Islam should watch his diet and go easy on the lifts

[Rubios]

The only reliable MMA journalist here in Spain claims that he said to his team after the weight-in that he's not going through this cut ever again.
He has also stated that he wants to fight two more times this year.

I believe Islam can win vs Shavkat or whoever holds the belt @ 170 by then.
But, once again, he is just 2 victories away from the best win streak ever in the UFC.

Dana shouldn't be so short-sighted but rather lead the only current fighter that is in the position to make history and set a huge landmark towards this path.
I am not asking for padding his record, quite the opposite, but his best shot at it is staying @ 155.

1. June
UFC should wait to Gathje vs Hooker. IF it's not a total war and the winner doesn't sustain a ton of damage -unlikely-, Islam should fight him.
If not possible, then rematch Charles.
Even if Gaethje/Hooker winner would deserve the title fight, and "it's MMA so anything can happen"... we can see how those fights would go.

Islam is big, strong and skilled enough to out-wrestle, out-grapple and out-muscle any of them letting go a pound or three before starting the cut.

2. October: Arman @ Abu Dhabi

Now, yes, the last grueling weight cut and fight @ 155 of his career.

If he wins both (it's a long shot, but he'd be a huge favorite in the 1st and a big one in the 2nd), he leaves 155 for good with the first ever 17 win streak and 6 title defenses (2x Khabib, BJ, Frankie, Benson).
Division cleared, undeniable resume and no stone unturned.

And he'd be still 34, so he could take the time to bulk up and properly move to 170.

Don't mess a legendary run in sight for some Topuria beef or double-belt nonsense.

 

[IndyCovaHart]

Bacon is the cure

 

[swizztony]

Really doubt a journalist from Spain would know anything about islams decisions lol.

Besides he not even a huge lw, he weighed less than a former fw in his last fight

 

[Rubios]

Really doubt a journalist from Spain would know anything about islams decisions lol.

Besides he not even a huge lw, he weighed less than a former fw in his last fight

Yeah, obviously he (the journalist) has zero insider info. Apparently it was small talk bw Islam and his team just after making weight.

And c'mon, Islam is huge for 155 although I suspect you're making a -not bad- joke here.


I'm pointing at Dana hinting a "surprising big next fight" for Islam. Dude has to stop looking only at the biggest next fight.
In the current roster there's great potential (Ilia, DDP, Aspinall, obviously Pereira...) for historic greatness.

But the only guy that's set for it is Islam.
A champion the UFC could sit on the same table of the all-time legends along GSP, DJ, AS, Jones (he's 1 fight away -hopefully Tom- from retirement, most likely) crowning the current generation and era.

Plz don't ruin it.

 

[Koala]

Again with the Makhachev is big for 155
Moicano weighted more than him during the fight and he was a FW like 4 years ago
Even Makhachev fought at FW in the past
He never missed weight, never pulled out for weight-cutting issues, he is very muscular, which makes dehydration easy
He will make 155 as long as it means adding millions in his bank account

 

[Conan the K-9]

”I’m not asking to pad his record” -TS

“Should fight the winner of Gaethje/Hooker” -also TS
“Should fight Arman in the desert” - yep, also TS

Please for real ?

 

[Rubios]

”I’m not asking to pad his record” -TS

“Should fight the winner of Gaethje/Hooker” -also TS
“Should fight Arman in the desert” - yep, also TS

Please for real ?

In fact, I said he should fight the winner of Justin/Hooker (the next rightful contender) OR rematch Charles if that's not possible calendar-wise.
And then, Arman (the #1 guy at LW).

Where's the padding here? Who should he fight instead @ 155?

 

[svmr_db]

”I’m not asking to pad his record” -TS

“Should fight the winner of Gaethje/Hooker” -also TS
“Should fight Arman in the desert” - yep, also TS

Please for real ?

Who is Islam supposed to be fighting if not for those choices? Also you don't want him to fight in the places that make the most business sense for the UFC because.... ?

 

[richardjohnson]

Who is Islam supposed to be fighting if not for those choices? Also you don't want him to fight in the places that make the most business sense for the UFC because.... ?

Because many sherdoggers have this theory that they give Islam unfair advantages when they fight in the Middle East even though the only evidence they have is “oil money, bro”.

 

[Conan the K-9]

”I’m not asking to pad his record” -TS

“Should fight the winner of Gaethje/Hooker” -also TS
“Should fight Arman in the desert” - yep, also TS

Please for real ?

In fact, I said he should fight the winner of Justin/Hooker (the next rightful contender) OR rematch Charles if that's not possible calendar-wise.
And then, Arman (the #1 guy at LW).

Where's the padding here? Who should he fight instead @ 155?

It’s ridiculous. He should demand that Arman fight next from Dana. He as a champion has deserved and all the rights to fight a real number one contender.
If Dana is too petty, then the next credible contender and the biggest fight at LW is Charles.
Angling for any other opponents at LW is record padding. Gaethje, Chandler, Hooker, even Holloway, no one is a top contender no matter how you twist it.

I kinda feel sorry for the champ, has had big misfortune with the matchups, injuries and cancellations. Best for his career and legacy would have been the WW title fight, but Belal played his cards like a real snake, ruining the opportunity for him to be the double champ.

 

[HHJ]

It’s ridiculous. He should demand that Arman fight next from Dana. He as a champion has deserved and all the rights to fight a real number one contender.

Eh, from his perspective, he showed up to fight and Arman didnt. All that fuckin hard training for a guy who dont get in the octagon.

You dont then throw down a ladder to a guy who pulls some shit like that.

 

[Conan the K-9]

Eh, from his perspective, he showed up to fight and Arman didnt.

You dont throw down a ladder to a guy who pulls some shit like that.

Eh, if I was to build my self a legacy, I would be demanding to fight the best to prove myself as best. A bit like he did when he fought Volk the first time.
Fighting someone who just happens to be there, when you are ready or where you want to fight, doesn’t quite do the same thing for you.

 

[HHJ]

Eh, if I was to build my self a legacy, I would be demanding to fight the best to prove myself as best. A bit like he did when he fought Volk the first time.
Fighting someone who just happens to be there, when you are ready or where you want to fight, doesn’t quite do the same thing for you.

Nah man I get that. Im sure that was his intention when he wanted to fight Arman initially.

But him pullin out like the day before the fight... that shit is on Arman to fix.

 

[Conan the K-9]

Nah man I get that. Im sure that was his intention when he wanted to fight Arman initially.

But him pullin out like the day before the fight... that shit is on Arman to fix.

But he for sure can say that he wants the Arman match to be remade and not let his manager try some bs with the winner of Justin/Dan, right?

 

[HHJ]

But he for sure can say that he wants the Arman match to be remade and not let his manager try some bs with the winner of Justin/Dan, right?

I dont know. Theres alot of moving parts at play. He can wait it out.

 

[kingmob6]

Islam is consistently at 180 in and out of camp. He trains year round daily. Many LWs weight more than him off-camp. That journalist knows little.

 

[joy2day]

He's two wins from the best streak ever in the UFC? No, not really.

If it's true that Islam walks around at 180, that's something because Khabib was 20 pounds heavier. I would tend to think he is huge like Khabib, but I don't really know. Let's see a video of him stepping on the scale after rehydration like Alex posted if that's true.

 

[Guy LeDouche]

”I’m not asking to pad his record” -TS

“Should fight the winner of Gaethje/Hooker” -also TS
“Should fight Arman in the desert” - yep, also TS

Please for real ?

^ this, Exactly my thought.

C’mon TS, I got down to “Fight the winner of Gaethje/Hooker”, c’mon buddeh try harder my guy.

 

[Bend NvR Break]

Properly bulk up?
How about these guys that walk around and train at 200 pounds+ year round outside of fight camps stop destroying their kidneys and fight at a more proper weight class.

Islam vs Renato was 2 guys that live at 200 pounds damn there kill themselves to make 155 just to rehydrate to 180 (177 and 180) pounds when actually fighting for the LW title. That's dumb. I'd rather just see them fight at 185. Healthier for them and more exciting fight for fans because the fighter's bodies are less compromised because there's no hellish weight cut.

 

[HHJ]

Islam vs Renato was 2 guys that live at 200 pounds damn there kill themselves to make 155 just to rehydrate to 180 (177 and 180) pounds when actually fighting for the LW title. That's dumb. I'd rather just see them fight at 185.

So they can fight the guys who cut from 220 lbs? lol