Islam vs Arman. Who has improved more since the first fight?

[TerraRayzing]

Who do you think has improved more? IIRC, Islam had a staph infection in the first fight as well (According to Ali so can't be too credible) but Arman made Islam work.
I think Islam's striking has improved a shit ton and idk, if he was able to stand and trade with Dustin (and Charles) and was not rocked even once, I don't see Arman troubling him on the feet. On the ground tho, I can't say. Charles caught Arman in a few submissions while Islam was able to avoid them but it's pretty clear by now that Islam does not have the ground game of Khabib. On the feet, Islam is much better but I can actually see Arman taking him down as well. Wonder how Islam would do on his back.

 

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

One has become the #1 P4P fighter in the world... one hasn't.

 

[Duke Kensington]

Really hard to say but Islam has definitely been fighting tougher guys which I think gives him a slight edge. That said there’s only one way to find out

 

[Shammon]

Even if Arman improved more Islam is still better overall.

Don't see a realistic path of victory for Arman given that he has worse striking and grappling. Maybe he can make it a dogfight and try to out-cardio Mak.

 

[TerraRayzing]

Even if Arman improved more Islam is still better overall.

Don't see a realistic path of victory for Arman given that he has worse striking and grappling. Maybe he can make it a dogfight and try to out-cardio Mak.

Same. Imo, Gaethje is the more dangerous match-up. Arman deserves the fight but I don't see any obvious danger for Islam there.

 

[FrappeDuRocma]

Islam, AINEC.

 

[humdizzle]

Islam

Arman lost to Gamrot
Got put in 2 very bad positions against Charles.

 

[Lee Danger]

idk but Islam is still better, Arman is like the Mendeses or the Poirers of the situation: perennial top 3-5 but never the champ.

 

[Johnny_Knuckles]

Arman beats Islam.

 

[moosaev]

Who do you think has improved more? IIRC, Islam had a staph infection in the first fight as well (According to Ali so can't be too credible) but Arman made Islam work.
I think Islam's striking has improved a shit ton and idk, if he was able to stand and trade with Dustin (and Charles) and was not rocked even once, I don't see Arman troubling him on the feet. On the ground tho, I can't say. Charles caught Arman in a few submissions while Islam was able to avoid them but it's pretty clear by now that Islam does not have the ground game of Khabib. On the feet, Islam is much better but I can actually see Arman taking him down as well. Wonder how Islam would do on his back.

Islam has added an entirely new skillset (excellent striking) since their first fight. Arman is an improved and more experienced version of the fighter who fought Islam in 2019 but he hasn't really evolved as dramatically. His striking game is still mid imo, and he doesn't blend his striking and wrestling takedown nearly as effectively as Islam. The only area where i see dramatic improvement in Arman's game is his GNP,...it's excellent now.

 

[Luckyme]

Islam

Arman lost to Gamrot
Got put in 2 very bad positions against Charles.

Imo, Arman was robbed against Gamrot.

That said, I still favor Islam as he has a more complete MMA skillset. Arman doesn't have a submission game, striking is less polished, and tends to gas.

 

[Hezekiah]

Same. Imo, Gaethje is the more dangerous match-up. Arman deserves the fight but I don't see any obvious danger for Islam there.

No way is Gaethje more dangerous with his dogshit wrestling, and constantly high chin.

Tsarukyan is capable of getting top control and is much less likely to be submitted, and has improved significantly since giving Machachev a good fight on short notice.

 

[CPH]

I don’t see how someone who lost to Gamrot can beat Islam. I mean, it wasn’t that long ago and there isn’t even a ‘styles make fights’ angle here.

 

[Hezekiah]

I don’t see how someone who lost to Gamrot can beat Islam. I mean, it wasn’t that long ago and there isn’t even a ‘styles make fights’ angle here.

Tsarukyan won rounds 1, 2 and 5. Gamrot was lucky to get that decision imo.

 

[svmr_db]

I don’t see how someone who lost to Gamrot can beat Islam. I mean, it wasn’t that long ago and there isn’t even a ‘styles make fights’ angle here.

Most people thought Arman won that fight. Also Gamrot was fresher the longer the fight went on.

I think that was a learning lesson for Arman, perhaps he could be fresher than Islam in the championship rounds possibly. These cuts to 155 have got to be getting harder and harder for Islam as time goes on.

 

[WoozyFailGuy]

Every fight that isn't a 1 round domination this guy has staph for?
Clean your fucking mats then.
Islam has improved more but it's a case of oppurtunity, preparing for multiple championship fights will bring to to a higher level than not.
Arman has that deceptive stubby power, I think he hits a bit harder than Islam, so I could see him catching and rocking him, but it's a tough fight for Arman.

 

[GreatSaintGuillotine]

Both are the best they've ever been. It's really hard to say

 

[filthybliss]

don't see arman beating islam when charles almost had him

 

[Guld]

Islam has improved his boxing significantly, and has improved in overall fight experience by facing higher ranked competition (although lately it's been all former FWs)
Arman has improved his pacing, distance control, GnP, and I feel like his power has increased as well.
So overall I feel like Arman has improved more between the two. Islam also seems to be at that weird tipping point where the cut to LW is having diminishing returns, so I really do question how much longer he'll even be able to compete at that weight. I think when/if he goes to WW we'll see a significant boost to his overall performance.

 

[F15]

Depends who you ask really.. bathtub brigade would say Islam and Markg and his ilk will say Arman.

As a member of the former, I do think Islam has improved his striking immensely but Arman has developed his GnP massively too and is a lot more experienced and probably physically stronger than he was in their first fight, so it’s definitely not a gimme for Islam.


Would be a sick fight if happens