Rumored Islam's Head Coach: Islam May ONLY Have 3 Fights Left Before RETIRING

[Alpha_T83]

FTFY

Was it Whittaker or Yoel? I'm pretty sure he would have had to fight Yoel rather than Rob. Either way, there's no argument that GSP cherry picked Bisping and then ducked the division.

But at least he had the respect to vacate the title immediately. Unlike Jon Jones who belongs in prison.

Edit: I forgot Whittaker was the interim champ at the end of 2017. But ya, I don't disagree that GSP ducked Whittaker. However, at least he did it the right way and walked away immediately, rather than holding the belt hostage for a year and holding up the division.

 

[Pious Augustus]

How many ranked LWs did he fight? Best case scenario is he wins WW and also does not clean out the division. I'm very disappointed with his career, but I'm not sure how much blame he should get and how much blame the UFC should get for creating this entire shitshow of a situation.

if rankings all you care about than he beat more top 15, top 10, top 5 P4P fighters than anyone on the roster.

 

[TankAbbott4Eva]

Was it Whittaker or Yoel? I'm pretty sure he would have had to fight Yoel rather than Rob. Either way, there's no argument that GSP cherry picked Bisping and then ducked the division.

But at least he had the respect to vacate the title immediately. Unlike Jon Jones who belongs in prison.

Edit: I forgot Whittaker was the interim champ at the end of 2017. But ya, I don't disagree that GSP ducked Whittaker. However, at least he did it the right way and walked away immediately, rather than holding the belt hostage for a year and holding up the division.

I was just being a dickhead mate, much hespect for GSP as a fighter. I'm a Whittaker nuthugger and really wanted that fight for him, chance to beat one of the GOATs given his age. But yeah don't blame George at all for winning the strap and walking away straight away.

 

[hbombbisping]

Seriously though Khabib is Islam's head coach Javier is his pad holder.

 

[Pious Augustus]

Here are his total 4 defenses:

- Volk (featherweight)
- Volk (featherweight, short notice)
- Poireir (on a 2-2 run, one fight win streak)
- Moicano (ranked 10, short notice)

Its the UFC's fault for booking the Volk fight for absolutely no reason, and giving Poirier a random title shot he didn't deserve, albeit we got a fun fight.

Islam's strength of schedule is pretty mid. Its a bummer we didn't get the Arman fight which is the most important for the division.

On the other hand, beating a dozen win streak Oliviera is/was the best win in the division and that is unquestionable. Islam put away the best guy in the division to become champion and did it in style.

A top 5er like poirier would be celebrated on anyone's resume.
Everyone celebrated Volk as the best fighter in the world after the first fight, and how he has the best chance out of anyone at LW.
and now he's reduced to a "featherweight"
Oliveira was on a 10 fight win streak, but that doesn't count as it's just a title fight and doesn't mean anything because it's not a title defence.

 

[Pious Augustus]

Islam, Khabib and Penn have very mid strength of schedule for LW champs. I also think Hooker and Moicano being "top 10" LWs is laughable, they aren't even at that level UFC just has a terrible roster.

Penn's nowhere near those two.

 

[Thepaintbucket]

Considering how long he has fought, defended the belt and may capture another belt and to defend that too? That's an incredible career.

His defenses at 155 isn't his fault . Blame his opponents for pulling out. Still wished he would've stuck around for Arman but I understand why he moved up a division sooner than later.

 

[don't ask]

if rankings all you care about than he beat more top 15, top 10, top 5 P4P fighters than anyone on the roster.

But how many ranked LW fighters did he beat? It seems like you don't want to answer that.

 

[Pious Augustus]

But how many ranked LW fighters did he beat? It seems like you don't want to answer that.

6, longest long win streak in the division's history, most title defences in the division's history

Gotta ask though, did they fix the rankings for you?

 

[joy2day]

I wouldn't doubt it. If those three fights aren't him winning the belt against JDM and beating the number one contender twice at WW (two big quality wins), he will have zero chance of being anywhere near the GOAT discussion.

 

[NoStoneUnturned]

Probably set for life due to where he lives. Doesn’t need more of this.

 

[Bradillac]

He can retire after JDM knocks him out.

I'm incredibly interested in seeing what he does after he loses that fight.

 

[gentel]

You hate to hear it everytime. He's planning a Khabib like exit. As a fan it's pretty anti climatic

Eh, I think he's already done a lot more in the division than Khabib, yes it would be going out on top like Khabib, but with 3 more fights that would be leaving pretty much no unanswered questions and using up his full potential all the way until the cursed age numbers

 

[volcom5]

Yea, why not. Fedor, Shoguns & CroCops were out of their “primes” by 33 and they fought a bunch of cans.

 

[Paladin]

He can retire after JDM knocks him out.

He doesn’t want the smoke. He’s trying to exit on a high and not go through the killers at 170, or the increasingly challenging cut to 155

 

[SG123]

yeah 5, how many does he have currently? 3? I just feel that his achievements are against Volk whos not ranked at 55, then dustin, charles as top 5 wins. Moicano was not a top 5 win. Hooker not a top 5 win. green not a top 5 win. So even if you give him volk he's still only has 2 top 5 lws and 2 fw champ wins.... now he's moving to a new class with 0 current wins and he's expected to chart as "goat" of something within 3 fights?

What division would he be goat of? certainly not welterweight and if it's LW why aren't we calling him the unanimous lw goat RIGHT Now? because it doesn't look as if he's going back there from this point.

I'll put it this way, islam would be about where poatan was in all time ranking by the time he lost the title if he were to beat jack. I don't think poatan was 2 fights away from being a top 5 goat.

If he’d have fought someone in the top 5 like Gaethje and more than likely taken him down and finished him in dominant fashion people would be complaining that the real challenge was p4p contender Volk. Islam has fought everyone put in front of him and has some good names on his resume from before becoming champion.

If he’s have stayed at LW and fought Topuria people would complain he’s fighting smaller guys. He goes up, people complain he should have stayed at LW to continue clearing out the division

It’s no win, he’s fought and beaten everyone the UFC has put in front of him

 

[PDestroyer1405]

I feel that if Islam somehow beats JDM, he'll duck Shavkat by saying he's like a brother, or that it's not a big enough fight, etc. He’ll probably try to defend against someone like slow Usman or Garry instead.

 

[GordoBarraBJJ]

Smart - he's been on top for what 2yrs or so - his decline will start soon. Best to get in a few more fights and then dust out before you go the way of bj penn

 

[hector domino]

How many ranked LWs did he fight? Best case scenario is he wins WW and also does not clean out the division. I'm very disappointed with his career, but I'm not sure how much blame he should get and how much blame the UFC should get for creating this entire shitshow of a situation.

1Arman Tsarukyan (DEFEATED)
2Charles Oliveira (DEFEATED)
3Justin Gaethje
4Max Holloway
5Dustin Poirier (DEFEATED)
6Dan Hooker (DEFEATED)
7Mateusz Gamrot
8Paddy Pimblett
9Beneil Dariush
10Renato Moicano (DEFEATED)


He beat 5 out of 10 and I dont see the rest beting him either tbh so not worried about the WW switch. Also remember a lot of times fighters pulled out on Islam but he still went for last minute change(unlike e.g Jones refusing Chael in short notice)

 

[Ramon Antonio]

I'm incredibly interested in seeing what he does after he loses that fight.

Move down and get knocked out by Ilia.