News Islam Makhachev vacates Lightweight title to challenge Jack Della Maddalena for the Welterweight Championship, location TBA

[surgeyou1]

JDM looked bigger and stronger than I expected against Belal. I'm sure Islam will get him down a couple times but I don't see him getting ragdolled like the other blown up FWs.

 

[chs140]

You’re missing the point, you can’t accuse somebody of ducking when they’re accepting a harder fight. Islam was a -300 favorite against ilia, he opened as a pick em against JDM. It’s assisine to criticize him for taking a fight you think he’s going to lose, which is what many people are essentially doing lol.

I can think illia is a harder fight and still like Jack's chances.

Two things can be true. Outrageous right?

 

[moosaev]

I can think illia is a harder fight and still like Jack's chances.

Two things can be true. Outrageous right?

You can think whatever you want, but you can’t objectively call it a duck when he’s taking the fight with closer odds.

 

[moosaev]

Was common knowledge Volk was fighting for the LW title before Islam even won it,

And it was common knowledge that Islam would fight for WW belt if JDM won.

 

[Karate Kid]

I do not like this fight if I were an Islam fan.

JDM looked massive against Belol, causes a lot of damage and has very good TDD. he is reckless but has an unwavering fighting spirit that clearly had him not care about hits he could have avoided let alone fixing his very questionable nose.

his general mobility will make it very hard for Islam to take him down even if he does not rely upon power. Islam is going to look small in welterweight but one must respect the ambition to do what he is to do and against a fighter who has not lost since his first two fights

 

[Kevster]

And it was common knowledge that Islam would fight for WW belt if JDM won.

Well yes, point was how can Islam have demanded Volk fight a contender when he wasn’t even the champion.

 

[BEATDOWNS]

So Islam has to vacate but Jones doesn't fucking Ultimate Fighting Circus run by a Clown.

 

[richardjohnson]

The difference in character being that Ilia did so voluntarily. Burn the boats. All chips in.

Islam, otoh, thought he was going to call his shot and keep the LW belt. He was forced to vacate.

Lol six months ago Ilia said he was moving to LW but not vacating the FW belt and then a couple months later he gave up his belt. Islam just copied Ilia's playbook.

Ilia Topuria dismisses claims he will vacate UFC crown

"The decision to move up to the next category is entirely mine."

themaclife.com

 

[Tweak896]

Easy win for Islam. WW belt is just musical chairs now

 

[Steve Fox]

Great stuff.

 

[SalvadorAllende]

Somebody said "No you will NOT keep the 155 belt we need it defended at 317". Also Islam probably can't make weight again of he fights at 170

War Do Bronx but I'm very concerned about the speed of Tops hands

Islam can't rush Jack or call the shots. Jack just went to WAR and his face got messed up. I sympathize for Garry, Brady, Shavkat, Morales, Buckley, etc. Even Usman and Edwards to some extent. Islam came out of nowhere and just hopped all of them

I guess Shavkat and Brady might have something to say about it.

Garry? 1 fight winning streak against the number 14
Leon? dominated twice in a row.. I think at this point he might hire a dominatrix to spend days and call it a career
Usman? 0-3, shopworn, hasn't won a fight in like 4 years. Fuck him.

Morales and Buckley need that signature win.


And yes... Topuria will spark Charles if Charles do not find a perfect shot.

 

[moosaev]

Well yes, point was how can Islam have demanded Volk fight a contender when he wasn’t even the champion.

How could JDM demand Islam not get the title shot when he wasn’t the champ at the time it was common knowledge Islam would get the shot if he won? You’re proving my point, Islam today is in the exact same position that Volk was in Oct 2022. And Islam didn’t put any conditions on Volk, he got the immediate shot. Likewise, Islam should get the immediate shot. Topuria was in a different situation, he only defended his belt once and was asking for an immediate shot against a long reigning champion who already fought a FW twice before. So he didn’t deserve an immediate shot in those circumstances.

 

[joy2day]

JDM wins

 

[TriangleMonkey]

Hey, Islam left the belt

Thats super-fair and awesome for the fans

Bless whoever involved

 

[GIBLERTBAPTISTA]

Islam likely taps to strikes sometime in the 4th round

 

[moosaev]

I do not like this fight if I were an Islam fan.

JDM looked massive against Belol, causes a lot of damage and has very good TDD. he is reckless but has an unwavering fighting spirit that clearly had him not care about hits he could have avoided let alone fixing his very questionable nose.

his general mobility will make it very hard for Islam to take him down even if he does not rely upon power. Islam is going to look small in welterweight but one must respect the ambition to do what he is to do and against a fighter who has not lost since his first two fights

It’s hard to predict how this fight will go. Islam is a southpaw, that will be tricky for JDM from both a striking and takedown perspective. Islam also is more of a submission threat than Belal, when JDM got up from the Belal takedowns he left his neck wide open. I assume getting up when/if Islam takes him down will be a lot trickier.

 

[biscuitsbrah]

Paddy vs Arman would be more competitive... Hooker gets drowned... Paddy can legit grapple... but Arman may be able to easily stay on his feet and use his improved striking...

Paddy vs anyone is a great fight now

 

[DougieJones]

Lol of course not even a page in and the bathtub brigade is already crying like babies


"BUT BUT MUH DOUBLE CHAMP!?!?"

 

[Here's Johnny!]

Paddy vs anyone is a great fight now

Talk about a huge increase in performance... he was always good... gritty, tenascious, good build... but he has greatly improved he used to look super hittable relying on his chin to win... now he looks legit... top 5 legit idk we will see

People need to realize this division is getting old fast .. Arman is young that's it for top 5 the ustins are 36 charlie is 35... Holloway is 33 but he's like 80 in fight years.... paddy is 30 hes got time ilia and arman are 28

Hooker gamrot dariush all 35 or 36...

We are about to enter a truly new era soon where only 3 of the top ten will be there in 1.5 years

 

[JustBleed69]

dana bless

Very hard fight for Islam... Jack can sprawl and brawl as good as anybody

He's been taken down a ton. He is a good mat scrambler, but got taken down and controlled by Burns and that Basil guy (probably some others I don't remember as well)