Islam is worth more to the UFC than Topuria which is why they made him vacate

[hbombbisping]

Islam is the current biggest social media star in the UFC of active fighters and brings in the big bucks in Abu Dhabi, finished 8 of his last 9 fights and is p4p #1

Topuria has big box office potential but has come no where near where Islam currently stands.

This is one of the reaons why they made Topura vacate instead of give him a title shot.

He should fight Arman for #1 contender status and Islam should fight the winner.

 

[Sean Chowdhury]

I don't know about that, Ilia is very popular and is affiliated with those big soccer stars in Spain as well as the crazy georgian fanbase, Islam is more popular but Ilia is big enough to sell a lot of PPVs if he fights Islam. I think that fight would do 600k+ PPVs at least

 

[mkess101]

Islam is the current biggest social media star in the UFC of active fighters and brings in the big bucks in Abu Dhabi, finished 8 of his last 9 fights and is p4p #1

Topuria has big box office potential but has come no where near where Islam currently stands.

This is one of the reaons why they made Topura vacate instead of give him a title shot.

He should fight Arman for #1 contender status and Islam should fight the winner.

Islam may be a bigger draw as of right now, but that really isn't a factor here. Outside MAYBE Perreira they aren't letting anyone hold a belt and try to get another one simultaneously anymore. It holds up divisions and scheduling becomes a mess.

I say Perreira MIGHT be the exception for a few reasons. First, he's a top draw right now but also 38 years old. They need to squeeze as much out of him in the limited time they have as they can. That might mean a HW title shot while he still has the LHW belt. Also, LHW is terrible as far as "names" go, so he wouldn't be holding up anything that the UFC would see as lucrative.

But let's say Islam wanted a WW title shot--they wouldn't let him keep the LW belt. Maybe he's get an immediate shot based on his resume' (he'd deserve it) but there wouldn't be any two division stuff.

 

[RockyLockridge]

Islam may be a bigger draw as of right now, but that really isn't a factor here. Outside MAYBE Perreira they aren't letting anyone hold a belt and try to get another one simultaneously anymore. It holds up divisions and scheduling becomes a mess.

I say Perreira MIGHT be the exception for a few reasons. First, he's a top draw right now but also 38 years old. They need to squeeze as much out of him in the limited time they have as they can. That might mean a HW title shot while he still has the LHW belt. Also, LHW is terrible as far as "names" go, so he wouldn't be holding up anything that the UFC would see as lucrative.

But let's say Islam wanted a WW title shot--they wouldn't let him keep the LW belt. Maybe he's get an immediate shot based on his resume' (he'd deserve it) but there wouldn't be any two division stuff.

convinced at this point that the UFC can sell it's audience anything

 

[burningspear]

Dana said he vacated the belt himself.

 

[Koala]

Your statement has nothing to do with your conclusion
Why Islam being a star or not have to do with Topuria vacating or going for the double belt?
Volk fought Islam while being the champ, and twice

 

[TITS]

We're in possible danger of having complete nobodies like JDM, KKF, and Penishead Lopes becoming champions in the next couple of months if the current defending champs fuck up or get robbed by judges, and you're worried about Ilia's drawing power? Imagine how bad it's going to look if any (or all) of those 3 bums I mentioned have belts over their shoulders.

 

[Hymen Crusher]

We're in possible danger of having complete nobodies like JDM, KKF, and Penishead Lopes becoming champions in the next couple of months if the current defending champs fuck up or get robbed by judges, and you're worried about Ilia's drawing power? Imagine how bad it's going to look if any (or all) of those 3 bums I mentioned have belts over their shoulders.

I would be shocked if 1 of those guys win

 

[Haj01]

If Islam is big I wonder how big is Christianity.

 

[Rio Ferdinand]

Islam has the charisma of a potato.

Clearly Dana needs Illia to be the face of the UFC. That guy can sell PPVs, unlike makhachev.

 

[WoozyFailGuy]

Islam is the current biggest social media star

How many PPVs does he sell? That's the only number that matters. Never been disclosed for Islam, all we have are estimates, so we'll never know.

Currently, I believe Poatan is the biggest PPV draw, cemented by 303 reportedly outselling 300. Islam's probably topped out for the Volk fights and won't be comparable to Alex until he fights Topuria.

 

[Conan the K-9]

A champ can only go up and keep his belt, if he/she makes sure to defend both belts and be really active.
Not sure if any of the current champs could do that, Pereira maybe…
For sure not the LW champ. So he will have to vacate if he goes up.

 

[Feaser]

You’re on the right track. But instead of comparing Ilia to Islam, you should compare him to Conor. If you’re important enough to UFC, they’ll bend the rules for you, or make new ones.

 

[Steve Fox]

He dropped the title by his own decision. No one forced him to do it. Dana already said that they aren't forcing anyone to drop belts to move up, there's no information to back whatever you guys are saying other than speculation.

I get it, Dana is a liar etc, but why would he lie here, and why would Ilia be quiet about it if it was a lie?

...and no, he shouldn't fight Arman. Arman fumbled it hard, why reward Arman with an Ilia fight? Makes no sense.

 

[CedricBee]

It’s overblown really.

1. Conor had more star power than any MMA fighter before him, so he’s too unique of an example. But yes, he was destined to hold up both weight classes, chasing pay days & soaking it up.

2. Volk wasn’t going to hold up 145 because Max was there to beat all contenders. Comically, a part of me didn’t truly take Ilia seriously until he beat Max, as well.

3. Izzy would’ve defended both belts; & both 205 & 185 lack star power minus Alex.

4. Jon Jones only when it comes to MMA is too intelligent to want to move up, only to move back down. He was always going to leave 205 for good.

5. DC, like his nemesis wasn’t interested in 2 weight classes, he only went up because he couldn’t beat Jones.

6. TJ would’ve defended both belts actively, & 125 lacked star power anyway.

7. Henry was another Conor, minus the star power. He’s your only real example of a double champ who would’ve held up all weight classes chasing pay days

 

[Doctor Grudge]

Topuria vacating doesnt protect Islam at all...

 

[Greyscale]

Long story short, his only worth is that his owner is in bed with sheikhs. Period.

 

[DoubleTrouble]

Ilia isn't a huge draw now or ever going to be one....

A Georgian pretending to be a Spaniard isn't going to be a superstar. All people will see is some Temu version of Conor geting owned at LW.