Islam will be even better at WW

[andgonsil]

Moicano, Charles, Strickland, Whittaker... all got better moving up

Burns lost to Hooker, but almost became champion at WW

Poatan was knocked out due to severe dehydration. Izzy knows it, that's why he will never fight the rematch at LHW

Walker should been fighting at HW, his natural division, that's the reason he developed a legendary glass chin

Islam was knocked out once and almost lost to a BW. He only looks good when fighting in Middle East. At WW he will be stronger

 

[FrappeDuRocma]

Don't feed...

Yes, he may beats Leon.

 

[chinarice]

So will his competition at the top of the division

 

[Reach4theSky]

I'm not so sure he would do well. Being only 5'10, he would be a smaller WW. Some dudes are 6'5 in that weight class. I think Islam would have a hard time dealing with a big WW that can strike and stuff takedowns..

 

[Brigfa2]

I think the biggest difference between LW and WW is LW is full of guys waiting to get choked. In Khabib's time it was even worse at least there are guys like Arman in LW now

 

[Nobru]

Islam struggled and almost got finished by a FW.
Im not sure about his future at WW. Unless they allow all his fights to be made in abu dhabi, a mythical place where his strenght, endurance and cardio look truly good

 

[moosaev]

It’s all about matchups, WW has many well rounded grappler-strikers who’d have the size advantage over islam. Also FW>LW is only 10lb difference, LW>WW is a 15 lb difference. I still think he should move up eventually to test himself.

 

[Marko Polo]

Islam struggled and almost got finished by a FW.
Im not sure about his future at WW. Unless they allow all his fights to be made in abu dhabi, a mythical place where his strenght, endurance and cardio look truly good

IVslam Makachev

 

[RockyLockridge]

Islam could do well at WW but there are some matchups there for him that are just going to be tough. Well rounded fighters with size advantage will be is issue.

 

[Harlekin]

His weight advantage goes away
the takedown threat goes down
his striking gets exposed because of that
they will find his chin

Islam is a top5 WW

 

[Judge Lance Ito]

What's Johnny Walker got to do with anything?

 

[andgonsil]

What's Johnny Walker got to do with anything?

His glass chin is related to severe dehydration

 

[andgonsil]

I can't see Belal beating Islam

 

[Morris88]

His glass chin is related to severe dehydration

It's probably not helping, but I still can't see him staying conscious against guys like Lewis, Bigi Boi, Blaydes etc

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

Of course, he won't be killing himself to make weight

 

[GrantB13]

His glass chin is related to severe dehydration

The fight he got fish-flop KO'd was heavyweight so......

 

[filthybliss]

I'd like to see how he would do against an adept longer wrassler like shavkat. leon also probably wins by UD if islam doesn't find a way to bridge the distance.

 

[JoeRowe]

I could definitely see it. I'd like to see Islam vs Leon if Leon can make a quick turnaround for MSG or Abu-Dhabi. That way the potential Shavkat/JDM winner can still get their shot not long after.

An eventually Islam/Shavkat fight in 2025 could be enormous.

 

[TempleoftheDog]

He would not become champion if he had to earn it. But almost anybody can win one fight.

I don’t think he beats Edwards, or Shavkat. So I don’t expect him to become a WW champion. Free TS, or not. Which he has not earned, yet.

 

[Rapa]

Shavkat,leon,belal and burns would beat him so bad he would retire