UFC light-weight champion Islam Makhachev continues to be awaiting his subsequent task with 4 potential contenders all vying for the chance to face him.
Arman Tsarukyan, Charles Oliveira, Justin Gaethje, and featherweight champion Ilia Topuria have all said their claims to a title shot, however the UFC hasn’t made any selections but about who will get the prospect. Whereas an argument might be made for all of them, UFC legend Matt Brown believes there’s one title that stands above the remaining and it comes all the way down to the dimensions and magnitude of the struggle.
“I give it to Ilia,” Brown stated on The Fighter vs. The Writer. “We’ve talked about it, Islam, he’ll give resistance to that. He’ll strive for that to not be the struggle. Rightfully sufficient, I believe he ought to however I don’t really feel like anyone else has carried out something important to be simply clear. That’s why there’s 4 of them [vying for a title shot].
“Nobody has caught out a lot that you simply’re like OK, this man ought to get the struggle. I say make it possible to Ilia. Go see if it really works for him. If it does, then you will have an much more ginormous star in Ilia.”
Makhachev’s argument towards Topuria getting the title shot comes all the way down to his previous expertise combating a featherweight champion in Alexander Volkanovski and receiving criticism that he was simply beating up on smaller opponents. That’s why Makhachev has advised that Topuria ought to get some expertise at light-weight and earn a title shot somewhat than simply having it handed to him instantly.
Whereas Brown understands why Makhachev is hesitant to tackle one other featherweight making the transfer as much as 155 kilos, he believes the UFC simply sees greenback indicators and that’s too powerful to disregard.
Add to that, Brown is aware of the opposite challengers aren’t going wherever, however Topuria struggling a loss to anyone proper now successfully kills curiosity in him combating Makhachev.
“These guys aren’t going wherever,” Brown stated about Tsarukyan, Oliveira and Gaethje. “They’ll nonetheless be round and be capable to get title fights later. Within the meantime, make it possible to to Ilia to develop into — I don’t know if I’d say greatest star within the sport — however he’d be proper up there if he beats Islam. Beating [Alexander] Volkanovski, [Max] Holloway and Islam, I imply he’s within the best ever dialogue at that time.”
It looks like momentum is on Topuria’s facet proper now, particularly after Tsarukyan was compelled to drop out of his scheduled struggle towards Makhachev again in January after he suffered a again damage simply days earlier than the occasion passed off. Afterwards, UFC CEO Dana White advised Tsarukyan he must win one other struggle earlier than getting positioned again right into a title shot once more.
As for Oliveira, he scored an emphatic victory over Michael Chandler in his most up-to-date outing however he has previous losses to each Tsarukyan and Makhachev on his résumé.
Lastly, Gaethje referred to as for his shot after he dispatched Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313 however that win solely put him again on monitor following a surprising knockout loss to Max Holloway at UFC 300 nearly precisely one 12 months earlier.
Brown understands the frustration all these fighters may really feel if Topuria leap frogs them into title rivalry, however suggests Oliveira and Gaethje keep busy whereas Tsarukyan waits for his alternative or perhaps even serves because the backup for the title struggle.
“Look if I’m the UFC, I might say Arman doesn’t essentially must struggle within the meantime,” Brown stated. “Like Arman, you’re the subsequent man. You get to struggle the winner of Ilia and Islam. However we put Ilia and Islam collectively, if Islam wins it’s not going to decrease him in anyway clearly on a win but when Ilia wins there’s a lot upside there. We’ve such a giant star now, a lot upside, such an ideal champion.
“Arman simply wait your flip, we’ll hold you within the again, and if considered one of these guys will get harm, you will be the man. I do know Arman’s already been out for some time, however your again acquired injured, hold therapeutic that factor up and wait to your alternative. I don’t suppose essentially Arman must struggle one other man within the meantime, and I do know it’s going to maintain him on the sidelines longer than he desires to, longer than it’s vital, however typically that’s simply the way in which of the world.”
Past title worth and star energy, Brown additionally believes Topuria truly presents the type of matchup which may give Makhachev extra hassle than what Tsarukyan, Oliveira or Gaethje might muster.
Topuria could also be shifting as much as a brand new division, however he nonetheless packs unbelievable fight-finishing energy and that provides him the prospect to close out Makhachev’s lights to shock the world. He’s not sure anyone else on that checklist might say the identical.
“Right here’s the factor: Arman stylistically, he’s a wrestler. So he’s in all probability not going to beat Islam within the wrestling,” Brown defined. “I don’t suppose his standup is sweet sufficient to beat Islam within the standup. Ilia, after all, goes to be overmatched within the wresting, however he does a minimum of have the standup, the knockout energy the place if Islam slips, makes a mistake, he’s acquired that probability to tug it off. If Islam mentally will get overconfident and needs to face too lengthy, there’s a transparent path to victory for Ilia whereas Arman is de facto like a Islam mild.
“We type of assume they’re going to wrestle so much collectively and considering that he’s going to beat Islam along with his wrestling is extra unlikely than Ilia beating Islam with standup. With that stated, it’s additionally extra seemingly that Islam goes in and takes down Ilia and beats the shit out of him on the bottom or submits him. A bit of bit torn on that to be sincere.”
However ultimately, Brown’s argument stands that combining Topuria’s star energy along with his ability set to doubtlessly separate Makhachev from consciousness make him the absolute best option to get the subsequent title shot.
“Ilia does have kind of the ‘X issue’ that Arman doesn’t have,” Brown stated. “That’s the place I might give him a greater shot.”
