My respect for Topuria has increased tremendously

[Feaser]

because oliveira and arman pulled out of the rematches

Yes, and somehow Poirier fought for the title, while Gaethje got booked to defend the Nate Diaz Belt in what was probably the last year of his prime. There’s always something, and there’s always a reason he’s not fighting the challenger. It’s understandable to a point. After a while it just looks like someone (not necessarily Islam himself) doesn’t want those fights to happen.

 

[Sean Chowdhury]

Yes, and somehow Poirier fought for the title, while Gaethje got booked to defend the Nate Diaz Belt in what was probably the last year of his prime. There’s always something, and there’s always a reason he’s not fighting the challenger. It’s understandable to a point. After a while it just looks like someone (not necessarily Islam himself) doesn’t want those fights to happen.

poirier didn't pull out like oliveira and arman tsorebackyan which is why he got to fight for the title, Islam already destroyed oliveira so the only interesting challenger he didn't fight is arman who pulled out. I don't think there is a conspiracy here, just 2 guys who pulled out

 

[MEAN357]

Ilia's literally already had a LW fight in the UFC and this is what happened

Yeah didn't he almost die from a headkick in the first round? Lol

He's a tiny Lil dude, absolute fucking tank but short and stocky af. Compare the b to dudes like Islam who could easily fight at WW and be decently sized and you can see my point.

 

[markg171]

Yeah didn't he almost die from a headkick in the first round? Lol

He's a tiny Lil dude, absolute fucking tank but short and stocky af. Compare the b to dudes like Islam who could easily fight at WW and be decently sized and you can see my point.

Volk of all people dropped Islam.

This isn’t a situation where Ilia is facing the wrong size of champ

 

[Hog-train]

Brother his last 4 fights have been Moicano Dustin and Volk 2x

Do you live in that bath tub of something

It's not his fault Arman got injured and Oliveira is a top LW. He's fighting who they're putting in front of him.

 

[kuroro]

He should fight Charles for a tune-up fight

lmfao if you think oliveira is a "tune up fight"

 

[wrb]

Wait, do people really want Ilia to fight Islam first? That would be suicide for the division and Ilia fights less often than Islam. They need to build new champs in LW, what better way to create one than to have them fight Ilia.

 

[markg171]

It's not his fault Arman got injured and Oliveira is a top LW. He's fighting who they're putting in front of him.

What does that have to do with the fact that his competition level is pretty trash

 

[Hog-train]

What does that have to do with the fact that his competition level is pretty trash

1. All his opponents aren't trash - Oliveira, Poirier, beat Arman before, Dan Hooker, Gleisen Tibau when he was good, Volk twice, etc.

2. Topuria's competition wasn't top notch either until he beat Volk and Max.

 

[MEAN357]

Volk of all people dropped Islam.

This isn’t a situation where Ilia is facing the wrong size of champ

Yeah that's kinda what I'm leaning on. Sometimes when the skill is equal fighting a shorter guy can be even harder. They can get inside your punches and really capitalize on the slightest bit of slacking defensively

Volk did that incredibly well in their first fight, frustrated the shit out of Islam, and Topurias power is nuclear.

That said it's still an uphill battle, I've yet to see if Topuria has the kind of movement that Volk did in his prime, that was a big part of Volks success imo.

So far it seems like Topuria can be a little bit of a punching bag until he gets in there and lands the KO shot (Max, that Lanky dude who fed him a devastating head kick who's name escapes me) etc etc.

I don't think anyone can eat shots from Islam and then there's the constant TD threat... it's by far the most compelling match up available right now tho, and Illia's confidence and recent performances have me unwilling to overlook him lol