Mackachev vs Topuria won’t happen

[moosaev]

Smaller Burns and Shorter Usman were able to counter-grapple Chimaev. Both ended up striking quite decent in those fights, but still lost.
Smaller, shorter Tsarukyan was able to counter-grapple Makhachev, but still lost.
Shorter Volkanovski did okay in the first fight against Makhachev, but still lost.

Sometimes the smaller and/or shorter fighters are better at counter-grappling these elite grappling gurus.
Topuria might be the one that finally solves the puzzle and get the KO.
But Makhachev is quite precise and good with striking. He could use his grappling threat to set up Topuria and get the KO instead.

(Martins got nice knockdown on Islam and win. But that was an early stoppage by the ref. Islam was still ready to fight and defend. I hate early stoppages.)

What I said before the fight is that Volk’s stature has a lot to do with why Islam struggled with him. People took it as a negative, being a lot shorter than islam is an asset when you’re grappling him, not a liability.

 

[Neck&Neck]

Too bad Islam got too fat for 155
Could of been a BANGER

 

[DrawK]

I'm convinced he would manhandle him at this point. 1st or 2nd round sub. Hope it does happen though so I could bet the house on it.

 

[thekiddak]

The UFC isn’t going to sacrifice one of their biggest stars in Illia Topurino , to the Wet Blanket gods.

It just doesn’t make sense, nobody wants to see Islam lay and pray Topuriano for 25 minutes, and Islam refuses to go for finishes.

Not the biggest Islam fan by any means but he has finished 18 out of 28 wins which isn’t bad at all and 8 out of his last ten which is really good. Hoping morales can stay on his feet and tag him still just like I hoped jdm would tonight

 

[DrRodentia]

Dude was threatening the darce the whole time, JDM was just defending it well. He also had at least two kimura and arm triangle attempts.

Yeah, he spent a great deal of that fight a few movements away from sealing up submissions. He was in potential arm triangle position for a great percentage of the time he spent on top. He was just fighting a guy whose focus was one hundred percent on defending submissions.

 

[Pierce 34]

Time to add Islam to Ilia right next to GSP vs Silva and Fedor vs Couture

 

[Al Tair]

Bro Topuria hasn't even had a propery LW match with a propery contender. I like topuria but I feel like Islam would literally kick his head off and destroying his legacy.

 

[thekiddak]

I give ilia credit for going after mak. #1 vs #2 p4p what more can fans ask for. Top going after the best fighter there is. Hope they make the fight and top pulls it off. I’d root for him but I wouldn’t favor him unfortunately

 

[shunyata]

The forum is whining for the most part. Get it out, guys.

Let it go like Elsa.

 

[Koro_11]

His first fight with Volk was voted as FOTY by a lot of people. That’s not based of statistics, that’s based off opinions.

Sure and he’s not the most boring fighter on the roster or anything, but he’s not very exciting either.

 

[MMACro]

Zero. Zero real attempts and that’s the correct answer.

Stats | UFC

Take deep breaths,its ok

 

[Hassan Mouzine]

Islam can't make light weight anymore because he now has filled out his frame and looks like a welter weight, he bulked up nicely. The only way this fight could happen imo....if the UFC (and of course the 2 fighters) would consider a catch weight fight. 160-165, something like that. Both these guys have collected 2 titles in 2 weight classes, doesn't need to be a title fight, just let 2 high level champs duke it out at a catch weight. Don't think the UFC would do it though

 

[Koro_11]

That’s literally not the perception of Islam, just another fake narrative. The perception has always been that he’s an entertaining fighter, in fact many folks made it a point to say he was the ONLY entertaining Dagi fighter.

Being the most entertaining Dagi fighter is kinda like being the smartest kid on the shortbus.

 

[moosaev]

Being the most entertaining Dagi fighter is kinda like being the smartest kid on the shortbus.

Didn’t say the most entertaining, I said the *only* entertaining. Work on your reading comprehension.

 

[Koro_11]

Didn’t say the most entertaining, I said the *only* entertaining. Work on your reading comprehension.

Except he’s not actually very entertaining, he’s only somewhat entertaining relative to other Dagis. Put him next to someone like Ilia, Pereira, Jiri, Diego Lopes, or Carlos Prates, then compare how entertaining he is.

 

[moosaev]

Except he’s not actually very entertaining, he’s only somewhat entertaining relative to other Dagis. Put him next to someone like Ilia, Pereira, Jiri, Diego Lopes, or Carlos Prates, then compare how entertaining he is.

lol. Keep coping bud.

 

[Coconutwater]

Dude was threatening the darce the whole time, JDM was just defending it well. He also had at least two kimura and arm triangle attempts.

Anybody who grapples knows Islam kept trying to sneak that shallow D’arce and the straight arm lock and the head &, arm. Craig just trained JDM well enough to not get caught, which I anticipated.

 

[Koro_11]

lol. Keep coping bud.

Coping with what? I have no attachment to these fighters other than how much they can entertain me and he doesn’t entertain me. I’m sorry that this upsets you.

 

[Conan the K-9]

Take deep breaths,its ok

Sorry, were you supposed to quote someone else?

 

[moosaev]

Coping with what? I have no attachment to these fighters other than how much they can entertain me and he doesn’t entertain me. I’m sorry that this upsets you.

Cope lol