Topuria’s trying to speed run the “McGregor Career”.

[MisfitsBR]

maybe, but

Volk-Max-Islam are better wins than Mendes-Aldo-Alvarez

Legendary if he win and defend against Do Bronx (after Do Bronx beat Arman)

 

[Edward Henry Greb]

likely outcome;

Topuria’s scalp gets added fk the dagestanis already impressive collection.

That’s exactly what he’s trying to do. It’s a dumb move. He’s forfeited his chance to prove himself the best 145er ever, which was his clearest path to greatness. If he somehow manages to win the belt at 155, he’ll have to defend it at least 5 times to be a lightweight GOAT. The double champ label doesn’t really add much to his legacy, as many fighters have accomplished that feat already. Ilya basically threw away his best card for no reason. He should just go straight to becoming a liquor salesman.

Completely agree with you ... see this post.

 

[7 others]

But unlike conor, he did defend his title. And he did vacant his title and move up

 

[RockyLockridge]

dd

History repeating itself. Conor moving up was the wrong long term move for his MMA career but at least the epic double champ win (back when it was a novelty) set up the life changing Floyd fight.

Topuria is moving up without any clear benefit like that in mind, at least that we're aware of yet. He's not even big for FW, and is ridiculously small for LW. His ego is out of control after KOing two fighters that are still very good but past the days of their greatness, which is the common pattern of the next generation elite taking over from the prior class.

The only time I know of that he was at 155, he looked cartoonishly small against Herbert, and people remember the head kick but in that fight he struggled with a hell of a lot more than just that one strike. It's not like he was dominating the fight and got caught with a random headkick....if anything he pulled the fight out of his ass with the KO. At least his power appears to translate better at 155 than Conor's did.

Illa should be Immensely FEARED for doing this. This is one of the most confident moves I've EVER seen a champ or any MMA fighter ever take. Not holding one belt hostage as a back up plan in case he goes south. This man is ALL IN.

That's gotta be respected.

 

[markg171]

Speed run? Topuria has already been in the UFC for 5 years and hasn't accomplished it.

Conor did it in 3 years while:

• being out for a year with injury
• an interim bout that delayed his FW title fight
• the Diaz fights that delayed his LW title fight

Wtf are you even talking about bro

 

[markg171]

What do you mean "speed run"?

McGregor's prime was only like 5-6 fights, and he got fast tracked to the title in two weight classes.

Fast tracked?

Ilia got his FW title shot for beating Emmett. Conor beat Mendes. Now Ilia's apparently getting an instant LW title shot meanwhile Conor fought Diaz 2x before fighting Eddie.

Are you guys even fans of the sport?

 

[zakk]

Maybe he just doesn't want to kill himself making 145.

seriously? at 5'7 and that is probably exaggerated? One big bowel movement and he makes weight.

 

[markg171]

seriously? at 5'7 and that is probably exaggerated? One big bowel movement and he makes weight.

His brother's the same size and is a bantamweight so I don't understand the size argument at all.

If anything it would make more sense that he's moving to LW simply because his brother's going to move to FW and he doesn't want to reign over his brother's division.

 

[RockyLockridge]

Illia really is making a potential career ruining move.

Lopes, Movsar, Volk rematch - Illia wins all these. Islam is a terrible matchup for him.

It's a very high risk high reward move.

 

[RockyLockridge]

lol hate to break it to you

Islam is not Eddie Alvarez

Eddie alvererz is significantly more proven as a LW i agree

 

[burningspear]

if ilia beats up islam, just lol we havent seen anything quite like that

 

[deadshot138]

Eddie alvererz is significantly more proven as a LW i agree

Before he joined the UFC sure. Beating post USADA RDA for the belt is not proving anything.

 

[zakk]

His brother's the same size and is a bantamweight so I don't understand the size argument at all.

If anything it would make more sense that he's moving to LW simply because his brother's going to move to FW and he doesn't want to reign over his brother's division.

unlike the rest of the sherdoggers here, I am bout an inch or so taller then him and my walk around weight is under 145.
And I only watch my diet to regulate my glucose/blood sugar cause I am old as fuck and do not want diabetes ever.

 

[rjmbrd]

likely outcome;

Topuria’s scalp gets added fk the dagestanis already impressive collection.

Conor couldn't go 2 rounds with Nate @%@ Diaz and got tapped out. He had absolutely no business getting a freebie title shot after that.

Topuria is a world class MMA adapted grappler. There really is no comparison here.

 

[markg171]

Conor couldn't go 2 rounds with Nate @%@ Diaz and got tapped out. He had absolutely no business getting a freebie title shot after that.

Topuria is a world class MMA adapted grappler. There really is no comparison here.

I feel like there's something that happened in between there that you're leaving out

Also imagine calling Topuria a world class grappler but not Diaz. Jesus.

 

[xhaydenx]

no he didn't lol.

I get that some people dont like mcgregor but you dont have to make shit up.

McGregor had one of the hardest FW title runs of anyone to fight for the title before him. Only max had it harder, but again, that was after

His run to the FW belt looks really good on paper, but with actual context I wouldn't say it is, bro.

Max was green as hell back then.

Dustin wasn't the fighter he is today.

Siver was just sort of okay.

Chad was great, but he was also ready to leave. He only won one more fight after his fight against Conor. He was also there on 2 weeks notice and it showed with his cardio.

 

[Motivated BJ Penn]

Maybe he just doesn't want to kill himself making 145.

Hes a midget, and not even a jacket one, so why cant he make 145?

 

[markg171]

His run to the FW belt looks really good on paper, but with actual context I wouldn't say it is, bro.

Max was green as hell back then.

Dustin wasn't the fighter he is today.

Siver was just sort of okay.

Chad was great, but he was also ready to leave. He only won one more fight after his fight against Conor. He was also there on 2 weeks notice and it showed with his cardio.

Conor should've just beaten Josh Emmett to get a title shot like Ilia did

 

[joy2day]

likely outcome;

Topuria’s scalp gets added fk the dagestanis already impressive collection.

Or a Dagestani scalp gets added to Illia's collection; then Illia, MVP, and Merab will all have a Dagi scalp.

I have foreseen it.

 

[Mohawk Banditó]

Conor was privileged enough to still be FW champ and not vacate while challenging for the LW belt. Hell, Conor even beat more relevant FW ranked fighters in his own extremely protected run (I know Ilia has a defense, but he got to fight #1, then defend against #2, while Conor was going to fight #1, who got injured, so he had to fight #2 first for interim, then #1 for the undisputed).

Imagine trying your hardest to be Conor 2.0 and being way more skilled, but still just being the discount version.