Media Islam Makhachev wants Ilia Topuria to earn title shot, hasn't agreed to fight him yet

[Orochimaru 大蛇丸]

Historically, it doesn't much matter.

I mean, Max got a LW interim title shot with Dustin off of 2 title defenses at FW.

Volk got his LW title shot off 2 wins over Max and wins over Ortega and Zombie (who aren't great), and Yair.

Max and Volk hadn't won at LW in the UFC.

Topuria finished both of them and has his win at LW. If Max and Volk can get auto title shots, then Topuria should as well.

I don’t really remember the context around the Max shot, but Volk had cleared his division and was P4P 1 so he had done a lot more than Ilia has… plus it’s not like it’s the UFC saying Ilia doesn’t deserve it

That being said I’d still like to see Ilia vs Islam next, but I also understand Islam not wanting to fight another FW until he proves himself at LW… although I think he should consider the fact that beating Topuria will likely mean more for his legacy long term than beating Gaethje or Oliveira imo

 

[Tweak896]

Whatever throw in Gaethje while Topuria kills off another top LW. Islam actually deserves it for already taking a FW for a defense. I rather see this fight but see the logic

 

[Domitian]

They'll just give Topuria a fight with Dan Hooker

 

[whocares]

Everyone has different definitions of legacy. Some numbers. Some giant killers. Some titles. You make good points but Islams position that he doesn’t want to be regarded as a FW killer is valid. He continues to receive flack for beating Volk which has tainted his legacy.

It’s up to the champ who is Islam and is the A-side to determine what his legacy is. Not myself nor you.

Sure Islam can call his shots right now, but I don't agree that fighters necessarily define their own legacy, and I think the more they try to the worse it looks for them. but thats not my issue. I do think he's in a lose - lose situation here as you said the narrative against Ilia is he isn't proven at LW and Islam doesn't want to rack up fw victories (or lose to one). And I think that narrative goes away If Ilia handily defeats a top 5 lw next, which clears the path to a Topuria title shot. So that's to Islams logic and it makes sense.

The perfect situation would be Islam/Arman winner vs. Topuria/(Charles or Gaethje) winner. But in the same way Islam will hear noise about Topuria he will hear the same if he fights Gaethje who no one thinks realistically deserves a TS either. Charles to me is a non-starter for a TS right now.

I would personally love to see Top and Gaethje fight for the next TS, or just to see them fight, I just don't think the UFC is on board with that. They don't want to give Arman the shot right now, they probably do want to make Topuria/Islam but if Islam won't do it, it's out for now.

I would also say that Islam/Gaethje would be a big draw without running the risk of Ilia killing Gaethje first. With Justin calling for the shot and not getting any younger I could see that happening. The fans will grumble and grumble even more if Islam subs him in the 2nd round but this is how the UFC works sometimes.

Charles would also be a huge fight and test for Ilia, that fight would make sense to make Ilia earn it. Nobody likes Arman right now so he prob gets the shaft for the time being.

 

[xhaydenx]

I don’t really remember the context around the Max shot, but Volk had cleared his division and was P4P 1 so he had done a lot more than Ilia has… plus it’s not like it’s the UFC saying Ilia doesn’t deserve it

That being said I’d still like to see Ilia vs Islam next, but I also understand Islam not wanting to fight another FW until he proves himself at LW… although I think he should consider the fact that beating Topuria will likely mean more for his legacy long term than beating Gaethje or Oliveira imo

Yeh, Topuria would be a way bigger name than Justin or Charles. Justin just isn't that great and he already beat Oli with ease.

He just doesn't want to fight another "FW", but Topuria isn't even a FW anymore it seems.

They really should just do Armen vs Islam next lol.

 

[Pequeño Corey]

What a shit show. Arman is really the only LW left that I care to see Islam fight. Big Top may not have paid his dues at LW, but he’s a fresh match and has a star potential. Whether Islam likes it or not, this is the fight people want to see.

What are we left with? An olives rematch? Gaethje?

 

[HeadKickerV2]

Whats the big deal with Topuria fighting a contender first before going at Islam?

If both Islam and Ilia win their fights in summer we could see them fighting end of the year... youre that impatient?

It would be great way to build up that fight even more then it already is.

 

[danawhiteneedstogo]

I literally only signed up cos Im freakin' tired of you idiots posting shit from TASS, a literal state owned Russian "news" agency, constantly known for disinformation, like them saying Ilia refusing to accept the Arman fight, Arman being the son of an oligarch and both live in Russia. They have been pushing this narrative that Ilia doesn't deserve to be given Islam. STOP POSTING THEM. And tell whichever twitter MMA accounts to stop spreading their shit everywhere.



And if you say "why would they care to spread disinfo on MMA, thats for important shit" - if they have no moral qualms about spreading information on the big things, then they will have no moral qualms of spreading disinfo about anything and make shit up about anything for their own narratives they prefer.

 

[Strijfy]

They'll just give Topuria a fight with Dan Hooker

that would be a ripper of a fight, Dan always brings it

 

[Domitian]

that would be a ripper of a fight, Dan always brings it

It does sound like a lot of fun! I'm just saying they'll try to find one of the easiest Top LW fights they can get Topuria to justify a title shot for him.

 

[Nabs]

But Volk didn’t

Volk had basically cleaned his division, while Ilia only has one title defense.

 

[KO Shotz]

But Volk got an immediate title shot? It's because Arman or Gaethje are easier matchups compared to Ilia.

 

[Strijfy]

Typical of them

Hardest match up to date is put on the table and he declines, strip him

typical dumbarse take..

 

[RockyLockridge]

Islam can't refuse to fight Ilia & Arman both, can he?

His fanboys will endorse gaethje and Charles the easier route

 

[Elegant]

typical dumbarse take..

Keep your mouth shut

 

[ejazahmednit]

If he beats Ilia before he has a fight at LW his critics would say another FW (some will say this even after Ilia fights at LW though)
There is nothing for Islam to gain by fighting Ilia and it stands to reason that Ilia atleast get one win at LW first. He isn't someone who cleared out FW, he had to leave because he couldn't make weight anymore. So if he has a problem which makes him switch weight classes, he should not be rewarded for it.

And as many have said on this site before, the champ doesn't make accommodations for challenger

 

[Meathead Jock]

But Volk didn’t

Volk was number 1 pound for pound and had defended the belt a few times. Plus Islam gets shit on for having beat Volk twice with critics trying to discredit his resume as beating up light guys. Asking Ilia to beat ONE person at the weight class in the top 5 makes sense that way the person can be viewed as an a opponent instead of a light guy coming up AGAIN.

 

[hbombbisping]

Ilia has a good chance but there's no way he deverves it.

Islam has 4 title defences he has 1. If anyone is going to move up for a title it's Islam.

If Islam stays cucked by Belal then Topuria and Arman should fight for a shot at the title.

 

[188912345]

Volk had basically cleaned his division, while Ilia only has one title defense.

Illa being undefeated and knocking out both Volk and Max makes him a very legit challenge, especially in comparison to Gaethje or Poirier on their 1 fight winstreaks.

 

[Chayanne]

Agreed 100%.