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

[pick999]

Jon sweating rn

 

[Here's Johnny!]

Should be Arman vs Topuria for belt. Olivera getting a TS off beating Chandler is crazy.

Isn't Arman injured?

 

[biscuitsbrah]

Isn't Arman injured?

Pretty sure he’s been training and is fine. Everyone seems to think the back excuse was because of the weight cut

 

[Here's Johnny!]

Pretty sure he’s been training and is fine. Everyone seems to think the back excuse was because of the weight cut

So the only free top 5 is arman and Gaetchje now... im down for that

 

[fedoriswar37]

He already had a better legacy then Khabib but this should confirm it for those who still didn't believe

 

[Pequeño Corey]

vacating is the right thing to do

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.

 

[biscuitsbrah]

So the only free top 5 is arman and Gaetchje now... im down for that

Why do that to gaethje bro

But seriously I think they are going to ‘punish’ Arman and make him fight a step back in competition. Maybe Paddy or Hooker lol

 

[188912345]

The same folks who say Islam ducked Topuria will now say JDM beats Islam loooool.

It's not outrageous to not count out two guys who have never lost in the UFC and who are also younger.

There aren't many "easy fights" between guys with 15, 16, and 18-fight winstreaks.

 

[moosaev]

It's not outrageous to not count out two guys who have never lost in the UFC and who are also younger.

There aren't many "easy fights" between guys with 15, 16, and 18-fight winstreaks.

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.

 

[Söze Aldo]

He already had a better legacy then Khabib but this should confirm it for those who still didn't believe

He has a better record arguably, but "legacy" is less tangible. He probably realized that he'd never get out of Khabib's shadow if he spent his whole career at 155 like Khabib did.

 

[Here's Johnny!]

Why do that to gaethje bro

But seriously I think they are going to ‘punish’ Arman and make him fight a step back in competition. Maybe Paddy or Hooker lol

 

[Here's Johnny!]

Why do that to gaethje bro

But seriously I think they are going to ‘punish’ Arman and make him fight a step back in competition. Maybe Paddy or Hooker lol

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...

 

[hbombbisping]

He already had a better legacy then Khabib but this should confirm it for those who still didn't believe

And yet Khabib is and always will be the better fighter. Funny how that works.

 

[188912345]

You’re missing the point, you can’t really 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 lol.

I don't think that was the main argument for why people wanted Islam vs Topuria at LW, because Islam and his team instead wanted to fight Charles, Arman, or even Gaethje.
Two fighters he beat before, and one fighter he would be a massive favorite against, who is 36 and on a one fight winstreak.

We have been through this before, I think.
If he would have taken an easier LW-fight, he would indeed have been ducking, under the pretext of Ilia needing to prove himself against a contender.

I think most people agree that he should be allowed to challenge JDM.

If he wants to go back to LW to fight after, he should fight the winner of Ilia and Charles for the belt.

 

[moosaev]

I don't think that was the main argument for why people wanted Islam vs Topuria at LW, because Islam and his team instead wanted to fight Charles, Arman, or even Gaethje.
Two fighters he beat before, and one fighter he would be a massive favorite against, who is 36 and on a one fight winstreak.

We have been through this before, I think.
If he would have taken an easier LW-fight, he would indeed have been ducking, under the pretext of Ilia needing to prove himself against a contender.

I think most people agree that he should be allowed to challenge JDM.

If he wants to go back to LW to fight after, he should fight the winner of Ilia and Charles for the belt.

I’m not talking about people who want to see ilia vs Islam, I’m talking about people who’re saying Islam ducked ilia. And yes, there are tons of people who are calling this a duck.

 

[Raise Your Fist]

i think JDM wins this

 

[Kevster]

This is a dumb analogy. Islam already gave a FW 2 shots at the belt, that’s why he was opposed to giving ilia an immediate shot. This will be JDMs first defense, if he already defended against a LW twice before he’d be well within his rights to decline a fight with Islam and demand he fight a contender. This isn’t hard to understand. Did islam ever demand that Volk fight a contender before challenging for the 155 belt?

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

 

[hbombbisping]

I don't think that was the main argument for why people wanted Islam vs Topuria at LW, because Islam and his team instead wanted to fight Charles, Arman, or even Gaethje.
Two fighters he beat before, and one fighter he would be a massive favorite against, who is 36 and on a one fight winstreak.

We have been through this before, I think.
If he would have taken an easier LW-fight, he would indeed have been ducking, under the pretext of Ilia needing to prove himself against a contender.

I think most people agree that he should be allowed to challenge JDM.

If he wants to go back to LW to fight after, he should fight the winner of Ilia and Charles for the belt.

Ilia is lucky to even be getting gifted a TS against a guy on one fight winstreak who is not champion. Islam has far more claim to move up for a TS with 4 title defences against an actual champion. Topuria and his fans are incredibly entitled.

 

[Lord Pyjamas]

Well that is fucking lame.
Going after a guy before he even solidifies his title.
But I guess that is what we do nowadays in prizefighting!
Everyone can just go fuck themselves for that.

 

[188912345]

I’m not talking about people who want to see ilia vs Islam, I’m talking about people who’re saying Islam ducked ilia. And yes, there are tons of people who are calling this a duck.

All in all, I think this is a solution that make most people happy.