Media Islam Makhachev wants Ilia Topuria to earn title shot, hasn't agreed to fight him yet

[Orochimaru 大蛇丸]

It's pretty crazy they let Topuria leave the division without lining that fight up

I'd love to see Islam vs Arman and Topuria vs Gaethje/Oliveira on the same card

But the UFC is committed to punishing Arman, and I doubt they want to jeopardize this Topuria vs Islam fight

My bet is they figure out a way to get Islam to take it

 

[188912345]

Give Arman his titleshot, then do Charles vs Topuria as a #1 contender fight.

 

[Söze Aldo]

Pretty sure this is all pay negotiation. I doubt Islam or his team really care about what Ilia has "earned", they just want to get a higher pay for what the UFC is going to sell as a super fight.

 

[Fergelmince]

Ok so now he's a lightweight with 0 ranked wins lol.

It's a badass fight don't get me wrong, but it's hard to justify why it should actually happen right now from a perspective of meritocracy and not just because it would be exciting as hell.

sherbro, you know they don't have to justify it. Plus it helps their ability to deliver title fights according to their contracted agreement with ESPN. ESPN is the customer.

 

[Kevster]

Wonder how many WW fights Islam would be looking to take before a title fight.

 

[ShadowRun]

He’s ducking

 

[jeff7b9]

Didn't this guy say "champ fight whoever is across the cage" ?

Or something quite close to this?

From the camp that said "If king Kong can make 155"

 

[Marko Polo]

Volk was ranked higher P4P than Islam - Ilia isn't.
Volk had a longer win streak than Islam - Ilia doesn't.
Volk had 4 more title defenses than Islam - Ilia doesn't.
Volk was asked by the UFC to cut weight and be the backup for a LW title fight - Ilia hasn't.

This isn't hard. If you cite Volk, you're either:
- trolling
- somehow aloof to the data above (and much more), but still feel compelled to post on the topic
- Dagihater

There are quite a few that possess the trifecta. They are a joy.

Volk was like 38 yrs old and an easy stylistic match up for Islam, or so they thought - Ilia isn’t.

 

[svmr_db]

Wonder how many WW fights Islam would be looking to take before a title fight.

Night and day difference between the two considering Islam has 4 title defenses and will likely get a 5th before he gets a welterweight title shot.

 

[EnthusiastCultivator]

Islam is right. If he beats Ilia who hasn’t fought a top contender, the “he only beats featherweights” rhetoric will be pushed.

Gaethje or Charles make sense.

 

[Nobru]

id watch Islam x Ilia for sure, but I wont be surprised if its Ilia x Charles next. If this happens I am unsure if Ilia beats Charles, I can see him losing this one.

 

[Conan the K-9]

What was that quote again, what ended up on the PIs wall?

Don’t know how the bathtub bois are going to explain and entitle it all again, when Justin gets the title shot with one win against the number 11 ranked opponent and got KOd before that by that guy who got KOd by Ilia…
“No one else was available”

 

[TempleoftheDog]

It’s not like he has a fucking choice. What an arrogant, totally unlikable team.

At least Merab slapped their peepees. Took a Nurmagomedov ZERO.

And they cried, and made excuses. And believe they won the fight over Merab.

Khabib tried to jack the belt from Dana, ffs.

The MOST entitled team in mma.

Edit.

Realized I didn’t actually mention Merab. But that’s who beat them.

 

[Objectively Correct]

It's pretty crazy they let Topuria leave the division without lining that fight up

I'd love to see Islam vs Arman and Topuria vs Gaethje/Oliveira on the same card

But the UFC is committed to punishing Arman, and I doubt they want to jeopardize this Topuria vs Islam fight

My bet is they figure out a way to get Islam to take it

they didnt "let Topuria leave", he just ran away from Evloev and Lopes.

 

[andgonsil]

It’s not like he has a fucking choice. What an arrogant, totally unlikable team.

At least Merab slapped their peepees. Took a Nurmagomedov ZERO.

And they cried, and made excuses. And believe they won the fight.

Khabib tried to jack the belt from Dana, ffs.

The MOST entitled team in mma.

They are afraid of Toppy's power

 

[svmr_db]

They are afraid of Toppy's power

Topuria got held down by Bryce Mitchell lol don't think "they" are afraid of him.

 

[Haj01]

I always see champs fighting from other divisions as superfights. And giving up your own title in my opinion is worthy enough to challenge for the next divisions belt.

 

[xhaydenx]

Volkanovski had 4 title defenses prior, that can earn you a shot at a second belt in today's UFC.

2 of those title defenses were against the one guy in Max. The 2 were against Zombie, who hadn't put together even 2 wins in 9 years and had no business being there. The other was against Ortega, who got a title shot with 1 win in 3 years. Yair is sort of a flop.

And Max obliterated Zombie and Ortega himself, and beat Yair + he gave Volk his hardest fights.

If Volk can get a title shot at LW off that, then Top definitely should considering he destroyed both Volk and Max back to back.

 

[xhaydenx]

Topuria got held down by Bryce Mitchell lol don't think "they" are afraid of him.

He took literally zero damage, and was setting up half assed subs instead of wasting energy trying to get up because he knew there was only a minute to go. Wasn't even attempting to improve his position.