Islam vs Ilia serious question

[xhaydenx]

If Islam fought him at 155, many of you would say beating a 145 guy with no wins against top 155 guys is meaningless.
There is no pleasing some of you.
170 is harder than 155 right now

I never would have said this. Islam's first win against Volk is easily Islam's best win in his entire career. He doesn't have any other win that is even remotely as good as that.

And Topuria wouldn't have been a 145er moving up like Volk did with some fanciful idea defending both belts. He was coming up properly and for good. He would have been a 155er no matter how you look at it.

WW is definitely harder overall, but that doesn't mean there isn't a tougher single challenger at LW than at WW.

 

[pamirec]

Why do you Bath Tub retards keep pretending like Islam wasn't supposed to defend his LW title in June?

Do you guys think we just magically had a vacant LW title fight at that exact date after Islam refused to for... reasons I guess? That it was just a complete coincidence that a LW title fight happened then?

Yes, Islam avoided fighting Ilia or Arman, or anybody period, before moving up to fight Jack. Islam was supposed to defend in June and decided not to. It is a bad look that he didn't do and it wasn't something excusable like timing wise that was preventing it. He just didn't want to so the UFC had to make a vacant LW title fight instead.

You guys could just at least admit you think it was "smart" of Islam not to risk defending in June like he was supposed to if the UFC was okay with him moving up as is and moving on from him at LW if he wouldn't.

Such a dumb ass hater you are not making any sense.

 

[xhaydenx]

He would get dominated. Islam is not chinny Charles.

Islam didn't think so or he wouldn't have scurried off to WW to fight a bum striker who was useless off his back.

 

[Hezekiah]

Wants no part of Arman but has been calling out Islam since back at FW. That makes no sense, brother. You know this.

He didn't get tossed around by Oli either haha. Oli went for a td. Ilia easily stuffed it. Oli held him against the cage for like 15 seconds, couldn't do anything. Then he went for another takedown and Topuria just big dog reversed him and made it his own takedown. Then Topuria passed his guard like it wasn't even there and was in a crucifix 2 seconds later. Then Charles went for the leg lock, which Topuria easily defended. That's all the grappling in the entire fight. Then it was back on the feet for the KO.

Topuria did the tossing, lad. It's not even debatable haha.

Arman is the no.1 contender yet he's telling outlets that he won't fight him (bet he'll happily fight Gaethje though).

Nice throw, but any time Oliveira and Topuria clinched up it was clear who the stronger fighter was, and halfway through the round Topuria escaped a clinch and looked a like a small child getting pushed toward the fence trying to keep his balance.

And you and I both know that Machachev has been talking about moving up in years. Now Topuria's calling out Machachev at 170 when he's got contenders in his own division and he knows the UFC aren't giving him a title shot.

Sorry but you're chatting shit. If Arman beats Hooker in five days time I wonder what his excuse will be.

 

[humdizzle]

i'd favor islam

the fight is only happening at 170 though. Islam holds all the cards. Nobody will blame him for not wanting to cut again.

 

[xhaydenx]

Arman is the no.1 contender yet he's telling outlets that he won't fight him (bet he'll happily fight Gaethje though).

Nice throw, but any time Oliveira and Topuria clinched up it was clear who the stronger fighter was, and halfway through the round Topuria escaped a clinch and looked a like a small child getting pushed toward the fence trying to keep his balance.

And you and I both know that Machachev has been talking about moving up in years. Now Topuria's calling out Machachev at 170 when he's got contenders in his own division and he knows the UFC aren't giving him a title shot.

Sorry but you're chatting shit. If Armam beats Hooker in five days time I wonder what his excuse will be.

I'm chatting shit? Brother, you clearly haven't even watched the Topuria/Charles fight haha. They clinched up once after Topuria stuffed the first td. Then Charles couldn't do anything with the clinch, then tried a td and got outmuscled, reversed, and taken down himself. Then he got completely outgrappled on the ground. In what world is that telling you Charles was the stronger guy or that Topuria looked like a small child? Haha come on. Be serious with yourself here.

And you shouldn't be taking Top saying he won't fight Arman seriously at all. He always says dumb shit like that. When he won the FW belt he literally listed off the top 5 and said he would retire before defending against any of them. Dumb people literally thought he was serious. Next minute he defends against Max haha.

And yeh, Islam was talking about going up a while ago, but Topuria was talking about coming up to face him a while ago too. It's not like Islam won the WW belt and all of a sudden Topuria is calling him out.

 

[pamirec]

Islam didn't think so or he wouldn't have scurried off to WW to fight a bum striker who was useless off his back.

Dude you sound like a hater. Be rational.

 

[Hezekiah]

Yeah and Topuria got pushed back towards the cage and just about kept his balance.

Do you really think Topuria looked like the stronger man in there? Oliveira got countered, but you don't don't seem to understand the difference between strength and technique. Speaking of technique, let's try to imagine Topuria throwing Machachev to the mat

The Tsarukyan fight could have already been booked, but no Topuria didn't want it. My guess is that if Arman wins at the weekend Topuria will reignite his beef with Paddy and say that the fight needs to happen because they have history. If UFC won't acquiesce then he'll say Gaethje because he really wants to fight the former BMF title holder and Arman is boring.

 

[hbombbisping]

I never would have said this. Islam's first win against Volk is easily Islam's best win in his entire career. He doesn't have any other win that is even remotely as good as that.

And Topuria wouldn't have been a 145er moving up like Volk did with some fanciful idea defending both belts. He was coming up properly and for good. He would have been a 155er no matter how you look at it.

WW is definitely harder overall, but that doesn't mean there isn't a tougher single challenger at LW than at WW.

You're going to be surprised when you realize Islam is better at WW than he was at LW because the cut was too much for him.

Like how Dustin was a better LW than FW. Or Rumble was better at 205 than WW.

 

[xhaydenx]

You're going to be surprised when you realize Islam is better at WW than he was at LW because the cut was too much for him.

Like how Dustin was a better LW than FW. Or Rumble was better at 205 than WW.

I guess we'll see. He's going to be fighting better comp here at WW though. No more short notice Greens and Moiciano's and the like.

Hopefully he fights at least twice a year.

 

[Pequeño Corey]

100%

Once he destroys Ilia, people will say "oh Islam forced a FW to come all the way up to 170 to fight him"

The wheel of excuses are already set.

Beating Ilia does very little for Islam compared to if he fought guys like Shavkhat, Morales, etc.

Yes perhaps I can agree, but his first order of business was calling out the mummy of usman

 

[markg171]

Such a dumb ass hater you are not making any sense.

Islam was supposed to defend the LW title in June. He chose not to, hence why we got the vacant LW title fight in June instead.

Defending his title against Ilia, Arman, or whoever before moving up and beating Jack is better than not doing so and just beating Jack. He would've also beaten Anderson's win streak record had he defended in June before moving up and beating Jack instead of tying it.

Only a Bath Tub Brigadier wouldn't understand that having MORE quality wins is better than NOT having them.

 

[HHJ]

Defending his title against Ilia, Arman, or whoever before moving up and beating Jack is better than not doing so and just beating Jack.

He'll live.

 

[hbombbisping]

Islam was supposed to defend the LW title in June. He chose not to, hence why we got the vacant LW title fight in June instead.

Defending his title against Ilia, Arman, or whoever before moving up and beating Jack is better than not doing so and just beating Jack. He would've also beaten Anderson's win streak record had he defended in June before moving up and beating Jack instead of tying it.

Only a Bath Tub Brigadier wouldn't understand that having MORE quality wins is better than NOT having them.

"Bathtub Brigade" "But ghey"

"They will never move up"

"Conor will win"


It's been almost ten years bud. I think you realize deep down you're one of the saltiest haters of all time but you've doubled down on being completely wrong so much you're like a guy who lost his life savings at the Casino and is trying make it back looking for pennies on the floor

 

[markg171]

"Bathtub Brigade" "But ghey"

"They will never move up"

"Conor will win"


It's been almost ten years bud. I think you realize deep down you're one of the saltiest haters of all time but you've doubled down on being completely wrong so much you're like a guy who lost his life savings at the Casino and is trying make it back looking for pennies on the floor

It's now considered being a salty hater to point out that Islam was supposed to defend in June, could've done so, and would be in an even better position had he done so instead of choosing not to?

Do you people even listen to yourselves?

 

[djacobox372]

Islam will not go back down to 155, he's scared shitless of Ila.

 

[LoveMyMMA]

Yes perhaps I can agree, but his first order of business was calling out the mummy of usman

I don't blame him.

Usman is a nice name to have on your resume. That's a UFC HOFer and arguably the best WW of all time.

And tbh, I do believe Usman would be a tougher fight for him than guys like Prates, Ian, Belal, etc.

I think the hardest fight for Islam right now in the division is Morales. But Islam probably submits him.

 

[LoveMyMMA]

Ilia's resume is very weak right now.

Beating Arman would be his best win by far.

 

[Pequeño Corey]

I don't blame him.

Usman is a nice name to have on your resume. That's a UFC HOFer and arguably the best WW of all time.

And tbh, I do believe Usman would be a tougher fight for him than guys like Prates, Ian, Belal, etc.

I think the hardest fight for Islam right now in the division is Morales. But Islam probably submits him.

No. He’s not arguably the best WW of all time. You’re not a serious person.

 

[Wicked_1]

Not really, the 2 division thing is more for him. Ilya is to small for 170, and I don't think he would stop Islam at all anyway. Everyone has a punchers chance, but what makes anyone think from his fights that he can stop top tier grappling like Islam has? I don't see it. I think he would sub him inside 3 probably 2.