Ilia vs JG makes sense* (see post), but it could backfire the UFC badly

[RockyLockridge]

What ? It was a huge topic, fortunately Poirier looked good in that fight.

Edit: The issue here, is that Arman is ready to fight and not booked, unlike Poirier who was the best fighter available, back then.

Yes I remember lots of people arguing Dustin deserves it cumulatively

 

[Mohawk Banditó]

Yeah huh

NU UH

 

[chinarice]

Gaethje wins because Ilia is small and hasn't fought a real power striker of this size. He hasn't fought anyone that will throw caution to the wind.

That's exactly why Gaethje won't last more than 10 minutes with Ilia and will be napping on the canvas.

 

[Ara tech]

Gaethje wins because Ilia is small and hasn't fought a real power striker of this size. He hasn't fought anyone that will throw caution to the wind.

I would not say that. Gaethje is a brawler who gets hit a lot, that is not a winning policy against Ilia who is more educated and technical.

Besides bringing a puncher chance, he would be the underdog. Ilia proved against Olivera that he is a serious threat at lightweight.

 

[Tweak896]

I like Paddy over all other options, because he was the only one not being a baby about deserving a title shot. However, UFC probably knows Gaethje is on his last legs and milk him before he expires, give Topuria a highlight reel KO, before fights that Topuria probably won't look as good like with Paddy or Arman.

Don't like this fight, but Gaethje has a puncher's chance, maybe more than Olivera. He's smarter with his entries and more defensively sound. Also could give Topuria some issues with calf kicks maybe. Still, UFC is milking the cow one last time. It's not as bad as Colby, but still annoying how consistently the UFC rewards guys who sit around and demand title or nothing.

 

[SuperAlly]

Last thing Justin Gaethje sees before retirement
View attachment 1110391

JG getting knocked out by the salt bae guy?

 

[Kevster]

Arman had to win another fight after shutting the bed against, when Islam was still the champ, he hasn’t won another fight.

Nobody seemed to give a fuck until Topuria got the belt.

 

[Chagaev]

37 YO, barely a winning record in the last 5 years and badly KTFO two fights ago. If Top doesn't wanna fight Arman, I rather see him vs Paddy.

 

[World eater]

At UFC 317 they had Paddy in the cage after the fight. I had a feeling it was a fine deal and he is next. Oh well, after Gaethje then.

 

[14 division]

Gaethje has done a lot for the UFC and stayed a big star that’s always in entertaining fights.

Him getting a title shot is not crazy because Poirer got one of 1 win and it was entertaining title fight. Gaethje is 3-1 in last 4, and was next before losing to Max, his win now puts him in contention. Arman is untrustworthy, Dana says Arman needs another fight because of pulling out(like Oliveria did fighting Arman). Paddy needs another win.

Ilia vs Justin
Arman Vs Paddy

 

[Substance Abuse]

Bruh, Max Holloway pieced up Gaethje & Ilia fckd Max up with ease. & Max is bigger than Gaethje.

With ease? Max could have been given R1 and R2. You can cite official scorecards, but I know what I saw. Max did very well before R3. Better than anyone else outside of Emmett who just survived.

 

[whocares]

Sure, the UFC would've loved JG as a champ.
But not being 37.

And matchmaking would get very tricky from there.

Gaethje winning the belt by going through Ilia would be a huge story for the UFC even now and I guarantee you all the people hating on JG these days would instantly be on his nuts if he pulls it off.

I don't know what changes for matchmaking, it's still the same two guys as contenders plus the easy/lazy rematch option and Max is a weird fit for Ilia or JG. People think too far ahead trying to set up some perfect lineage for matchmaking when it's not that complicated.

The alternative to making this fight is to simply waste Gaethje as an asset which makes no sense. If you're not going to give him the ts in this moment, you're bascally fast tracking his retirement when he's a huge draw at a stage where fighters of his tenure make the most money for the company. Plus stylistically, the fight will be awesome.

Paddy and Arman aren't going anywhere. There's no urgency to rush either of them to a ts. Arman fucked up and the punishment is a bit vindictive, but at the same time he's been sitting on his dick for a long time and it has been made clear that he needs to take another fight to get back in line, so that is what it is. Paddy has as little claim to a ts as JG and he's a great machup for anyone in the division right now. I'd be happy to see him fight Max, Charles, Arman, Justin or Ilia. To me this is a lot of handwringing over nothing.

 

[Kwic]

So Justin gets dominated and knocked out by Max, and now he fights Topper for the belt? WHAT?

Makes total sense for the UFC. As usual.

 

[Madmartigains]

My worry is that it could be fixed, I know everybody bet on ZMY against Johnny Walker, and sure enough, a guy with tree trunks for legs starts limping after a couple calf kicks. Then he's smiling and jumping up and down in the cage afterwards. I know everyone and their mother would bet on Ilia, which puts Vegas in a bad spot, that would be my only worry.

 

[Tapatio]

How does JG crying his way to a title fight make any sense? He’s had three and gotten slept in all of them.


Does a decision over a 5 day notice Fiziev give him priority?


This is just an uninspired quick money grab by the UFC if true.

Quick money grab? Dana would never lower himself to that level!

 

[Nausicaa]

Just Ilia collecting the head of another big name fan favorite fighter who is well past his prime. Smart man.

Cannot wait for Ilia vs Arman and Ilia vs Paddy, two guys in their prime who can at least match Ilia match up with Ilia as they are all ascending to their prime.