It was supposed to be a UFC 300 fighters fight to take but Gaethje and Charles lost, Max dropped back to 45 and Tsarukyan turned the fight down because he wanted a full camp. Makhachev and UFC wanted the fight to happen at 302 this weekend so Dustin got the fight.
Makhachev was already the title defense the UFC had planned in advance for this card. They got Conor headlining the IFW PPV then they got Edwards headlining July and Du Plessis in August.
For the LW challengers its was “June 1st or go fuck yourself” from the UFC’s side.
It’s about the $.
Dustin getting the title off a gilly would beat the Maximus KO over Gaethje. Yeah, we can dream. Maybe a right hook to gilly but then gives up position when nearly KOing Islam hahaha.
“People who try to slow the fight down and make it a grappling chess match. Those have been the hardest fights for me to get going because I do best when it stays a fight.”
“When it doesn’t slow down, when it’s a scramble with punches flying and both of us bleeding, that’s where I do the best work, and I’m not trying to hold him down and win rounds. I’m trying to knock him out and hurt him and finish him and get out of there. That’s the way I fight.”
“Be in the moment, be reactive to all of his shots. Don’t get overzealous throwing power shots where I take myself out of position and become an easy target for a trip or a takedown. Don’t play the clinch. There’s a list of things. Don’t play in the clinch with him. He has really good foot sweeps, really strong upper body. Keep it a fight. Use my wheels. Stay moving. Keep him guessing and then tighten him up.”
How legit will you consider Islam’s 3 title defenses and equaling the LW record if he wins (with the 2 wins over Volk)? Personally, i wont really. Its 2 over a FW with one short notice fight over the same FW.
I get him not being amped to rematch Charles and now Charles lost to Arman. He has to fight Arman again though as the first one was early in both’s careers and Arman just beat Charles. Not sure Arman has a better chance than Chalres though. Its just weird how it all panned out with Gaethje.
Im thinking Gaethje might have had a better chance of catching Islam than Dustin but that Dustin has a better chance of not getting tapped (as easily as Justin).
100%, 2nd round by guillotine!
2%
Fight shouldn’t be happening, 0 interest in watching
10% for standard charity
Yes, but that’s not really Islam’s fault.
We never gave max a chance against Gaethje.
… So hopefully DustBin can pull it off.
Max should be fighting Islam (and he’s beat him)
Hard to argue in now, even tho we will
He was looking really good on the Countdown, he is ready.
Khabib will be in the corner. Dustin’s slight chance of winning just flew out the window…
25-30
Can’t count that dude out
Anyone who has no interest watching Dustin fight is not an MMA fan.
Agreed - Diamond is an all time great IMO
That said he’s got as much chance as Bisping had against Rockhold - and deserves it as much as Mike did
I hope he gets it done and walks into the sunset
Rockhold was way softer(mentally) and way less rounded
Islam probably can beat Dustin anywhere, if he fights collected like against Oliveira, then Dustin taps before championship rounds
Id say zer0 chance.
He has a punchers chance 25%?
He is always fun to watch