Media Paul Felder criticized UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria for avoiding a fight with Arman Tsarukyan

[pamirec]

Arman dominates Ilia. Deep down Ilia knows it’s a bad matchup for him. Sure, Ilia has no problem fighting Islam cause it’s kinda like a win-win situation.

 

[Ramon Antonio]

Arman dominates Ilia. Deep down Ilia knows it’s a bad matchup for him. Sure, Ilia has no problem fighting Islam cause it’s kinda like a win-win situation.

Arman vs Oliveira doesn’t make me believe he easily handles Illia. Illia only needs one shot and I doubt Arman will be able to avoid it for 5 rounds.

 

[Steve Fox]

Felder is and was always a bum. Can't really say shit about a guy that now captured belts in two different divisions.

 

[blunttruth]

Based on what? Illia can defend himself on the ground and get back to his feet, and on the feet he only needs one good shot. This is a much riskier fight for Arman than for Illia.

I am not saying that Arman would beat Ilia, but I would say it is a far riskier fight for Ilia than for Arman. Worst that can happen for either of them is getting brutally KTFO, but if so, it would be far worse for Ilia's mojo and career at this point than for Arman, who is already on the career shit slide it seems.

 

[swarrrm]

Split decision win over Oliveira, a tko over Dariush, decision loss to Gamrot. That's Arman's resume against ranked fighters. Where's the entitlement coming from?

 

[b00tysweat]

I am not saying that Arman would beat Ilia, but I would say it is a far riskier fight for Ilia than for Arman. Worst that can happen for either of them is getting brutally KTFO, but if so, it would be far worse for Ilia's mojo and career at this point than for Arman, who is already on the career shit slide it seems.

if Arman is on the career shit slide, why would he get a title shot?

 

[blunttruth]

if Arman is on the career shit slide, why would he get a title shot?

That is a good question, than many on here want an answer to ! The answer is possibly that Arman's descent to where he is now, from up where he was before he pulled out of his Title shot, is still further up in the UFC matchmakers minds, than the level that Paddy has climbed to, or the level than Justin has settled into? I don't know who the UFC is going to book Ilia against next, nor do I have a strong preference, but I don't think it is Ilia's shot to call, any more than it is Justin, Paddy or Arman's.

 

[Ramon Antonio]

I am not saying that Arman would beat Ilia, but I would say it is a far riskier fight for Ilia than for Arman. Worst that can happen for either of them is getting brutally KTFO, but if so, it would be far worse for Ilia's mojo and career at this point than for Arman, who is already on the career shit slide it seems.

Yeah it’s always going to be worse for the champ, but I see Illia knocking him out as far more likely than the other way around.

If Arman wins it’s going to be a decision.

 

[pamirec]

Arman vs Oliveira doesn’t make me believe he easily handles Illia. Illia only needs one shot and I doubt Arman will be able to avoid it for 5 rounds.

Takedowns will be the key. Tsarukyan got nasty elbows. He could hurt Ilia on the ground.

 

[bjjwar]

Arman will beat the shit out of Ilia and Ilia knows this

How ? He cant hurt a fly. He’s like the guy on earth who fought and couldnt hurt Oliveira. Frking loser Chandler even had Charles hurt .

We are talking about a guy that lost to a bum like Gamrot, got a lucky split dec win over Charles where he nearly got finished and hasnt fought for almost 1,5 yrs after shit*** his pants to avoid the fight against Islam lol. Might aswell put CM Punk in front of Ilia…

 

[legedema]

How ? He cant hurt a fly. He’s like the guy on earth who fought and couldnt hurt Oliveira. Frking loser Chandler even had Charles hurt .

We are talking about a guy that lost to a bum like Gamrot, got a lucky split dec win over Charles where he nearly got finished and hasnt fought for almost 1,5 yrs after shit*** his pants to avoid the fight against Islam lol. Might aswell put CM Punk in front of Ilia…

lets wait until Ilia has the balls to accept it.
and by hurting any one , just look what Arman did to the other Spanish guy before

 

[SuperAlly]

Felder is and was always a bum. Can't really say shit about a guy that now captured belts in two different divisions.

That's not how sports punditry works

If Ilia is ducking the rightful next challenger people should absolutely call it out, doesn't matter if Ilia won every belt from women's atom weight up to HW consecutively

It's the same reason people can judge Jon for ducking Tom even though he is LHW GOAT. You get judged for the specific action, you don't have a free pass to do anything because you previously did some good things.

 

[r-harper-1]

What would Felder know about greatness

 

[Steve Fox]

That's not how sports punditry works

If Ilia is ducking the rightful next challenger people should absolutely call it out, doesn't matter if Ilia won every belt from women's atom weight up to HW consecutively

It's the same reason people can judge Jon for ducking Tom even though he is LHW GOAT. You get judged for the specific action, you don't have a free pass to do anything because you previously did some good things.

Not every delay/ducking is fear, sometimes it’s business.

I get the point you're making, but context matters. Felder isn't just "an analyst calling it like it is," he’s had a pattern of taking shots at active fighters while sitting comfortably in the booth. When someone like Ilia achieves what he has, there’s a line between critique and just being an idiot. Felder is in no position to discredit someone who’s accomplished far more than he ever did. Felder never had the luxury of being in a position that allows him to do business. That's my point which you completely dismissed.

Also, when it comes to Jones, Jon Jones was a long-reigning champion with a deep résumé, and fans have years of context to judge his choices. Can't really compare it.

 

[b00tysweat]

lets wait until Ilia has the balls to accept it.
and by hurting any one , just look what Arman did to the other Spanish guy before

let's wait until Armen has the balls to fight and earn his place in line

it's been over a year, he's been knitting socks for Ilia while he waits

 

[legedema]

let's wait until Armen has the balls to fight and earn his place in line

it's been over a year, he's been knitting socks for Ilia while he waits

ha ha , you must be one of the old Conor nut huggers.
good to se that you found other balls to hang on

 

[b00tysweat]

ha ha , you must be one of the old Conor nut huggers.
good to se that you found other balls to hang on

I don't like rank squatters

apparently you do

 

[SuperAlly]

Not every delay/ducking is fear, sometimes it’s business.

I get the point you're making, but context matters. Felder isn't just "an analyst calling it like it is," he’s had a pattern of taking shots at active fighters while sitting comfortably in the booth. When someone like Ilia achieves what he has, there’s a line between critique and just being an idiot. Felder is in no position to discredit someone who’s accomplished far more than he ever did. Felder never had the luxury of being in a position that allows him to do business. That's my point which you completely dismissed.

Also, when it comes to Jones, Jon Jones was a long-reigning champion with a deep résumé, and fans have years of context to judge his choices. Can't really compare it.

Yes. I completely dismiss that point as having any validity

Much like some of the best coaches never played a sport at the highest level, some of the best commentators or pundits wouldn't have.

It's a completely ridiculous proposition frankly.

 

[Steve Fox]

Yes. I completely dismiss that point as having any validity

Much like some of the best coaches never played a sport at the highest level, some of the best commentators or pundits wouldn't have.

It's a completely ridiculous proposition frankly.

You're comparing apples to oranges. It doesn't require having been a top-level athlete themselves. A coach's job is to train athletes. A pundit's job is commentary, but when that commentary turns into personal shots at active fighters who’ve done far more than they ever did, it crosses the line into ego-driven nonsense. Felder is neither a coach, neither he was a great fighter.

Felder’s resume matters because he’s not just offering tactical analysis, he's actively making judgements over top-level fighters from a position he never reached himself.
That’s where credibility comes into play. DC saying the same Felder did would sound different.

You can criticize without pretending you're above the people you're talking about, and that’s where Felder constantly slips.