Why do I highly doubt Ilia will ever fight @ WW

[Cheese_&_mma_lover]

Ilia won't be fighting true WWs. he's gonna fight arman, then machachev, then retire. If he wanted to fight the other WWs he would probably win, but its too risky, he wants legacy

 

[El Fernas]

He wont fight a career WW, thats what you meant, if Makhachev somehow wins the belt (hope not) then he will try for that fight, no way he asks for it being other champion.

 

[fedorthegoat777]

BJ Penn was a natural FW, fighting at LW & WW, won titles in both divisions, competed at MW (and won) and fought Lyoto Machida at HW (a fight he won IMHO)

BJ was a stud. What a warrior.
RIP to his brain.

 

[Fight Professor]

 

[AmonTobin]

Ilia won't be fighting true WWs. he's gonna fight arman, then machachev, then retire. If he wanted to fight the other WWs he would probably win, but its too risky, he wants legacy

 

[Benoitthegr8]

Under sized with absolute self belief, I think that is the Nate Diaz chapter in Mcgregor’s book called “how to become wealthy and poor simultaneously”

 

[Harlekin]

He probably could do it with the right opponent. If that's the only way we get Topuria/Islam, fuck it. But yeah shouldn't stay there too long. Imagine someone like Brady getting him down.

Brady is a tank, but he is only 1 inch taller than Topuria.
Him wrestling vs Khamzat or Usman would be a massive problem. Khamzat will never make 170 again ever though.

 

[Rhood]

Did he give any indication that he was moving to WW? If so that would be rather stupid for a pretty smart guy

DUH!!
He's moving up to fight Islam after be beats Paddy, which is a total con job for the Welterweight division.
Instead of fighting real contenders of the WW division, he's still chasing after a Lightweight.
Topper doesn't have the balls to fight Shavkat.

 

[Trabaho]

Didn't read. Let me make a guess ; cause of his natural size

 

[pankrat]

You guys are clueless if you actually think Topuria wont be willing to fight Islam for a 3rd belt at WW

 

[pankrat]

Hed get absolutely wrecked at WW. He could just maybe hung with the older generation of fighters like Serra, Penn who are essentially bloated FW's but times are different. Hes not getting past a Larger guy with larger frame, more muscle density and equal speed even if he is more skilled he's too small.

He is more than willing to fight Islam at 170 and lets see the odds for that. Im sure at least a live underdog.

 

[pankrat]

The problem is that BJ at LW was fighting the likes of Sherk, Florian, Stevenson, Pulver and Edgar who like him, were FW's or BWs. And at WW he fought guys like Hughes who today would be a LW. When BJ did fight the bigger natural WWs, it wasn't pretty. Machida at HW was out of shape and fat, Machida was a MW in the end. So it's not like BJ is going up to LW, WW and higher divisions vs the fighters of today. He was fighting gusy who would be in lower classes today.

BJ took GSP and Fitch to very close decisions. The #1 and #2 WW of their generation in most people eyes. Not Hughes generation but the next one

 

[Doctor Grudge]

The problem is that BJ at LW was fighting the likes of Sherk, Florian, Stevenson, Pulver and Edgar who like him, were FW's or BWs. And at WW he fought guys like Hughes who today would be a LW. When BJ did fight the bigger natural WWs, it wasn't pretty. Machida at HW was out of shape and fat, Machida was a MW in the end. So it's not like BJ is going up to LW, WW and higher divisions vs the fighters of today. He was fighting gusy who would be in lower classes today.

Matt Hughes is not a LW. Sherk is hardly a small LW also. Penn also beat Gomi and Sanchez who were were good sized.

Penn fought Fitch and GSP and had close fights with both of them. They're LWs to you?

 

[Yabadabaev]

Sean Sherk murders him

 

[Tweak896]

Brady is a tank, but he is only 1 inch taller than Topuria.
Him wrestling vs Khamzat or Usman would be a massive problem. Khamzat will never make 170 again ever though.

I don't think it's really Brady's height, but he's like the size of a fridge. Maybe Topuria is invincible like he's been looking like and I'm wrong, but all those WW wrestlers would have a serious edge. Striking only, Topuria could probably hang, but that's his absolute top of where he can go. Even still I would imagine MVP vs Topuria would be too much as well.

As far as Khamzat goes, to me he looked the size of Usman and his team said they can get back down in 6 months for the right fight, he's not really the biggest MW in my opinion, I believe them. He missed weight once, and it was off so bad because he rehydrated afterwards.

 

[Rampage_Jackson]

If Islam beats Jack they are 100% setting up Islam vs Ilia at 170 for the belt and its going to be some of the lamest booking ever. Stop giving guys auto title shots to move up divisions its ruining the flow of all of these divisions

 

[r-harper-1]

BJ Penn was a natural FW, fighting at LW & WW, won titles in both divisions, competed at MW (and won) and fought Lyoto Machida at HW (a fight he won IMHO)

I love Penn , no chance in hell he best Machida

 

[jeff7b9]

How many hours/attempts/prompts did it take for AI to tell you Ilia is small for welterweight?


And what are you planning to do with this ground breaking information?

How is the world gonna change?

 

[FloydMayweatherMMA]

I wish we had a dislike button.

 

[skylolow]

Illa is way to small to fight at WW. Most of the guys probably walk around at solid 185 to 200lbs and they aren't FAT at that weight.

Reality is Illa is on the small side for 155 even.