There's no way Islam is returning to LW

[Dirty Frank]

It’s funny because the same idiots on here will say he’s ducking but will excuse Ilia for not able to make FW.

Buncha fools on Sherdog crawling out of the woodwork.

 

[RichardHarrow]

Buncha fools on Sherdog crawling out of the woodwork.

They’ve been hibernating and salivating at the chance of a Dage losing

 

[Ibm]

I don't even know how he makes WW to be honest.

 

[JudoThrowFiasco]

That is obviously the best fight you can make right now and 100% should be their next fight

 

[nostradumbass]

You think Dustin is surviving 5 rounds with Ilia? Come on lol

Josh Emmett did, and he's older, smaller and a worse fighter than Dustin.

 

[nostradumbass]

He'll beat JDM and come back down to whip Ilia in the same night if he feels like it!!!

This the game we playing?

He said last week that he might come back down if they both get a few defenses in their divisions, but imo there are still going to be a good 2-3 good contenders even with the contenders fighting each other in the meantime, and I'm not sure Ilia gets by Arman if they fight.

 

[Carlos Calderon]

Islam can overcome Ilia by imposing a sharp jab and calf kicks to disrupt his timing, feinting takedowns to bait counters, and chaining level changes into double-leg takedowns, then applying heavy top pressure with cross-face control to nullify submission threats. By cutting off the cage, maintaining forward pressure, mixing striking and wrestling, conserving energy for late rounds, he’ll secure victory.

 

[LincolnHawk1]

IDK about that... Ilia looked just fine on the ground with Charles (and everyone else so far). Wrestling is absolutely Islam's best chance to win IMO, but he's not some wrestling/grappling savant. It's not going to be easy at all

Not some wrestling savant for Islam? Ah that is exactly what he is. He is cut from the same cloth of khabib. Both these guys (khabib and Islam) specialty is wrestling and is elite of the elite. I know ilia is a good wrestler to go with his elite stand up, but if he is going to lose to someone it won’t be on the feet. The grappling/wrestling part is the only question to be answered at this point. We know ilia is a good wrestler, but how good? We haven’t seen him tested against an elite wrestler and no Bryce is not on the same level as Islam in wrestling. Not close. So yes that would be a good fight to help answer questions. If he stuffs take downs of Islam and is able to reverse a couple and also keep the fight on the feet in his terms, I think that would answer the question of can anyone beat him. Islam is elite of the elite for mma wrestling. If ilia passes that test than no one can beat him around his weight class.

 

[Dirty Frank]

He said last week that he might come back down if they both get a few defenses in their divisions, but imo there are still going to be a good 2-3 good contenders even with the contenders fighting each other in the meantime, and I'm not sure Ilia gets by Arman if they fight.

Arman would be a tough one for him. I'd say tougher than JDM is to Islam.

 

[Dirty Frank]

Josh Emmett did, and he's older, smaller and a worse fighter than Dustin.

People seem to forget about Dustin's boxing.

 

[VAfan]

Charles got treated like a journeyman.

and fought like one. people are blowing topuria up a bit too much considering how awful oliveira looked, i don't know if the win even means much.

 

[SurferH2O]

and fought like one. people are blowing topuria up a bit too much considering how awful oliveira looked, i don't know if the win even means much.

You may be right... but I have a strong feeling Topuria will be a Champ for a long time and may be GOAT material for his weight classes.

 

[LincolnHawk1]

People seem to forget about Dustin's boxing.

I would want Dustin to beat ilia in a hypothetical fight of the two, but come on dude that wouldn’t happen. Ilia boxing is better than Dustin and he had the Francis power death touch essentially at the lighter weights. He would ko Dustin like he has to the last 3 ufc legends he has fought. I think ilia is that guy people have been waiting for from a in the cage stand point.