I mean yeah, but did Ilia not say Islam turned down the fight? Si who tf is lying??
I’m sure it’s Ilia to not look as bad but he could’ve just said the UFC didn’t want to pay me enough for a super fight.
I’m so tired of boxing and mma fighters and promotions. It’s tiresome as fuck.
It could be that the fight is worth 10 bucks, islam wants 8, knowing that ilia wont/cant take 2 for this fight, hell a good camp could be 4.
So ilia “turned down the presented offer for money” and at the same time “islam refused the fight” by asking for too much…
They are probably both telling the truth. This is contract negotiations. The problem with Ilia is that he tries to make it seem like people are ducking him to take onus off the the fact that he should be fighting Arman and not Gaethje right now, not being gifted another title shot without having to beat the #1 contenders in his division.
Anyway, I don’t think Ilia is ducking this either. He just wants a huge payday because Islam is probably the end of the line for him. He has never faced anyone close to Islam in grappling. Even if he believes he will win with a hail mary shot he probably would love to retire as 3 weight champion. I think he’s delusional but Islam is beatable because of his chin unlike Khabib. If Ilia can touch his chin before getting taken down and having the life sucked out of him he has a path. I just don’t think he can. Islam will be way too much for him at WW. At LW I might even lean towards Topuria, but Islam looked so strong against JMD who Belal couldn’t even take down. He is in his uber form at WW and not depleted. Ilia will just be short and sluggish at WW.
Arman fucked up his chance by not making weight.
I agree, I dont think the recent 145lb champ should be moving up to 170 to face Islam. That’s absurd.
I wish champs would clear out their own fucking division first.
Islam atleast has somewhat of an excuse because he inherited re-treads that Khabib already dominated.
Dana White is a fucking penny pinching Jew lover
So Arman is being punished for pulling out against Islam over a year ago? That makes no sense. That’s just what Egg would say because he doesn’t want any more title holders from that region and Gaethje is a much more bankable fight. I don’t see Ilia complaining about having to fight Justin which is a much easier pay day for him than Arman.
He pulled out last minute out of the headlining fight because he couldnt make weight. He fucked up big time. Not sure if he will get another title fight or big headline on a big card. Because he proved to be unreliable when it matters most.
With Arman’s accomplishments, if his name was Paddy Pimblett he would have had 3 title shots by now.
Paddy has a lot more fans. Does anyone really give a fuck about Arman?
Jack DLM was supposed to be the star to beat Islam. And Islam made him cry mid fight.
Not really but this is why UFC is starting to lag in talent. They want bankable names instead of the best fighters.
Sort of. I think the want both at the same time. They arent dedicated to either 100%.
Arman is not exciting. People dont say fuck yeah Arman’s fighting Im going to tune in like you do both Gaethje and Ilia.
Also if Ilia puts Gaetje to sleep (which I think he will), then Ilia’s star status rises even more.
Arman seemed to get a decent pop from the crowd when the camera panned to him at 326.
Don’t forget Ilia initially called out Arman when he beat Charles, but Joe Rogan jumped at the chance to bring Paddy into the octagon.
And it seems like since then, Arman has taken to playing the heel/anti-hero and portraying himself as the wealthy badboy who does whatever he wants to get some hype.
I don’t think Justin wins, but I hope he does
Same. The way he has been moving and fighting I think he gets slept within 7 minutes.
Ex manager Jon Jones