the belt.

Paddy, is a giant LW and seems to have better plans than most at LW. Max should piece him up as well, but I'm thinking Paddy has a shot to squeak it out by mixing in clinch and punches, like making the fight not a boxing match.

I'd have Max a favorite in both fights actually, either one would be fun. See, that kind of new matchups is much better to me than rematching Topuria and Max at LW right now. Let them fight fresh matchups.

Oh, I like them both over Max getting a rematch. I just disagree with the Sherdog narrative that the rematch is a foregone conclusion.

 

[Tweak896]

Oh, I like them both over Max getting a rematch. I just disagree with the Sherdog narrative that the rematch is a foregone conclusion.

Fair enough, I push hard against it every time I hear it brought up instinctively just because Topuria and Max just got to LW at the same time and both guys have plenty of fresh matchups before we cross that bridge. Right now we have Arman, Paddy, Gaethje, and you could even include Max in the titleshot line and Topuria only fought 1x this year. No idea why the UFC or him are keeping him on ice so long.

 

[SuperNerd]

None of you like sports.

Stop pretending.

Be real.

Give us what we want, when we want it.

 

[Skarsgard]

Fair enough, I push hard against it every time I hear it brought up instinctively just because Topuria and Max just got to LW at the same time and both guys have plenty of fresh matchups before we cross that bridge. Right now we have Arman, Paddy, Gaethje, and you could even include Max in the titleshot line and Topuria only fought 1x this year. No idea why the UFC or him are keeping him on ice so long.

I've always gotten the impression that Ilia was a diva behind the scenes. I mean, he's a diva publicly, so it makes sense that he'd be worse.

 

[HHJ]

None of you like sports.

Stop pretending.

Be real.

Give us what we want, when we want it.

What do we want???

 

[El Panteron]

All professional sports have matchmaking that revolve around generating money.

Do they?
Last I checked 90% of the sports are either tournaments or you play everyone.
Unless by "all professional sports" you mean MMA and boxing

 

[Koya]

I like the matches, but giving BSD Gamrot kind of feels like a step sideways for both guys. I'd prefer BSD vs. Paddy and Gaethje vs. Hooker, but gaethje is a diva so who knows what is actually possible

Precisely, I don't think BSD had that step sideways matchup. And it's an important one for a fighter's progression.

Gamrot feels like on a downwards slope and needs to prove he deserves his ranking while BSD is now on an upward slope and needs to prove he deserves a top 3 matchup again.

He already got it with Poirier and he wasn't ready. He has a chance to take it step by step this time and prove he's ready for the top again. I think that's the right move for him.

No offense to Beneil but beating him in 2025 doesn't mean you're automatically too 5 material. Just my opinion of course.

 

[Koya]

You don't think other leagues make decisions based on money over fairness?

What exactly are we comparing this to?

Let's compare it the to the most prestigious sports league in the world : UEFA Champion's league. Top football clubs from each European countries play against each other in a tournament with home-and -away games, except for the final which is played in a neutral location.

Sounds "may the best win" no-nonsense type of fairness to me.

 

[HHJ]

Let's compare it the to the most prestigious sports league in the world : UEFA Champion's league. Top football clubs from each European countries play against each other in a tournament with home-and -away games, except for the final which is played in a neutral location.

Sounds "may the best win" no-nonsense type of fairness to me.

All these cards are booked in advance, and sometimes the fight gotta just be done when and where it can be done.