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

[BowserJr]

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.

This 100%

At this point double champ only means something if your division is already cleared out

 

[Stump]

Ilia may retire early if he beats Islam. There really aren't any stars or draws in his generation of FWs and LWs. Most of them are on the latter stages of their career like Charles, Dustin, Justin, Max, Volk. He's already talked about retiring early but if he beats Islam I think he might really do it. I don't think he'd be that interested in fighting guys like Evloev who he has already little interest in he's said, Lopes or a Zalal rematch. Or an Arman or Gamrot @ LW? Nah I don't see it. He would be one of UFC's biggest stars then. After Conor beat Aldo look at the fighters he fought.

Nate - short notice replacement for RDA, but generated big hype and made Nate a superstar after the 1st fight

Eddie - champ VS champ

Floyd megafight - nuff said made many generations of wealth

Khabib - now Khabib wasn't a big megastar until the Conor fight and fallout but he was still an undefeated 27-0 champ

Cowboy - lol

Dustin fights....

I don't see Ilia sticking around for a long time. If Islam fight happens and if he wins I bet we start hearing him talk about boxing a lot more. Tank Davis?

Ugh.

Let's not normalize this kind of a dumb take, with all due respect.

Champions earn greatness through fighting all comers and holding on to their belt. This "there isn't anyone with enough Instagram followers to justify defending my belt" take is sport-killing.

I want to see sustained success against a line of contenders, like gsp and Anderson. It's ridiculous to pick fights based on the imagined clout/popularity of contenders-to-be years in advance.

 

[joy2day]

The situation is far different than with Conor. Illia isn't the breakout media/commercial star that Conor was, and I don't think he ever will be. I understand he has worked to learn English so that he could be a star in the US, so he could still be popular if he continues to win in an exciting way.

Beating Islam would be miles beyond anything Conor has ever done athletically, so with a win there, Illia is in another league from Conor in accomplishments.

 

[rjmbrd]

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.

I can help you out - Nate Diaz is arguably the single worst MMA wrestler of his entire generation of fighters. He has been summarily taken down, and held down, but multiple guys who moved down to featherweight. He is an atrocious wrestler.

Diaz is world class at MMA submission grappling. When he fights elite opponents like RDA and Bendo, they beat the absolute shit out of him with complete impunity.

This is to underline what a terrible ground fighter Conor is. Toporia is a good wrestling, counter wrestler and MMA grappler.

 

[omawho402]

Y'all are putting the cart before the horse. There is no way he is going to fight Islam because Islam is going to move up to welterweight regardless of any supposed friendship with Belal.

 

[MigitAs]

Wait till he figures out how to clip through the octagon and win 3 belts in 1 second; WR any% speed run

 

[markg171]

I can help you out - Nate Diaz is arguably the single worst MMA wrestler of his entire generation of fighters. He has been summarily taken down, and held down, but multiple guys who moved down to featherweight. He is an atrocious wrestler.

Diaz is world class at MMA submission grappling. When he fights elite opponents like RDA and Bendo, they beat the absolute shit out of him with complete impunity.

This is to underline what a terrible ground fighter Conor is. Toporia is a good wrestling, counter wrestler and MMA grappler.

In your make belief world are RDA and Bendo just not great grapplers or something?

But Ilia is because he submitted a hurt Bryce?

Jesus Christ.

 

[rjmbrd]

In your make belief world are RDA and Bendo just not great grapplers or something?

No they are great grapplers... that is why they beat the shit out of Nate, and dominated him on the ground. You must have skipped reading all the sentences in linear order not sure what went wrong for you...

But Ilia is because he submitted a hurt Bryce?

Jesus Christ.

Ilia is a career grappler and a BJJ black belt for over 5 years now. He has 8 submission wins. Watch him casually counter Ryan Hall and knock him out in a ground exchange.

He tapped out Bryce just for fun, to prove a point.

Topuria would dump Nate on his head, just like many other featheweights have done, literally in the UFC.

You always have shit takes and I shouldn't waste my time, but you're welcome : )

 

[BelgianTheRed]

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.

Sad way to see the sport, greatness is based on great wins and how they looked. No list of calculations will ever told me who the greats are. Check how many people think of Khabib as a GOAT contender and still put him above Makhachev.
And Topuria's match ups in lightweight are infinitely more interesting than those he has in featherweight.

 

[Iroh]

This 100%

At this point double champ only means something if your division is already cleared out

I don't think beating a current champ at a higher weight class should ever be seen as meaningless, but especially not if it's also the #1 p4p guy that you would have beaten.

Just because you people get dissapointed because he doesn't try to go on the title defense streak you hoped he would go for, doesn't mean winning fights against extremely skilled and proven opponents suddenly doesn't mean anything anymore. That's not very logical.

 

[markg171]

No they are great grapplers... that is why they beat the shit out of Nate, and dominated him on the ground. You must have skipped reading all the sentences in linear order not sure what went wrong for you...





Ilia is a career grappler and a BJJ black belt for over 5 years now. He has 8 submission wins. Watch him casually counter Ryan Hall and knock him out in a ground exchange.

He tapped out Bryce just for fun, to prove a point.

Topuria would dump Nate on his head, just like many other featheweights have done, literally in the UFC.

You always have shit takes and I shouldn't waste my time, but you're welcome : )

So Ilia would beat Nate in BJJ?

 

[BowserJr]

I don't think beating a current champ at a higher weight class should ever be seen as meaningless, but especially not if it's also the #1 p4p guy that you would have beaten.

Just because you people get dissapointed because he doesn't try to go on the title defense streak you hoped he would go for, doesn't mean winning fights against extremely skilled and proven opponents suddenly doesn't mean anything anymore. That's not very logical.

When every guy does this and does not defend, defending becomes more impressive

 

[rjmbrd]

So Ilia would beat Nate in BJJ?

Nate is in his 40's.

In ADCC no-gi grappling, yes he does and without much fuss. He would also destroy him in wrestling, and in an MMA fight.

Did you not watch Joe Stevenson and .... Clay @%$@ Guida, hold down Nate to casually beat him?

 

[rjmbrd]

Ugh.

Let's not normalize this kind of a dumb take, with all due respect.

Champions earn greatness through fighting all comers and holding on to their belt. This "there isn't anyone with enough Instagram followers to justify defending my belt" take is sport-killing.

I want to see sustained success against a line of contenders, like gsp and Anderson. It's ridiculous to pick fights based on the imagined clout/popularity of contenders-to-be years in advance.

This is a karate movie fantasy.

The entire point of prize fighting is make the most money for the least brain damage.

It is up to the UFC to run the show like a sport not a circus. The rankings are often absurd, there is no meritocracy, the contracts are draconian. The UFC will roll you up like a used towel and toss you in the bin the minute they are done with you.

Fighters should be advocating for themselves. The rest is a fantasy.

 

[markg171]

Nate is in his 40's.

In ADCC no-gi grappling, yes he does and without much fuss. He would also destroy him in wrestling, and in an MMA fight.

Did you not watch Joe Stevenson and .... Clay @%$@ Guida, hold down Nate to casually beat him?

Was Nate in his 40s when he subbed Conor like was the situation you were finding laughable?

 

[mjoln]

Sometimes talented people meet equal level too late. They have to deal with feelings they did not have before.

 

[rjmbrd]

Was Nate in his 40s when he subbed Conor like was the situation you were finding laughable?

No, thats how bad of a grappler Conor is. He's so bad that Nate Diaz - who got out wrestled by multiple featherweights - took him down twice.

This is why you cannot compared Topuria to Conor, which is the title of this thread. Topuria is literally a black belt with 8 submission wins.

FFS are you on mushrooms?

 

[fedorthegoat777]

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.

This guy goes up and gets wins at 55, respect.

I'm not his advisor to advise him on the best career choices. I'm here to watch and I am interested to see what happens
Also, maybe his body is gaining a little weight, easier to go up than down.

 

[krelianx]

He says he can't make the weight anymore. I guess we will find out, since if he loses at LW and goes back down, we will know it was not true.

But I doubt he's lying, since giving away his title is not really very smart. If anything, the fight with Islam would have had more weight if he went up with the title, for both fighters.

 

[Local Plata]

By fighting actual contenders and moving up in weight to fight the best LW and arguably the #1 p4p? That's the exact opposite of Conor, lmao.