Do we really need Makhachev vs Gaethje

[blaseblase]

Fine, but then fans shouldn’t complain about the Gaethje fight. If islam rolls over Gaethje I can already see many fans downplaying the win and saying Gaethje was tailor made. But if he fights Leon, he’s doesn’t defend against his own weight class. If he beats Islam again, well he already beat him he still only has a win against 1 top 5 LW. There really isn’t any way to win for Islam he will get criticized by a sub section of the fan base

No one other than Islam fans is calling for him to fight Leon. Leon already has 2 contenders to deal with.

Defend the title. Set the record for title defenses. That should be the goal of every champ.

 

[witt1021]

i dont give a fuck. we need something. these divisions get held up fro far to long with these champ champ fights that shouldnt even be taking place.

 

[moosaev]

No one other than Islam fans is calling for him to fight Leon. Leon already has 2 contenders to deal with.

Defend the title. Set the record for title defenses. That should be the goal of every champ.

Like I said, fine. Just don’t bitch about it or minimize the accomplishment when islam chokes Gaethje out in R1.

 

[CedricBee]

If we’re talking mmath, Charles clearly beats Gaethje in the deserve category. He’s beaten him in a single round, Charles has held the title and also defended it, even beating Dustin who had a win over Gaethje at the time.

If we’re talking styles, then it’s a more intriguing argument for just Gaethje, since Islam hasn’t fought him yet.

And there’s no reason to assume khabib would beat the shit out of Charles. Khabib struggled to deal with Alquinta, and he also took longer to finish the same opponents Charles did in title fights. Oliveira can absolutely have beaten khabib, even if khabib is the more accomplished lightweight overall.

For real though, it’s too bad we didn’t ever get khabib vs Charles. Would have been pretty epic.

The Khabib haters are comical. His fight against Iaquinta was a clear aberration when one looks unbiasedly at his resume.

Khabib clearly took every round against Poirier; whereas Olivera lost that first round to Dustin.

One could make a reasonable case that Olivera was losing that first round to Gaethje. Khabib comically walked Gaethje down, showing him no respect. Although it was a toss up round, it looked like Khabib was 20 seconds away from submitting him. Basically Khabib utilized a pressure strategy against Gaethje that no one has been tough enough or good enough to do.

Islam has more holes in his game than Khabib. Although his striking technique is better; Khabib’s takedowns, chin, pressure, & intangibles separate him from every 155er ever. Khabib is closer to the MMA Mt Rushmore than the MMA top 5-10. And that’s assuming one doesn’t have him in that top 4. Just the fact that Gaethje will matched up against Islam is already a strategic plus for Gaethje.

 

[corrupted]

Yes. After Olives. His best win a LW is Hooker or Green.

Bring a champion doesn’t mean you COULD beat this guy or that. It means you have. Like it or not. Of the three rank squatters, Justin beat the other two.