Lol If the rumor is true Topuria will refuse anything but a title shot, he isnt very smart

[Big Tuppy Hole]

Im 100% convinced that anyone asking for Armen vs Illa is just trying to make Islams life easier

This goes both ways. Asking Ilia to jump straight into a TS is making his life easier

 

[JKS]

Yeah, beating Poirier and Moicano is so much better than beating Ilia. Ilia is Islam's biggest threat and you guys are scurred.

Beating Poirier at LW is far better than beating Ilia. Poirier is one of the best ever fight in the division.

 

[wrb]

Did he really refuse Arman or is that a rumor, he absolutely should not get a title shot yet and I am surprised he even suggested it considering how respected LW is and is stacked with fighter who need the challenge?

 

[188912345]

Did he really refuse Arman or is that a rumor, he absolutely should not get a title shot yet and I am surprised he even suggested it considering how respected LW is and is stacked with fighter who need the challenge?

It's just a rumor so far, but it might be true.

At this moment it's not that stacked with rising contenders. It's mostly filled with aging fighters who already have lost title fights.

Giving the shot to Arman and then making Topuria fight Oliveira for #1 contender would be a decent solution, but I wouldn't mind if he just got the shot before or after Arman either.

 

[chinarice]

I want to see Ilia fight Islam but I hate the skipping the line.

I think ilia has a better chance against Islam than the top LWs

 

[Lee Danger]

I don't know if he's scared or just pointing out that people will just downplay the win against Topuria if Islam does beat him.

well, there're few things to downplay when Islam's former 2 defences are a FW who he'd already beaten and a fringe top 10 both on short notice.

 

[RockyLockridge]

This goes both ways. Asking Ilia to jump straight into a TS is making his life easier

I agree. The way it should be is armen Vs islam but if they don't do that Islam Vs illa is still a better thing to do than Armen Vs illa

 

[Superzorro]

Islam doesn’t fight ilia immediately, he’s a duck. He beats ilia and people say he only beats a FW and should focus on beating LWs. He can’t win either way.


Imagine if Poirier or Olivera beats Ilia, do we get the “he beat a FW” narrative? I think not.

I would say so. Poirier and Oliviera would look like giants in there with Topuria.

 

[Paladin]

That’s exactly what fans will say after Islam dominates and possibly subs Ilia. It’s a lose-lose situation, unless Ilia spectacularly beats a top lw contender before getting a ts. Even then the talks of him beating up a manlet won’t stop.

The champ welcomes all challengers. Simply saying yes to all fights, rather than trying to play match maker will turn the situation into a win win situation.

Just say yes, and stop trying to make contenders jump over all manner of hurdles to get a shot.

 

[pamirec]

The champ welcomes all challengers. Simply saying yes to all fights, rather than trying to play match maker will turn the situation into a win win situation.

Just say yes, and stop trying to make contenders jump over all manner of hurdles to get a shot.

I don’t think Islam will refuse, he is fighting anyone the UFC is putting in front of him. At the same time Islam cares about legacy. There will be fans saying like, oh that defence doesn’t count cause it was against a fw.

 

[meast]

Bro thinks he is Conor but he is not. Surprised he hasn’t come out with a liquor brand yet

 

[cmw43]

I can't imagine Topuria gave up his belt and the Champ money and status that brings to just become a regular guy at LW.

There must have been some kind of promise or guarantee of a title shot or why else would he give up his belt?

 

[SuperNerd]

Ts got it figured out

 

[Genki Sudo]

Arman v potpourria for title shot...just curious who merab will glaze

 

[WildShrimper]

well, there're few things to downplay when Islam's former 2 defences are a FW who he'd already beaten and a fringe top 10 both on short notice.

but that's not Islam's fault, and you can't downplay the first Volk fight, that fight was close as shit and Volk was still in prime form.

 

[Neck&Neck]

Prince Toppy is playing 4d chess with his negotiating tactics
Haterz are sHoOk and grasping at straws
“Beat a contender”, what was Holloway ranked when he beat GayGee
“But he was drained” !!,
Typical Jerome Stans