Most comments I see state Topuria should have a contenders bout first. Islam hasn't cleared out his division by any means. 170lbs has plenty of viable contenders. Belal has 3 contenders including JDM in the top 5. Ian Garry and Joaquin Buckley, waiting in the wings for their crack into the top 5. If JDM pulls off the upset he hasn't fought anybody save for Gilbert Burns.
Lining up another champ & beating him solidifies him in the GOAT conversation. Islam avoiding a fight with a champion that's available right now makes him look like he's ducking the matchup. End of story.
If islam beats ilia he’ll have 3 out of 5 title defenses against FWs. He’ll get zero credit and will get clowned for that. End of story.
Not in my book. Champions who can make the weight to compete are more than capable of being a threat. I don't discredit Islam beating guys moving up to 155, making weight, & fighting at 155. If they are guys in his division challenging him, then they are LW contenders good enough to fight for the belt.
Agreed that Islam vs JDM would be complete trash compared to Islam vs Ilia.
It's not a team sport so i get being selfish in mma, but it'd be incredibly short sighted of the ufc to give islam a ww title shot at this time. the division has too much going on if he wants to insert as a contender that could be viable but the next title shot with all the guys it has now? no way.
