Islam deserves much more credit than he's getting...

[laleggenda27]

I'm not sure what happens in the rematch as Volk is one of the Goats but I do think there's room for improvement for both fighters.

I totally agree with the undersized narrative, there was not much in it at all and you could make the case that height aside Volk looked huge compared to Islam. I can't believe people can't see this.

Volk has never had any trouble making 145. None. Do you think Islam could ever make 145? That's a rhetorical question because we both know the answer. There's been chatter about Islam moving up to WW because he's so big for LW. I was recently listening to Josh Thompson (Islam's training partner and friend) talk about Islam cutting too much weight at LW.

Even if you think the size discrepancy isn't as big as some people proclaim, you should be able to admit that Islam is obviously the larger man. Suggesting that Volk "looked huge compared to Islam" is absurd on its face.

 

[Superior]

Islam openly admitted to expecting an easy fight on the ground. Volk was training for the hardest fight of his life, with special emphasis on grappling. I think this is the biggest factor in how a rematch would go. Islam would actually train for it properly next time. These guys are known for being grappling masters, Khabib has probably already lectured Islam for hours about what he should have done different in the grappling, and Islam probably knows himself too.

 

[TaxCutz]

He just lost a fight, but it was a good fight for both fighters. Robbery still.

 

[spaceman3005]

This was his first 5 round fight.
This was Islam's first fight without Khabib in his corner
Islam traveled to Volk's backyard, and fought him in front of Volk's hometown crowd.
Islam doesn't have nearly the big fight experience that Volk has.

Volkanovski was bigger than Gaethje is on fight night, and the same weight as Khabib fought at. This narrative that Volk was such a smaller opponent, is just a lie.

I don't know how the narrative to this fight got so twisted. Islam had all the pressure and everything stacked against him.

I'm calling it now. If the rematch happens, Islam is going to be the one that does much better and will win even more convincingly.

Islam got outstruck everywhere, to the head, body, legs, at distance, significant strikes, total strikes and on ground strikes.

Islam did win the clinch battles and had some TDs where he layed and prayed, did 0 damage on the ground and had 0 sub attempts.

What are you weirdo on about?

 

[IDGETKTFO]

Negative. Sorry Brrrother, Your Dagastani idol barely won a close decision to a smaller guy in a lower weigh class. He gets no hespect from me.

 

[ineverpost]

Credit from who? haters? Haters ain't ever going to give credit, they would only go away if Islam had choked to Volk to death. Islam took this fight because he will never get Khabib money otherwise. Like it or not, mma is 100% about catching lightning in a bottle. There are now several fighters in wmma better than Rousey in her prime but will never get paid the same because the mysticism is gone. Same with Paddy Pimblett, he'll never be Conor. Islam took a risk and it was entertaining as hell. From a hype standpoint it did nothing for him and was probably a backfire. But that's how it goes, and why we rarely see fights like this.

 

[jsbx45]

Ag

This was his first 5 round fight.
This was Islam's first fight without Khabib in his corner
Islam traveled to Volk's backyard, and fought him in front of Volk's hometown crowd.
Islam doesn't have nearly the big fight experience that Volk has.

Volkanovski was bigger than Gaethje is on fight night, and the same weight as Khabib fought at. This narrative that Volk was such a smaller opponent, is just a lie.

I don't know how the narrative to this fight got so twisted. Islam had all the pressure and everything stacked against him.

I'm calling it now. If the rematch happens, Islam is going to be the one that does much better and will win even more convincingly.

Agree he deserves more credit for going into hostile territory. Dunno 'bout the Gaethje size claims you are making though. Also, Islam is a grown ass man and should be fine without daddy Khabib. Hopefully there will be no rematch. I don't feel - like some others - that this fight was a waste. I believe Volk was a legit contender for the LW title and he earned a shot. Time to move on though, as there is some legitimacy to the "holding up two divisions" observation.

 

[Poatan Power]

Volkanovski was bigger than Gaethje is on fight night, and the same weight as Khabib fought at. This narrative that Volk was such a smaller opponent, is just a lie.

Source? I've met Justin and we're roughly the same mass. I was like 5'9" like 184 at the time. No way Volk is that size

 

[Ramon Antonio]

He was getting way too much respect. People talked about him as is he’s unbeatable. Volk arguably beat him or at the very least showed he’s very beatable.

 

[JudoThrowFiasco]

Wasn't his first five round fight, it was his first time going five rounds...that's on him for not finishing volk like he said he would.

 

[Mammothman]

Islam fans are fucking weird

No we are not, Islam/Khabib haters are the weirdos

 

[Post 2 Decision]

No we are not, Islam/Khabib haters are the weirdos

Weird response for an adult

Helping prove my point Sherbro

 

[fightfan70]

no he deserves every bit of flack he is getting

 

[DestinedAussie]

This was his first 5 round fight.
This was Islam's first fight without Khabib in his corner
Islam traveled to Volk's backyard, and fought him in front of Volk's hometown crowd.
Islam doesn't have nearly the big fight experience that Volk has.

Volkanovski was bigger than Gaethje is on fight night, and the same weight as Khabib fought at. This narrative that Volk was such a smaller opponent, is just a lie.

I don't know how the narrative to this fight got so twisted. Islam had all the pressure and everything stacked against him.

I'm calling it now. If the rematch happens, Islam is going to be the one that does much better and will win even more convincingly.

For someone using IVF he pretty gassed. Imagine if he didn't. Volk would have run over the top of him.

 

[Natural Order]

I'd have to agree. He arguably fought a kickboxing match against Volk when many thought he'd be shooting for takedowns early and often. He fought Volk's fight and still won fairly conclusively.

He could have blanketed him all fight looking for half-assed subs and scored an easier victory but he chose to bang. This deserves tremendous respect in my books.

 

[AmonTobin]

This was his first 5 round fight.
This was Islam's first fight without Khabib in his corner
Islam traveled to Volk's backyard, and fought him in front of Volk's hometown crowd.
Islam doesn't have nearly the big fight experience that Volk has.
If the rematch happens, Islam is going to be the one that does much better and will win even more convincingly.

These are all factors to keep in mind, but we don't know if he was even fazed by any of that.
They both deserve tons of credit. One of the best fights I've seen in a long time.
I don't know about him in the rematch though. Could be just as close the next time, or Volk could do even better.

 

[NoBiasJustMMA]

He was ranked the #2 pound for pound fighter in the world before he even had a single title defense.

How much more credit would you like him to get?

I think that about sums it up, great post!

 

[Shaddows]

Lmfao Volk fans are even worse. Every other damn thread here is a denial of reality thread where Volk won. Pretty pathetic actually

so you always agreed with every single decisions by the judges?

It seems to me if anyone is being pathetic, it is those who think they are so righteous, that no one can have a difference of opinion...

 

[Coconutwater]

islam should have attacked the hand of Volkanovski every time he tried to get up. Chop the hands out he put all his weight on to get up. Islam was too much wrestling instead of taking the pillars down from Volk. Its a simple adjustment.
Volk used his hand to push on the ground to get up. Islam should have attacked that immediately. He would fall flat.
islam was too much focused on controlling the hips.

Yeah, I thought it was obvious AF Volk was just posting on his hand and popping up like normal. Khabib’s first action is to obtain wrist control and collapse any hand post using a “Dagestani hand cuff”, nothing fancy. Khabib also punched with a free hand while collapsing the guy’s post.

 

[RockyLockridge]

He was ranked the #2 pound for pound fighter in the world before he even had a single title defense.

How much more credit would you like him to get?

Don't forget he didn't even have top wins before winning the title. Imo he should be the absolute lowest ranked champ p4p ahead of only jamalah hill.

Aljo for example has top wins against yan x2, TJ, Rivera, sandhagen and munoz. No way in hell should islam with 2 top wins be ranked ahead of him. All his rank comes from is his relation to khabib.