So, Islam was definitely ducking Topuria the entire time

[PrideNverDies]

All this time, Islam and his team just kept having excuses as to why Topuria shoudn't fight for the LW title. They said Topuria hasn't earned the fight, or he hasn't proven himself in the division, this and that. We have not ONCE heard from Islam or his camp how Islam is going to actually beat Topuria.

Now, Topuria has put Islam in a very uncomfortable spot, because to avoid fighting Topuria further, he HAS to win against JDM at WW. If JDM loses at WW, his reputation will take a dive, because it will give us the answer as to why Khabib never moved up. Khabib and Islam have tried to pick the best matchups that worked in their favor as much as they can. This is why Islam is moving up - because he sees JDM as a very beatable oppoent. Same way he tried to call out Leon Edwards when he was the title holder at WW. Islam would've never called out Kamaru, or anyone else who would be able to defend against the takedowns.

I truly believe Joaquin Buckley is right in that Islam will retire if he wins the belt. Islam winning the WW belt already would cement his legacy, and it wouldn't be worth it for him to risk his image by possibly losing to any of the top contenders at WW who stand a really good chance at beating him.

Right now, Islam only has one path in mind, and it is to win the WW strap and retire, because no way in hell does he want to face Topuria. Islam is currently sandwiched between two fights in which he for maybe only the second time in his UFC career, stands a real chance at losing due to the matchup.

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

Last night showed us the big reason Islam said no and ran

 

[usernamee]

I'd like to be sandwiched between Islam and Khabib, if that's what you're asking.

 

[188912345]

I can definitely see why they were trying to get an easier matchup (Arman/Oliveira/Gaethje), if he had to fight 1 more time at LW, before challenging for the WW-belt.

Trying to blame it on a few "haters" not giving him credit for beating Volk was a bit weak.

 

[MrBlackheart]

Good lord, Islam moved up before any of this happened. I guess if he moved back down now, people would accuse him of ducking JDM.

 

[AmonTobin]

Aren’t Islam and Ilia doing the same thing? They both moved up divisions.

The difference is Islam did it with 4 title defences and Ilia did it with only 1.

Islam is fighting the actual WW champion whereas Ilia fought for a vacant LW title against another 35 year old who already lost to the #1 and #2. Calling out Pimblett instead or Tsarukyan after.

If anything, Topuria is the one being selective.

 

[chardog]

Aren’t Islam and Ilia doing the same thing? They both moved up divisions. If you’re accusing one of being selective then they both are.

The difference is Islam did it with 4 title defences and Ilia did it with 1.

Islam is fighting the actual WW champion and ilia fought for a vacant LW title against another 35 year old who already lost to the #1 and #2.

It’s the timing, illia has first movers advantage, islam copied but the look ain’t good

 

[chillyoo]

Idk who I dislike more Ilia or Islam so I’ll shoot it straight.

I highly doubt Islam has any fear of Topuria, I’d imagine he thinks he can get that fight to the ground and wins it from there. Topuria looked small next to Charles.

 

[SamuraiBro]

I don’t think Islam ran or ducked Ilia. However I’m picking Ilia to beat Islam if they ever fight at 155. 170 I’d favour Islam. The Georgians seem to have answers to the dagestani grappling.

 

[Bowel-forged Stool]

Hislam duck confirmed

 

[MDoza]

They weren’t wrong in their reasoning.

A champion with one title defense shouldn’t get an immediate title shot at the next weight class.

 

[xhaydenx]

Good lord, Islam moved up before any of this happened. I guess if he moved back down now, people would accuse him of ducking JDM.

Duckachev was making excuses the moment he realized Topuria was serious about moving up to fight him. That was well before he vacated to go to WW.

 

[xhaydenx]

If anything, Topuria is the one being selective.

From the start Topuria wanted to fight Islam, and if not Islam, then whoever for for the belt.

Selective is Duckachev making bullshit excuses to not fight Topuria and then waiting to see who won out of Belal/JDM to decide who he wanted to fight next.

 

[dildos]

Yes. No shit.

There was a bigger thread on this yesterday.

 

[Skarsgard]

Don't know about Islam, but I think it's pretty clear that Ilia was ducking Movsar with how easily Charles got him down. Definitely didn't want anything to do with Lopes and Jean Silva either.

 

[AmonTobin]

From the start Topuria wanted to fight Islam, and if not Islam, then whoever for for the belt.

Selective is Duckachev making bullshit excuses to not fight Topuria and then waiting to see who won out of Belal/JDM to decide who he wanted to fight next.

So Topuria wanted to fight Islam and left his division after one title defence? Gets an instant title shot for a vacated belt? That's not selective? Why didn't he stay put and defend against Evloev, Lopes, Rodriguez, and Allen?

 

[burningspear]

that was uncomfortable viewing for team islam last night

 

[imissWECPalmer]

yeah cuz Islam would be silly enough to strike with Ilia for any more than needed to get to the grappling.

 

[AmonTobin]

that was uncomfortable viewing for team islam last night

The little man can bang. Not sure how shook people are supposed to be about that but Pimblett looked pretty stoked tbh.

 

[xhaydenx]

So Topuria wanted to fight Islam and left his division after one title defence? That's not selective? Why didn't he stay put and defend against Evloev, Lopes, Rodriguez, and Allen?

He was struggling to make FW so he moved up to chase bigger fish than all those guys.

On the other hand, Islam is saying he's struggling to put on weight for WW. He could have stayed at LW and fought full camp Arman, Topuria and whoever else. Instead Topuria comes calling and all of a sudden he's gone like a fart in the wind.

The titles aren't really the point for Topuria. He took out the two best guys at FW and then wanted the very best guy at LW. He clearly wanted to chase the toughest challenges he possibly could.

Topuria isn't being selective. He just didn't have a choice if he wanted to fight the best he could. Now he's the champ he's got even less choice now that he's the LW champ. With Islam gone he's going to have to settle for Paddy and then Arman.