Who is Topuria’s LW opponent?

[Dimbis]

Many unanswered questions with this jump. Has he been putting on weight since his last fight? If he’s just starting and needs more time, maybe they’re going to pit him against Islam at the end of Ramadan.

Islam’s manager has said they want Topuria to prove himself before fighting for the belt. To me that sounds like the UFC has already pressured Islam’s side and they don’t want to take it right away because Topuria hasn’t proved himself at LW.

Are they waiting for the winner of Paddy/Chandler? Maybe the winner of Dan/Gaethje?

Dustin seems open but I feel like that’s risky for the UFC to lose out on the potential Islam fight. Who knows, maybe the UFC wants to “punish” Topuria for giving up the featherweight strap.

 

[humdizzle]

its probably dustin

UFC probably told Ilia he needs to stay at FW, or vacate if he wants to go after the LW strap right now.

For most fighters it is very stupid to pull something like this because title fights pay ALOT more than non title fights. He can afford to make this gamble because he's already rich.

 

[Dimbis]

its probably dustin

UFC probably told Ilia he needs to stay at FW, or vacate if he wants to go after the LW strap right now.

For most fighters it is very stupid to pull something like this because title fights pay ALOT more than non title fights. He can afford to make this gamble because he's already rich.

Dustin said he wants to fight Legends only, does this qualify? Seems like a gate keeper role but I don’t really think Dustin has the ego to look down on it that way.

 

[gentel]

Personally I hope it's Oliveira. Topuria vs Oliveira would be absolute fireworks

 

[Dimbis]

Personally I hope it's Oliveira. Topuria vs Oliveira would be absolute fireworks

I think this makes the most sense. It’s an exciting fight and if UFC really wants to push Ilia’s chance at the title fight they’ll lean towards this since Charles has been dropped repeatedly. Arman might still be in time out and maybe too risky of a fight.

 

[Mohawk Banditó]

People keep saying Dustin, but just one thing about that worries me. Sure, it'd be a great fight and a very credible opponent for Ilia to beat, plus Ilia is a big name that Dustin is looking for in a retirement fight.. but that's just it, it's Dustin's retirement fight. If Dustin wins that and retires, you're back to eliminating contenders without building any. Or maybe, because of the importance of Ilia and the position a win would put him in, does that then possibly compel Dustin to forego the planned retirement and make another title run, and is that really the best idea for him?

Other choices are what? Risk another big event with Arman? He can't fight the LW champ anymore, but can be booked to fight the FW one no problem?

Oliveira is a good shout and the next best guy out there, but if putting together Charles - Ilia doesn't end up with Arman getting booked against Islam again, then who is Islam going to fight?

Ilia vs the winner of Gaethje - Hooker would be a fucking banger for sure, but are we gonna wait for whoever comes out of that war to be healthy again?

I think if I was in the booker's seat, I might just wait until after that fight, assess the damage, and hope we can book Gaethje/Hooker vs Ilia and Islam vs Charles.

 

[Gabe]

Chase Hooper if he beats Miller.

 

[Dimbis]

People keep saying Dustin, but just one thing about that worries me. Sure, it'd be a great fight and a very credible opponent for Ilia to beat, plus Ilia is a big name that Dustin is looking for in a retirement fight.. but that's just it, it's Dustin's retirement fight. If Dustin wins that and retires, you're back to eliminating contenders without building any. Or maybe, because of the importance of Ilia and the position a win would put him in, does that then possibly compel Dustin to forego the planned retirement and make another title run, and is that really the best idea for him?

Other choices are what? Risk another big event with Arman? He can't fight the LW champ anymore, but can be booked to fight the FW one no problem?

Oliveira is a good shout and the next best guy out there, but if putting together Charles - Ilia doesn't end up with Arman getting booked against Islam again, then who is Islam going to fight?

Ilia vs the winner of Gaethje - Hooker would be a fucking banger for sure, but are we gonna wait for whoever comes out of that war to be healthy again?

I think if I was in the booker's seat, I might just wait until after that fight, assess the damage, and hope we can book Gaethje/Hooker vs Ilia and Islam vs Charles.

I agree with all of this besides Islam vs Charles. I’m not really interested in that fight and don’t think Charles deserves it just because Arman couldn’t show up.

I believe the UFC should book Charles against Ilia if they really want him to fight a contender and not risk his shot too much by putting him against Arman.

Ilia vs Charles seems like a win win for the UFC.

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

I wonder how Islam's team would react if the WW champ said he needed to prove himself before getting a shot

 

[JoeRowe]

Dustin said he wants to fight Legends only, does this qualify? Seems like a gate keeper role but I don’t really think Dustin has the ego to look down on it that way.

KO-ing Volk & Max in back-to-back fights is pretty legendary. He doesn't have the longevity but if Poirier could beat him it would be reminiscent of Nate taking out Conor & would age very well.

 

[Sean Chowdhury]

Ilia vs Arman for #1 contender, Oliveira can fight holloway for BMF belt. I think dustin at this point in his career wouldn't be a good enough test so just let arman fight him

 

[Harlekin]

Islam nearly lost to Volk in their first fight
- Ilia knocked him out

Islam fights ex featherweight Moicana
- Ilia knocks out ATG Holloway

But Ilia has to prove anything? Islam fights FW and ex FW mostly.

Islam fans are so delusional. Half of those accounts are from Ali

 

[Mohawk Banditó]

I agree with all of this besides Islam vs Charles. I’m not really interested in that fight and don’t think Charles deserves it just because Arman couldn’t show up.

I believe the UFC should book Charles against Ilia if they really want him to fight a contender and not risk his shot too much by putting him against Arman.

Ilia vs Charles seems like a win win for the UFC.

If it's a choice, then Islam-Arman and Ilia-Charles is probably best all around. I do prefer Arman to be put back in the contender seat above everything else, I just didn't factor it in cuz I don't see the UFC doing that.

Could be wrong though. This whole "No more title shot for Arman" thing was before Ilia caused this shake up, so maybe the UFC goes back on that, just leans real close in Arman's face and wags their finger, going "I hope you learned your lesson," before rebooking him for the title. Just gotta be careful putting any fingers in his face, cuz he might punch you and get suspended again

 

[BJJ4Tone]

Topuria/Tsarukyan would be the fight I'd most like to see.

 

[uff]

Islam nearly lost to Volk in their first fight
- Ilia knocked him out

Islam fights ex featherweight Moicana
- Ilia knocks out ATG Holloway

But Ilia has to prove anything? Islam fights FW and ex FW mostly.

Islam fans are so delusional. Half of those accounts are from Ali

wtf kind of logic is this, you're complaining that Islam's fights only ex-FW, but according to your reasoning he should fight another FW without said FW having to prove he belongs to LW??GTFO!!!

 

[Sean Chowdhury]

Islam nearly lost to Volk in their first fight
- Ilia knocked him out

Islam fights ex featherweight Moicana
- Ilia knocks out ATG Holloway

But Ilia has to prove anything? Islam fights FW and ex FW mostly.

Islam fans are so delusional. Half of those accounts are from Ali

Islam has 2 contenders(Arman and Charles) Ilia has 1 title defense, and Ilia beat volk coming off a brutal ko loss to islam making a 3 month turnaround. So yes Ilia has to prove himself, volk got an immediate shot after defending his belt like 4-5 times, cannot get an immediate shot with 1 title defense

 

[Striker Fox]

Arman vs Topuria would be amazing, but I really want to see Islam fight both of them, so I'd rather them just make the Islam vs Arman fight again, and book Topuria vs Oliveira for the #1 contender fight.

 

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

Lol at thinking it's not going to be Islam...

 

[MrBlackheart]

People keep saying Dustin, but just one thing about that worries me. Sure, it'd be a great fight and a very credible opponent for Ilia to beat, plus Ilia is a big name that Dustin is looking for in a retirement fight.. but that's just it, it's Dustin's retirement fight. If Dustin wins that and retires, you're back to eliminating contenders without building any. Or maybe, because of the importance of Ilia and the position a win would put him in, does that then possibly compel Dustin to forego the planned retirement and make another title run, and is that really the best idea for him?

Other choices are what? Risk another big event with Arman? He can't fight the LW champ anymore, but can be booked to fight the FW one no problem?

Oliveira is a good shout and the next best guy out there, but if putting together Charles - Ilia doesn't end up with Arman getting booked against Islam again, then who is Islam going to fight?

Ilia vs the winner of Gaethje - Hooker would be a fucking banger for sure, but are we gonna wait for whoever comes out of that war to be healthy again?

I think if I was in the booker's seat, I might just wait until after that fight, assess the damage, and hope we can book Gaethje/Hooker vs Ilia and Islam vs Charles.

The problem with ilia vs hooker/Gaethje winner is timing? Assuming it’s a blood bath fight. When would the winner be ready to fight again? Earliest August? UFC won’t ice ilia that long,

 

[joy2day]

Lol at thinking it's not going to be Islam...

My sentiments exactly. If you look at the way the UFC has done business in the past, there is little doubt this will be the fight. They want the big money, champ vs (ex-FW) champ. That's the reason they held up the HW title in the way that they did- they want the matchups that will make them money. Illia already has a huge buildup- there is no need to have him fight contenders so people will get familiar with him.