Safe to say Islam can't go to WW

[Peli]

Makhachev said he plans an eventual move to 170 pounds after defending his belt multiple times, and his coach Mendez believes it’ll happen.

“I 100 percent see that,” Mendez told Submission Radio. “And the reason why I see that is because Islam wishes that. And when he wishes that, he’s going to will it to happen. So he’s going to train, he’s going to clear out the division like he wants to do, and then he is going to go for the welterweight title, and whoever that person at that particular time is going to be, I feel he’s going to beat.”

I'm an Islam fan and I believe he won the close fight, but the featherweight champion is coming up and tagging you, knocking you down several times. If he gets touched by a WW, it's lights out.

 

[DapperDave]

Someone mentioned this idea last night.

Islam's combined skillset, size, strength, and conditioning allowed him to cruise thru most of the the LW division.

Most likely, things would be a bit different at 170. It's not hard to think of WW names who seem like they would give him trouble.

This is tough for Islam, because he struggles to make 155, and may not be able to keep doing it as he puts on a few more years.

Almost a tweener between LW and WW?

 

[Cheatr Pan]

I could see it working out for him if he gets favourable matchups like Poatan did. I could see him taking Belal and Colby, not Usman or Burns

 

[Peli]

Someone mentioned this idea last night.

Islam's combined skillset, size, strength, and conditioning allowed him to cruise thru most of the the LW division.

Most likely, things would be a bit different at 170. It's not hard to think of WW names who seem like they would give him trouble.

This is tough for Islam, because he struggles to make 155, and may not be able to keep doing it as he puts on a few more years.

Almost a tweener between LW and WW?

He's getting up there in years anyway. His prime came late, he's like 31, so he has a few more years before he is elite. I don't know any one in that divison that is 35+ years old and still elite.

 

[Substance Abuse]

Most guys can't. There's nothing wrong with that.

 

[glenn777]

Belal says in interviews that Islam handles him easily in training. So I think by that logic Volk could be a WW contender too.

 

[Rhood]

Islam would smoke Leon Edwards and become champion
Don't kid yourself bud

 

[Fraz]

Most guys can't. There's nothing wrong with that.

No he must retire immediately

 

[Question]

I'm an Islam fan and I believe he won the close fight, but the featherweight champion is coming up and tagging you, knocking you down several times. If he gets touched by a WW, it's lights out.

Hey look who it is!
Welcome back to Sherdog Peli, hope all is good and love the new AV.

 

[Izzysexboyfriend]

He won’t have a choice but to move up. Either way, struggling against Volk who’s arguably the best fighter in the world doesn’t mean he wouldn’t succeed at WW

 

[Nobru]

Islam looked a bit drained in the later rounds, IDK if the weight cut was rough
@ WW he wont have to cut and he will still be a nightmare matchup for most guys.
that said, IDK how it would go x Usman or Burns.

 

[Tweak896]

Khamzat would run through him. Islam would probably beat Leon though.

 

[StocktonMuhfuh]

I could see it working out for him if he gets favourable matchups like Poatan did. I could see him taking Belal and Colby, not Usman or Burns

Maybe Belal but Colby beats him

 

[Johnnny]

The death cut that Islam has to do to make 155 is proof that 170 is his natural weight class. But he would only be fringe Top 5 and have trouble with Usman, Edwards, Covington, and Rakhmonov. Makhachev vs Burns would be a very interesting fight.

 

[goOb]

It was a no lose fight for Volk. I f lost like he did and brought it like he did his stock only rises. The circumstances were different for Islam. His stock fell no doubt.

 

[Simple Southerner]

Facts he don't want that ww smoke

 

[Milenkovic]

Islam looked a bit drained in the later rounds, IDK if the weight cut was rough
@ WW he wont have to cut and he will still be a nightmare matchup for most guys.
that said, IDK how it would go x Usman or Burns.

Had 9 less hours to rehydrate, i think it had an impact at the end, but that doesn't take away from how good Volk was

 

[Joinho10]

I'm an Islam fan and I believe he won the close fight, but the featherweight champion is coming up and tagging you, knocking you down several times. If he gets touched by a WW, it's lights out.

I wanna see how he does in his next fight before jumping to conclusions. I think a lot has to do with the fight being in Australia. Let's see how he performs in his next fight in let's say Vegas where he is familiar with everything and where it's the usual 30+ hours to rehydrate cause he seemed to point to it impacting his game plan in a interview.

Timestamped

 

[Nobru]

Had 9 less hours to rehydrate, i think it had an impact at the end, but that doesn't take away from how good Volk was

Hell yeah, volk did great
He could have done better but islam tagged him a few times, his striking aint as bad as most think

 

[Shilajit]

This is akin to MMA math