Khamzat would be a nightmare champion

[GOATtalks]

Really 1.5 defenses a year seems to be the new champion norm.

When was it different? Aldo wasn’t an active champ, Cruz was ridiculously bad, GSP wasn’t really that active, Anderson was the only one that was really active. Jones was active too, but has become the worst offender.

Recently we had few very active champs like Pereira, Izzy, Usman and Volk ( although some fights were at 155).

 

[Söze Aldo]

People think I hate the neckbeards because of fight style or religion but it’s really due to them barely ever fighting.

If Islam fought more, he’d be a star. If Khamzat fought more, he’d be champ probably. Fight more!

It's crazy how fighters can look at Pereira becoming practically the biggest UFC star since Conor due to how active he was and not wanting to emulate that?

Usman went from being someone who people used to consider a snooze, to getting a lot of respect by being an active champ.

 

[SamuraiBro]

How do we not have a fight announcement yet?
DDP said he wants Khamzat and Khamzat fought last year.

 

[flektarn]

How do we not have a fight announcement yet?
DDP said he wants Khamzat and Khamzat fought last year.

UFC doesn't want to use one of their stars that panders to the middle east market for a las vegas fight week card unless they absolutely need a good main event and have no one else.

 

[Tweak896]

Honestly won't be different than most champions if we're being honest. If Khamzat was champ they'd build events around him, so middle east cards if there are visa issues. We might see him more active than now. It's funny because as soon as he reached top 10 level, all of a sudden his opponents had particular terms and everything, no one wanted to fight him. His medical issues might be a concern, but we've survived guys like Cruz. UFC seems more willing to strip recently with Hill, Topuria, and Jiri vacating belts

 

[HHJ]

One of the best champions

 

[Feaser]

People think I hate the neckbeards because of fight style or religion but it’s really due to them barely ever fighting.

If Islam fought more, he’d be a star. If Khamzat fought more, he’d be champ probably. Fight more!

People can overcome a certain degree of cultural differences, especially if they don’t see it as supporting someone else’s culture. But this kind of stuff makes it harder.

 

[ThaiSexPills]

It's crazy how fighters can look at Pereira becoming practically the biggest UFC star since Conor due to how active he was and not wanting to emulate that?

Usman went from being someone who people used to consider a snooze, to getting a lot of respect by being an active champ.

This. And speaking of inactive neckbeards, I think Islam could be a megastar if he’d just fight more. His fights are very exciting, he’s a funny guy with a good personality, probably the best P4P fighter right now and could bring in serious cash.

I really like Islam but watching him say things like he’s going to wait to see if JDM wins to go up to WW is so dumb. Fight Topuria, rematch Dustin or whoever can give you a quick turnaround and fight 2-3 times a year.

Hell, Ian Garry was the joke of the MMA world not long ago but after wanting two dangerous, high risk fights back to back people are warming up to him too.

 

[welcometohavoc]

It would certainly easier to get fights with a belt on your waist and in more favorable terms. If he stays active and undefeated he could be the next P4P number one he has more potential than others.

Nah. Fighters usually fight even less once they get the belt. With Khamzat that probably means once per year at most

 

[welcometohavoc]

It's crazy how fighters can look at Pereira becoming practically the biggest UFC star since Conor due to how active he was and not wanting to emulate that?

Usman went from being someone who people used to consider a snooze, to getting a lot of respect by being an active champ.

Alex's popularity primarily comes from him coming from kickboxing, dominating MMA, and KOing everyone.

Most of these champions or potential champions don't have that ability

 

[Paladin]

The UFC struggles to book fights with khamzat every single time , and they seem to be struggling with Ddp negotiations. Injuries, travel restrictions, hanging with Russian dictator murderer. I can’t imagine this guy as a champion , literally a nightmare unlike the ‘nightmare’ usman, or the dream Sanchez

It would certainly easier to get fights with a belt on your waist and in more favorable terms. If he stays active and undefeated he could be the next P4P number one he has more potential than others.

Big “IF”.

As it is, the guy is smashing on instagram and not in the octagon. How long has it been since his last fight.

 

[Neck&Neck]

Can’t risk Khamzat flying international unless he’s bubble wrapped and triple masked

 

[Senzo Tanaka]

IF he makes it to the DDP and IF he wins, I predict he doesn't defend even once. He'll either get stripped, can't fight for some reason, retire, get into trouble, etc. He might be exciting but he's not someone I'd want to deal with as champion.

 

[Fight Professor]

Garry had 9 fights in the UFC. Khamzat had 8. Shavkat had 7. They all got signed roughly the same time.

 

[Kwic]

Why does he always need a year between fights?

Didn't he beat Rob in 2 minutes, why has it taken so long to announce when and who he's fighting next.

From a guy who fought like 3 times in a month to a guy that barely fights, that's crazy.
He got the recognition initially for fighting often like a maniac (and smashing fools), too bad that didn't last long.

 

[RockyLockridge]

yeah all his defenses are sure to be unification bouts

 

[RockyLockridge]

Garry had 9 fights in the UFC. Khamzat had 8. Shavkat had 7. They all got signed roughly the same time.

Because he fought his first 4 fights in 1 year

 

[ocfightfan]

The UFC better hope he never gets the belt. He won't be a champ that defends it consistently.

 

[DoctorStoppage]

Yes, it's even close to the norm for elite fighters in genereal.

During 2023-2024 the average for the top15 in every division was between 1.56 to 1.9 fights per year.
I think only about 8 ranked fighters did 3 fights per year (Pereira, Buckley, Garry, Prates, Ige, Lopez, Johnson, Van) over this two year period.

This is completely ridiculous and the biggest reason why the UFC sucks now. Get some bonuses in the contracts for multiple fights per year and keep it moving.

 

[188912345]

This is completely ridiculous and the biggest reason why the UFC sucks now. Get some bonuses in the contracts for multiple fights per year and keep it moving.

I agree. The UFC probably prefer to stack cards with 12k/12k-fighters rather than more established fighrera on 200k/200k. I would much rather prefer quality over quantity.