Media Islam Makhachev sends a message to the Lightweight division

[chinarice]

If any of these guys had the confidence they could be long standing champs of their weightclass, they'd prove it instead of trying to hightail it out of their division to a free titleshot in another.

That shit just needs to completely stop unless there are 2 champs within a weightclass that have like at least 4 or 5 title defenses each, against the #1 contenders of their weightclass

 

[Nobru]

What does "now this" even mean? Now what? OMG, can you believe a champ has the nerve to say he's the best in the division? What an outrage!!!

you dont get whats between the lines? hes following up with his previous claim, trying to prove a point not to fight LWs and move up for a WW TS.

 

[Nobru]

Again, it’s a dishonest criticism. Islam has said a million times that he will fight anyone the UFC puts in front of him, he’s said that so many times that Dana even put one of his quotes saying that on the PI wall. You’re simply cherry picking a single Russian interview out of context. He never said if he doesn’t get the 170 TS next that he’ll retire. He already signed to defend his belt against Oliveira, so it’s dumb to pretend that he won’t defend against LWs.

Im not saying he wont defend. The opposite. I am saying he must defend it a few times before talking about WW. Thats all.

 

[nostradumbass]

you dont get whats between the lines? hes following up with his previous claim, trying to prove a point not to fight LWs and move up for a WW TS.

Lolwut? How does "none of them will get the belt as long as I'm here" turn into not fighting LWs? That's the exact opposite, because of course one of them would get the belt if Islam left.

He literally just signed and showed up to fight one of them 6 weeks ago, and of course had to take a replacement opponent when his opponent didn't show up again.

Islam has never refused any fight, they all refused to fight him before he was champ and made him go on a 7 year streak of not even losing rounds, and now you're claiming "he hasn't fought any lightweights" while also claiming 2 guys he already beat are at the top of the list of contenders

 

[jitzmonkey]

Good that he's confident and creating buzz!

Re anyone beating him:
Most of us have either trained or followed the sport long enough to know that just about anything can happen; especially with the best of any division.

 

[Conan the K-9]

And again, more rules that apply to Islam and nobody else. Which other champs have had to vacate their title when challenging for another? Not BJ, not Conor, not DC, not Volk, not Izzy, not TJ, not Cejudo, none of the wmma ones. The only one who did was Jones because he took 3 years to move up.

And just lol at "climb the rankings". This is exactly what I'm talking about with the Islam haters trying to come up with standards that don't and never would apply to anyone else. Nobody's even had to "vacate their title" to challenge for a 2nd belt, but now you think not only should he be stripped to challenge for another belt, but he should be stripped and still not challenge for another belt, just take his belt away because you don't like him.

You are lying and you know that.

155 has contenders and the champ has not cleared the division. Same goes for 170. That is the reason we don’t want to see this delusional champ/champ bs clogging both these divisions.
It’s actually his own fanbase, who wants to create new rules just for him and if everyone else does not agree with you, they are called haters or racists.

 

[User9992]

You are lying and you know that.

155 has contenders and the champ has not cleared the division. Same goes for 170. That is the reason we don’t want to see this delusional champ/champ bs clogging both these divisions.
It’s actually his own fanbase, who wants to create new rules just for him and if everyone else does not agree with you, they are called haters or racists.

I remember when Khabib was a champ everyone wanted him to move up & fight WW's. Even though he could fight up & comers. LOL

 

[JohnCena27]

I really hope I could fuck your AV's ass.

Bro there is nothing I would want more sometimes haha

 

[Rektkid]

Gave him a rematch? Charles beat Dariush and earned that rematch. Islam has no say in taking that fight at that point in time. Now you have Charles, Gaethje and Armen all sitting around waiting for Islam to announce when he will be available to fight again. You have 3 guys who have a reasonable claim to the shot all waiting on the champion. Armen just fought so he will probably end up having to take another fight in the meantime.

Ok Charles earnt it but lest we forget, Charles pulled out, not Islam! Where's the criticism? Thought not!

They had to book Charles numerous times against Beneil too. Where's the criticism?

Anyway, let's see what next year brings.

 

[Rektkid]

I think it's a mix of Islam needing long camps to get to 155 and this. UFC will always use him for Abu Dhabi cards, but he needs ages to make the cut to 155. He has fought MArch/April and Spetember/ October for most of his UFC career except 2021, when he fought 3x with 2 short notice opponents during the semi covid era.

I think the Australia fight really caused him some issues weigh wise to be honest. A member of his camp missed weight on the same card.

The member of his camp was Zubaira Tukhugov who also struggled with his weight cut at AD UFC 280 and pulled out. Islam was on record (numerous times) wanting to fight in the summer BUT UFC decided to pair Charles/Beneil but I guess that's his fault too.

He may have trouble with his weight cuts but so do most others and he's never missed weight unlike others that are revered here.

 

[Genki Sudo]

Is he going to defend his belt or what?

hes defended his belt 3 times in a year...thats active. what exactly are you talking about

 

[nostradumbass]

You are lying and you know that.

155 has contenders and the champ has not cleared the division. Same goes for 170. That is the reason we don’t want to see this delusional champ/champ bs clogging both these divisions.
It’s actually his own fanbase, who wants to create new rules just for him and if everyone else does not agree with you, they are called haters or racists.

Lol

Feel free to list all the other champs who relinquished their titles to go and fight random contenders and "work their way up" for no belt in other divisions. I listed more than half a dozen who didn't

FFS, that he already routinely and uncontroversially beat 2 of the guys you're claiming are the top contenders should tell you that there really aren't any top contenders, and you just want guys you can discredit after he beats them again.

You just claimed yesterday "he can't make weight", then point to 2 guys he already beat who have both missed weight as top contenders.

 

[maximus__]

The member of his camp was Zubaira Tukhugov who also struggled with his weight cut at AD UFC 280 and pulled out. Islam was on record (numerous times) wanting to fight in the summer BUT UFC decided to pair Charles/Beneil but I guess that's his fault too.

He may have trouble with his weight cuts but so do most others and he's never missed weight unlike others that are revered here.

Yes he said he wants to fight, but saying it vs actually signing are two different things. The UFC aren't going to say no if he said he wants to jump on a card in early 2024.

Charles had to fight someone again after losing to Islam. I would have preferred Dariush vs Islam whilst Charles fought someone else personally, but he had beaten all the others. The only reason the Darisuh fight vs Islam didn't get made was because Islam wanted more time off than planned after the Volk 1 fight. Charles vs Dariush happened in June.

Islam could have easily made that fight, but wasn't available.

 

[maximus__]

Ok Charles earnt it but lest we forget, Charles pulled out, not Islam! Where's the criticism? Thought not!

They had to book Charles numerous times against Beneil too. Where's the criticism?

Anyway, let's see what next year brings.

Charles is no longer the champion. If he wants to go chase Mcgregor fights or fight at 170 he can and it only affects him. Islam is the defending champion and has multiple guys ready to go right now. It's all on him to fight and defend his belt regularly, instead he wants to talk about how these guys won't beat him whilst fighting everyone but them.

He has one job and that's to defend his title.

 

[maximus__]

you said Islam is avoiding title defenses , RDA cant be one of them

My bad. I wasn't the original poster. I assumed it was just ducked fights.

He did call for Gaethje and Charles to fight for a number 1 contender fight during Volk 2 fight week. One way to knock off a contender before you have to face them.

UFC champion Islam Makhachev suggests Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje 2 for title eliminator

Islam Makhachev wants to see Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje 2 to see who's the next title challenger.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[moosaev]

I remember when Khabib was a champ everyone wanted him to move up & fight WW's. Even though he could fight up & comers. LOL

They will always have something to criticize. If Islam doesn't move up he's a weight bully who's afraid of challenging himself, if he does wanna move up he's ducking the lightweights. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

 

[Conan the K-9]

Lol

Feel free to list all the other champs who relinquished their titles to go and fight random contenders and "work their way up" for no belt in other divisions. I listed more than half a dozen who didn't

FFS, that he already routinely and uncontroversially beat 2 of the guys you're claiming are the top contenders should tell you that there really aren't any top contenders, and you just want guys you can discredit after he beats them again.

You just claimed yesterday "he can't make weight", then point to 2 guys he already beat who have both missed weight as top contenders.

Lol to you, how many of these other guys or ladies had zero defences against contenders in their original weight class?

If he does not want to defend, then vacate. If he is able to defend the belt, even better, then just do that. Simple as that.

 

[maximus__]

They will always have something to criticize. If Islam doesn't move up he's a weight bully who's afraid of challenging himself, if he does wanna move up he's ducking the lightweights. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Khabib has one of the greatest title defence runs in MMA history beating Mcgregor, Poirer and Gaethje back to back and finishing them all. People called for him to move up prior because he had multiple weight misses. He left before he solidified himself at 155 and broke the title defence record. He matched BJ Penn and Benson Henderson. BJ Penn won the WW title, but that late career drop off...

Islam has beaten Volk who was a 145er not cutting, so he could return to his division. He barely squeeked by in 1 win, when they both had a full camp and destroyed him in a short notice rematch. That's his resume as the the UFC LW champion.

He isn't injured, he has 3 fresh matchups in the top 5 and 2 rematches with only 1 of those being a recent fight, when he won the title. He has so much more work to do at LW. He has 2 guys ready to go and they could line up either, with the other as the back up. If not you have Gamrot and Arman both ready to go and they can also serve as back up.

There is no reason Islam shouldn't be signed to a fight unless it's on his end for a LW defence. Leave 170 alone for a year, get those defences in and he breaks the LW defence record. Then he can go up and get the WW belt, unless he needs to get there quick to avoid someone in the WW title picture.

 

[Rektkid]

Yes he said he wants to fight, but saying it vs actually signing are two different things. The UFC aren't going to say no if he said he wants to jump on a card in early 2024.

Charles had to fight someone again after losing to Islam. I would have preferred Dariush vs Islam whilst Charles fought someone else personally, but he had beaten all the others. The only reason the Darisuh fight vs Islam didn't get made was because Islam wanted more time off than planned after the Volk 1 fight. Charles vs Dariush happened in June.

Islam could have easily made that fight, but wasn't available.

Nonsense...Islam was available to fight and if you paid any attention has stated on numerous occasions throughout last year it's UFC's job to offer him the fights...not for him to make them.

 

[Rektkid]

Charles is no longer the champion. If he wants to go chase Mcgregor fights or fight at 170 he can and it only affects him. Islam is the defending champion and has multiple guys ready to go right now. It's all on him to fight and defend his belt regularly, instead he wants to talk about how these guys won't beat him whilst fighting everyone but them.

He has one job and that's to defend his title.

Again if you paid any attention...Islam would love to fight the winner of Leon and Colby but it's up to the UFC to make the fights with any LW contender. He wants contenders! He had one with Charles but Charles pulled out.

Volk gave him his toughest fight in years, if Islam didn't take up the rematch (even on short notice), you guys would have crawled out of the woodwork shouting from the rooftops, Islam is running scared of Volk. He can't win with you guys.