Media Khabib: Arman "TOUGHER" Fight Than Topuria - Topuria Could Be A "NOBODY" @ 155

[Chaotic Progressor]

I dunno who'd be harder, both are great punchers - Ilia definitely the better of the two, with sub skills. They're both super dangerous.

But no way Ilia would be a 'nobody' at 155. He'd be a killer there too, 100%.

 

[moosaev]

Ilia should KO the #4 LW if he wants to fight Islam

A fight that happened at 145 is irrelevant for the 155 division. Don’t assume ilia-Holloway looks the same at 155. Generally when a fighter comes up in weight then goes back down as Max did, it doesn’t end well.

 

[RockyLockridge]

Islam has showed up twice to fight the number one contender. Both times they pulled out. I don’t know how you somehow twist this and look at Islam as the one scared to fight.

Never said he was scared, Just said that he's going to CHOOSE the path of least resistance, when given a choice. Which is an Intelligent decision, not made in fear. Not sure why you interpreted it that way, Probably a defense mechanism for hearing valid criticism you don't like.

what is asked of him has nothing to do with what he chooses to do. If the ufc asks him to fight armen, he will. but if the ufc asked would you rather armen, charles, Illa or gaethje, he'll pick gaethje.

Ilia should KO the #4 LW if he wants to fight Islam

but he has already

 

[Tweak896]

Maybe if you consider Max so much better at 155lbs even though his legacy is at FW. I think Khabib is just angling for what's best for Islam's legacy. I don't think it's a traditional duck, but I know with the fights Islam has taken, many can question his legacy for having too many "FWs". Even though a fight with Gaethje would probably be easier, it just shows where the division is at right now. Back in the day people used to rate high performance in a weight under to mean something to the weight class above, kind of like how BJ Penn fought at 170lbs easily and is still considered a great win for GSP.

 

[Chayanne]

Agree with Khabib, Islam doesn't need Topuria and Topuria has a big mouth towards Khabib and Islam so fuck him

 

[Young Calf Kick]

Topuria is the most exciting and intriguing fight for Islam, regardless of the Bathtubbers and their weird conditions.

Islam has made an entire title reign out of beating up on midgets. People don't want to see him fight another unproven dwarf and will give him no credit if he does. Khabib is 100% correct.

I don't think it's his supporters that are particularly against this fight - they probably want to see him fight another midget - it's mainly his semi-haters like me.

It only seems to be people who are too stupid to understand basic concepts like size that are so obsessed with this fight. Guy wants to fight at 170 and you want him to crush another 145er? It's real retarded, sir.

Tbh both sides are kind of correct and Islam is somehow in an unlucky spot where;

1) Topuria is obviously the much more intriguing fight but he’s still another FW moving up, so morons will denounce Islam’s LW reign as having fought midgets
2) Arman is not the fight that most people want to see but Islam and his crew want to (rightfully so) want to make people stfu about that whole beating up Featherweights type of thing

 

[Young Calf Kick]

Just make Ilia vs Arman and be done with it.

The best option

 

[RockyLockridge]

Tbh both sides are kind of correct and Islam is somehow in an unlucky spot where;

1) Topuria is obviously the much more intriguing fight but he’s still another FW moving up, so morons will denounce Islam’s LW reign as having fought midgets
2) Arman is not the fight that most people want to see but Islam and his crew want to (rightfully so) want to make people stfu about that whole beating up Featherweights type of thing

Honestly the FW thing doesn't apply to topuria he relinquished his title and is not hedging his bets like other champs who move up. He's patently different than Volk for that reason. this is not illa vying for a second title, Or making a move to LW because he's stuck in 45 with no decent match ups and 2 losses to the champ like max was. this is Illa, the sports only undefeated champion, Relinquishing his title and moving to a new weight class. he's not straddling the line.

 

[markg171]

A fight that happened at 145 is irrelevant for the 155 division. Don’t assume ilia-Holloway looks the same at 155. Generally when a fighter comes up in weight then goes back down as Max did, it doesn’t end well.

If Ilia/Max is irrelevant at LW then Max is still #2 contender at LW and Islam should be fighting him then if he isn't fighting Arman.

Great, get Islam off the couch and book it already.

 

[BangBang]

Topuria is the most exciting and intriguing fight for Islam, regardless of the Bathtubbers and their weird conditions.

Rather see Paddy but I'm happy to see Paddy fight someone else first.

Topuria as good as he is, isn't as good as he thinks. Sucking yourself off is such a terrible look!

 

[markg171]

Just make Ilia vs Arman and be done with it.

What is Islam doing in the mean time while all his contenders fight each other for him then

 

[alchemy]

Khabib is right. If Topuria loses, then what? Will he get a rematch? Unlikely. Will he go down to 145? Unlikely. Will he continue fighting at 155 in regular fights (not for the belt)? Unlikely.

Islam has no incentive to take this fight and rightfully so. Topuris has to prove himself. He talks a lot but he hasn't beaten anyone at 155 and should fight someone like Arman, who I don't believe he can beat. He won't even be able to beat the likes of Gamrot. Those guys are much bigger and will 100% take Topuria to the deep waters that he'll be unable to get out of.

Topuria has a puncher's chance agains basic strikers like Gaethje, Fiziev, and Poirier and will likely KO Oliveira as well due to how dumb Charles fights in the stand up and gets rocked in every fight.

But, I don't believe for a second Topuria will have an easy time against Arman, Gamrot or Islam. He won't be able to simply go out there and KO those guys, because they just don't fight like fools a.k.a Max Holloway.

Against Islam, Topuria will be taken down immediately and submitted in the 1st round, maybe even faster than Moicano. I don't understand why people envision any other outcome for this fight. Do you guys even realize how small Topuria is against Islam? He's a midget even for the 145 division.

 

[Feaser]

That’s horseshit. Anyone can turn out to be a “nobody” if they lose their next fight. You never know how a win will age, whether it’s 155, 145, or anywhere else. You can say Arman deserves it more, sure, but that’s none of Team Khabib’s concern, especially after UFC gifted little Umar a title fight.

Islam is not afraid that beating Topuria will hurt his legacy. He’s afraid that losing to Topuria will hurt his legacy, and it would. It would instantly discredit all of his title defenses, since Ilya is the only opponent under 35.

 

[RockyLockridge]

What is Islam doing in the mean time while all his contenders fight each other for him then

paddy, who else?

 

[KO Shotz]

Arman does deserve a title shot still, I mean he didn't get pulled from the fight because he missed weight or for being dirty or anything like that. But Islam vs Ilia is a massive fight. Islam's team is just scared of that fight is what it boils down to.

 

[188912345]

They are kind of being party-poopers by denying the more exciting match-up.

Also, Ilia vs Arman first is the dumbest idea.
They are the two biggest challengers, one of them should get the titleshot immediately.
Makes no sense to remove one of them from title contention.

This is also the very opposite of Islams famous quote about the champion taking on any challenger who can make 155 lbs.

 

[moosaev]

If Ilia/Max is irrelevant at LW then Max is still #2 contender at LW and Islam should be fighting him then if he isn't fighting Arman.

Great, get Islam off the couch and book it already.

Max has a better argument than ilia for fighting the 155 belt. But I don’t think he should get it either, it should be Arman. Either way, ilia doesn’t deserve it, hasn’t earned it, and wracking up defenses against FWs won’t do anything for Islam’s legacy. Ilia’s current dominance will fade with time and all that will be remembered is that Islam only defended against FWs.

 

[Xanzito]

I agree.. but I'm also an Ilia hater... not falling for the Conor shtick

Good honest reply. Im on the same boat. Can't stand Topuria, hope he gets rekt.

 

[moosaev]

What is Islam doing in the mean time while all his contenders fight each other for him then

Arman should’ve showed up in Jan 2025. Charles should’ve showed up in Oct 2023. It’s not Islam’s fault that the top LW contenders keep fumbling the bag.

 

[Joinho10]

Never said he was scared, Just said that he's going to CHOOSE the path of least resistance, when given a choice. Which is an Intelligent decision, not made in fear. Not sure why you interpreted it that way, Probably a defense mechanism for hearing valid criticism you don't like.

what is asked of him has nothing to do with what he chooses to do. If the ufc asks him to fight armen, he will. but if the ufc asked would you rather armen, charles, Illa or gaethje, he'll pick gaethje.


but he has already

I'm all for valid criticism, but this isn't that. It's just lazy, misinformed talk. You said Islam never seeks the matchups that will further his legacy, and that's just not true. He's done exactly that at every step of the way. From fighting Charles for the belt to now aiming for second title at 170. Or is trying to become a double champ somehow your idea of " taking the path of least resistance" ?