Illia is terrible champion

[Koro_11]

Nowadays he is chasing Machachev (where a loss means he keeps his undefended belt) and Paddy rather than defend his belt against Arman.

Paddy is a much easier fight that would pay much more money and I bet the UFC is pushing for it even more than Ilia… and I’m sure Ilia welcomes it since it’s a big payday to smash a guy he despises… it’s almost as if he is a prizefighter or something.

 

[bjjwar]

If that Hakimi story was true then he’s goated lol

It is true. I don't know where you are from, but in Europe it was basically the most talked news for awhile. He plays for PSG and Marocco, he's the best right back in the world and finished 6th best player in the world in 2025. Dude became a hero amongst men

Wife of Moroccan soccer star loses divorce settlement as fortune is in his mother's name | Fox News

Achraf Hakimi is worth more than $70 million, but most of it is under his mother

www.foxnews.com

"The wife of Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi, Hiba Abouk, walked away from divorce court with nothing after learning Hakimi’s fortune was in his mother’s name.

Abouk, 36, was seeking a divorce and half the wealth of the 24-year-old soccer player following his indictment by French prosecutors on rape charges back in March.

However, Hakimi, who hails from Morocco, has no properties or money under his name, as his fortune is all under his mother’s name instead. "

 

[bjjwar]

He's not chasing Makhachev. Just blathering to make it seem like he's coming after Islam.
He knows he'll get smashed to Bolivia if they fight at WW.

Didnt he vacate his belt way before Islam moved up? He basically went up looking for Islam and Islam ran away to fight a bum and avoid the only fight that made sense...

 

[Local Plata]

He's probably stepping aside at the request of Dana, who is desperate to put the belt on either a tattoo'd just bleed white guy, or a funny accent white guy, hence the hilariously bad Gaethje/Paddy title fight.

 

[Hezekiah]

Paddy is a much easier fight that would pay much more money and I bet the UFC is pushing for it even more than Ilia… and I’m sure Ilia welcomes it since it’s a big payday to smash a guy he despises… it’s almost as if he is a prizefighter or something.

How do you know that Paddy would pay much more money, is there any evidence that he's some massive PPV draw?

The way some people are excusing Topuria saying he would rather vacate than fight Arman because he's scared he'll pull out or whatever other bullshit reasons he has come up with his honestly quite pathetic. As is using the UFC's nonsense matchmaking as an "excuse" to suggest it's OK for Paddy to get a title shot.

It's funny because it's almost like Volk, Merab, Adesanya, Pereira, etc are prizefighters...who arent pussies who do their utmost to duck their biggest challenges like Topuria and Jones have.

 

[Koro_11]

How do you know that Paddy would pay much more money, is there any evidence that he's some massive PPV draw?

The way some people are excusing Topuria saying he would rather vacate than fight Arman because he's scared he'll pull out or whatever other bullshit reasons he has come up with his honestly quite pathetic. As is using the UFC's nonsense matchmaking as an "excuse" to suggest it's OK for Paddy to get a title shot.

It's funny because it's almost like Volk, Merab, Adesanya, Pereira, etc are prizefighters...who arent pussies who do their utmost to duck their biggest challenges like Topuria and Jones have.

I know that it would pay more money because the UFC told me so. How did they tell me? By giving him a title shot, despite the fact that he’s beat no one worth mentioning.

That doesn’t mean I agree with it, personally, I would much rather see Ilia fight Arman. I’m just telling you why things are the way they are and you can’t just blame Ilia for it, it’s the UFC that enables it and does what’s in their best interest.

 

[Hezekiah]

I know that it would pay more money because the UFC told me so. How did they tell me? By giving him a title shot, despite the fact that he’s beat no one worth mentioning.

That doesn’t mean I agree with it, personally, I would much rather see Ilia fight Arman. I’m just telling you why things are the way they are and you can’t just blame Ilia for it, it’s the UFC that enables it and does what’s in their best interest.

Well that's confirmation then, Paddy is a PPV draw.

And I can absolutely blame Ilia because he's ducking the no.1 contender. Let me guess, you feel we can't blame Jones for ducking Aspinall either

 

[Koro_11]

Well that's confirmation then, Paddy is a PPV draw.

And I can absolutely blame Ilia because he's ducking the no.1 contender. Let me guess, you feel we can't blame Jones for ducking Aspinall either

I don’t blame Jones either, Aspinal is a nobody, and does nothing for his legacy. Guys like Jon and Ilia have achieved escapé velocity, and no longer need to play it by the same rules as the rest of the guys just grinding paycheck to paycheck. We as fans don’t have to like it, but we do have to accept it.

 

[Hezekiah]

I don’t blame Jones either, Aspinal is a nobody, and does nothing for his legacy. Guys like Jon and Ilia have achieved escapé velocity, and no longer need to play it by the same rules as the rest of the guys just grinding paycheck to paycheck. We as fans don’t have to like it, but we do have to accept it.

Ffs you're not even a real fan. "Legacy" - yeah Jones should fight a light-heavyweight former middleweight. Fucking pathetic.

Comparing Topuria to Jones aswell, holy shit

 

[KO Shotz]

I am usually not for interim belts unless soneone gonna be sidelined due to a serious injury, but in this case it's looking like Ilia has a lot of personal stuff he gotta straighten out before being able to be 100% focused on fighting. The LW division has to keep moving especially with the pieces it has right now.

I'm calling it rn tho. If & when Paddy beats Gaethje, Ilia vs Paddy will be the next fight. It just sucks because Arman & Max gonna be left on the curb. Who knows tho? Maybe we get Arman vs Max & the winner getting the next shot after Ilia/Paddy. That is if Charles doesn't beat Max in the BMF fight...but Arman gonna be waiting awhile for his next fight guaranteed.

 

[moosaev]

Didnt he vacate his belt way before Islam moved up? He basically went up looking for Islam and Islam ran away to fight a bum and avoid the only fight that made sense...

Islam moved up to get a 2nd belt. He objectively made the correct move for his legacy lol. His stock has gone up significantly. Ilia offered him nothing since islam already defeated the #1 P4P fighter who was a featherweight (Volk).

 

[Koro_11]

Ffs you're not even a real fan. "Legacy" - yeah Jones should fight a light-heavyweight former middleweight. Fucking pathetic.

Comparing Topuria to Jones aswell, holy shit

Watching this sport since 1993, but not a real fan cause some 2021 sherbro account doesn't agree with my take.

Yes Jones should fight Alex because that's the biggest fight for both and no one cares about a bunch of little girls crying about fairness, or some Man U fan from Britain salty that Jones doesn't give a shit about Aspinal and that no one outside this forum even knows who he is.

And Topuria may not be on Jones' level just yet, but probably on the verge of breaking into the top 10 all time, so yeah they're both in that elite club.

 

[TR1]

Didnt he vacate his belt way before Islam moved up? He basically went up looking for Islam and Islam ran away to fight a bum and avoid the only fight that made sense...

What a ridiculous cope narrative. Sherdoggers really are sub 70 IQ mongoloids for the most part.

 

[Dirty Frank]

I neither think of him as some brave warrior nor a duck, just a prizefighter seeking the most high profile fight while making the most amount of money.

Some of you are like emotional children living in some fantasy world of fairness utopia.

Well would you look at that. Good on ye, Shermano.

 

[Dirty Frank]

Didnt he vacate his belt way before Islam moved up? He basically went up looking for Islam and Islam ran away to fight a bum and avoid the only fight that made sense...

Oh keep telling yourself that little fairytale, keed.

 

[balkanbomber85]

Didnt he vacate his belt way before Islam moved up? He basically went up looking for Islam and Islam ran away to fight a bum and avoid the only fight that made sense...

He did, but do not expect the Bathtubbers to accept this argument. They will just start insulting and mocking you.

You know, without lies “bathtub” dies.

 

[Hezekiah]

Watching this sport since 1993, but not a real fan cause some 2021 sherbro account doesn't agree with my take.

Yes Jones should fight Alex because that's the biggest fight for both and no one cares about a bunch of little girls crying about fairness, or some Man U fan from Britain salty that Jones doesn't give a shit about Aspinal and that no one outside this forum even knows who he is.

And Topuria may not be on Jones' level just yet, but probably on the verge of breaking into the top 10 all time, so yeah they're both in that elite club.

Ah the classic "You've only been on this forum for x years" line.

Jones fighting a non-heavyweight not exactly known for his wrestling is so much bigger than fighting the heir apparent who's been knocking everyone out inside a round. It's all about the bizzness baby. And Topuria is definitely going to add to that legacy by knocking out Pimblett in late 2026. Damn that second paragraph is full of salt and bullshit (bringing nationality into it - really?).

The UFC loves fans like you - not only do you accept this garbage, you rationalise and no doubt pay for it.

 

[Koro_11]

Ah the classic "You've only been on this forum for x years" line.

Jones fighting a non-heavyweight not exactly known for his wrestling is so much bigger than fighting the heir apparent who's been knocking everyone out inside a round. It's all about the bizzness baby. And Topuria is definitely going to add to that legacy by knocking out Pimblett in late 2026. Damn that second paragraph is full of salt and bullshit (bringing nationality into it - really?).

The UFC loves fans like you - not only do you accept this garbage, you rationalise and no doubt pay for it.

Already said I don’t have to like it, I’m just telling you why it is what it is and why if I was Ilia or Jon I would probably do the same.

I don’t give a shit if Evloev is more deserving because Diego Lopes is more entertaining. And Ilia and Poatan are the most entertaining of all, and I watch the sport to be entertained so I’m not gonna cry about fairness if some decision machine gets ignored. In Tom’s case he’s not boring but he’s also not a big name outside of places like Sherdog and after 2 decades of dominance and fighting every challenger, Jon has earned the right to handpick a couple of opponents at the end of his career.

Never pay for it, I have the box that lets me stream it free.

 

[moosaev]

He did, but do not expect the Bathtubbers to accept this argument. They will just start insulting and mocking you.

You know, without lies “bathtub” dies.

Cringe

You can do better than this Slobadan

 

[Hezekiah]

Already said I don’t have to like it, I’m just telling you why it is what it is and why if I was Ilia or Jon I would probably do the same.

I don’t give a shit if Evloev is more deserving because Diego Lopes is more entertaining. And Ilia and Poatan are the most entertaining of all, and I watch the sport to be entertained so I’m not gonna cry about fairness if some decision machine gets ignored. In Tom’s case he’s not boring but he’s also not a big name outside of places like Sherdog and after 2 decades of dominance and fighting every challenger, Jon has earned the right to handpick a couple of opponents at the end of his career.

Never pay for it, I have the box that lets me stream it free.

You're right, watching Ilia getting blanketed by Machachev at 170 is more entertaining than watching Ilia get blanketed at 155 by Arman.

And watching Jones try to dry hump Pereira is far more entertaining than watching him trying to avoid having his head sent into orbit by Aspinall.

Watching Volk fight a guy he already comfortably beat a few months ago...again so much entertaining than seeing him against a top striker in Murphy.

Thank goodness these big names are coming together . I wish Merab would handpick more opponents, not sure what he's thinking tbh.