UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is still awaiting his next assignment with four potential contenders all vying for the opportunity to face him.
Arman Tsarukyan, Charles Oliveira, Justin Gaethje, and featherweight champion Ilia Topuria have all stated their claims to a title shot, but the UFC hasn’t made any decisions yet about who gets the chance. While an argument could be made for all of them, UFC legend Matt Brown believes there’s one name that stands above the rest and it comes down to the size and magnitude of the fight.
“I give it to Ilia,” Brown said on The Fighter vs. The Writer. “We’ve talked about it, Islam, he’ll give resistance to that. He’ll try for that not to be the fight. Rightfully enough, I think he should but I don’t feel like anybody else has done anything significant to be just clear. That’s why there’s four of them [vying for a title shot].
“No one has stuck out so much that you’re like OK, this guy should get the fight. I say give the opportunity to Ilia. Go see if it works for him. If it does, then you have an even more ginormous star in Ilia.”
Makhachev’s argument against Topuria getting the title shot comes down to his past experience fighting a featherweight champion in Alexander Volkanovski and receiving criticism that he was just beating up on smaller opponents. That’s why Makhachev has suggested that Topuria should get some experience at lightweight and earn a title shot rather than just having it handed to him immediately.
While Brown understands why Makhachev is hesitant to take on another featherweight making the move up to 155 pounds, he believes the UFC just sees dollar signs and that’s too tough to ignore.
Add to that, Brown knows the other challengers aren’t going anywhere, but Topuria suffering a loss to anybody right now effectively kills interest in him fighting Makhachev.
“Those guys aren’t going anywhere,” Brown said about Tsarukyan, Oliveira and Gaethje. “They’ll still be around and be able to get title fights later. In the meantime, give the opportunity to to Ilia to become — I don’t know if I’d say biggest star in the sport — but he’d be right up there if he beats Islam. Beating [Alexander] Volkanovski, [Max] Holloway and Islam, I mean he’s in the greatest ever discussion at that point.”
It seems like momentum is on Topuria’s side right now, especially after Tsarukyan was forced to drop out of his scheduled fight against Makhachev back in January after he suffered a back injury just days before the event took place. Afterwards, UFC CEO Dana White told Tsarukyan he would have to win another fight before getting placed back into a title shot again.
As for Oliveira, he scored an emphatic victory over Michael Chandler in his most recent outing but he has past losses to both Tsarukyan and Makhachev on his résumé.
Finally, Gaethje called for his shot after he dispatched Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313 but that win only put him back on track following a shocking knockout loss to Max Holloway at UFC 300 almost exactly one year earlier.
Brown understands the frustration all those fighters might feel if Topuria leap frogs them into title contention, but suggests Oliveira and Gaethje stay busy while Tsarukyan waits for his opportunity or maybe even serves as the backup for the title fight.
“Look if I’m the UFC, I would say Arman doesn’t necessarily need to fight in the meantime,” Brown said. “Like Arman, you’re the next guy. You get to fight the winner of Ilia and Islam. But we put Ilia and Islam together, if Islam wins it’s not going to diminish him in anyway obviously on a win but if Ilia wins there’s so much upside there. We have such a big star now, so much upside, such a great champion.
“Arman just wait your turn, we’ll keep you in the back, and if one of these guys gets hurt, you can be the guy. I know Arman’s already been out for a while, but your back got injured, keep healing that thing up and wait for your opportunity. I don’t think necessarily Arman needs to fight another guy in the meantime, and I know it’s going to keep him on the sidelines longer than he wants to, longer than it’s necessary, but sometimes that’s just the way of the world.”
Beyond name value and star power, Brown also believes Topuria actually presents the kind of matchup that might give Makhachev more trouble than what Tsarukyan, Oliveira or Gaethje could muster.
Topuria may be moving up to a new division, but he still packs incredible fight-finishing power and that gives him the chance to shut out Makhachev’s lights to shock the world. He’s not certain anybody else on that list could say the same.
“Here’s the thing: Arman stylistically, he’s a wrestler. So he’s probably not going to beat Islam in the wrestling,” Brown explained. “I don’t think his standup is good enough to beat Islam in the standup. Ilia, of course, is going to be overmatched in the wresting, but he does at least have the standup, the knockout power where if Islam slips, makes a mistake, he’s got that chance to pull it off. If Islam mentally gets overconfident and wants to stand too long, there’s a clear path to victory for Ilia whereas Arman is really like a Islam light.
“We kind of assume they’re going to wrestle a lot together and thinking that he’s going to beat Islam with his wrestling is more unlikely than Ilia beating Islam with standup. With that said, it’s also more likely that Islam goes in and takes down Ilia and beats the shit out of him on the ground or submits him. A little bit torn on that to be honest.”
But in the end, Brown’s argument stands that combining Topuria’s star power with his skill set to potentially separate Makhachev from consciousness make him the best possible choice to get the next title shot.
“Ilia does have sort of the ‘X factor’ that Arman doesn’t have,” Brown said. “That’s where I would give him a better shot.”
Listen to new episodes of The Fighter vs. The Writer every Tuesday with audio only versions of the podcast available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeartRadio
from MMA Fighting - All Posts https://ift.tt/Wu91wU2
0 Comments
Dear valued readers,
I am writing to you today as LaPhezz, an international man of mystery with a passion for technology and a fascination for analytics. I have traveled the world and lived in many different places, and I have experienced a wide range of cultures and perspectives.
Despite my travels and encounters with countless people from all walks of life, I remain something of an enigma. My true identity is known to only a select few, and even those who know me well are often left guessing at my motivations and intentions.
As a tech enthusiast, I am always looking for new ways to leverage data and analytics to solve complex problems and make the world a better place. I believe that technology can be a powerful tool for positive change, and I am constantly exploring the latest trends and innovations in the field.
I am grateful to have such a diverse and engaged readership, and I am always eager to hear your feedback and insights. Whether you have questions about my work, suggestions for new topics to explore, or simply want to connect with a fellow tech enthusiast, I am always here to listen and engage.
Thank you for your continued support and interest in my work. Together, we can use technology and analytics to create a brighter, more connected world.
Best regards,
LaPhezz