GDT: UFC 311: Makhachev vs. Moicano

[h2]

For Islam it's either Charles (he looked great against Chandler) or Arman in the lightweight division.

Ilia already tweeting he would beat Islam and wants the challenge. I'm not against it.

I think Ilia would beat Islam if the takedowns can be defended. Big if there and the size difference would be a factor. I'd like to see this fight.

 

[bov]

If Islam fights again at 155 it has to be Topuria or Arman, nothing else makes sense. Can't see him sticking around for both so it probably hinges on the UFC's plan for Topuria.

 

[I am not exposed]

In that case I misunderstood, Sorry I am Not Exposed.

No worries. I would have been livid if Umar had his hand raised, because that was 100% a victory for Merab.

 

[bov]

Dana doesn't seem too pleased about the Arman situation and shut down the notion of him getting a title shot next.

 

[I am not exposed]

Will be interesting who Merab gets next.

 

[MMC]

Will be interesting who Merab gets next.

Yan

 

[MMC]

 

[CDJ]

Jiri is in the Gaethje tier of must watch violence at this point

Really regret not being in on Gafurov, had an inkling the fight would go like that but was too p***y to pull the trigger

4 guys losing their 0 tonight…i like that in mma you can lose without it being the end of your title hopes. Carpenter and Talbott in particular will take a lot away from their matchups against superior wrestlers

 

[bov]

I'd rather see Merab against someone new than a rematch, but that pretty much limits it to Song or Sandhagen who are both coming off losses to Yan and Umar respectively. Since Merab already beat those guys, I'm guessing they go with O'Malley vs Sandhagen and then pick the most impressive winner of the next round of 135 contender fights.

Pantoja is in a similar boat at 125 so maybe he'd consider moving up, idk

 

[Avs_19]

Really enjoyed this card from top to bottom.

Not much to say about the main event. Moicano had zero chance. If they don't want to give Arman the shot right away then maybe an Oliveira rematch, even though that was just his last fight? Winner gets Islam since he likely won't fight until the summer. There's no real good answer there.

Co-main was an awesome fight. Have to admit I had it wrong as I went with Umar going in. Merab's never ending gas tank was on full display again and he didn't just beat Umar, he clowned and embarrassed him while he was beating him. That was after the slow start where he didn't even bother fighting his fight until the third round. So impressive. I think 48-47 for Merab was an easy call. The rumour has been O'Malley getting the next title shot, which I hope isn't true, but he'll lose again if he does.

Jiri brought the violence to Hill. Loved seeing that and there's nothing Hill can complain about with this one.

Almeida/Spivac went mostly as expected. That's two nice wins in a row for Almeida after the Blaydes beatdown. Getting ahead of himself there with the Aspinall call out but he's one of the few HWs on the rise.

RDR made quick work of Holland. Another one that surprised me with how it happened. I wasn't impressed at all with RDR's UFC debut and figured Holland would have a bit more to offer. That's what Holland gets for disrespecting the legend Rampage Jackson.

 

[CDJ]

Barcelos looked like he was back in 2019 when he beat the shit out of Said Nurmagomedov

With USADA out of the picture I think we have to reevaluate what constitutes old.

 

[bov]

The version of Merab that fought last night would finish O'Malley. I don't know if he can top that performance on Umar, sooner or later he has to come down from his peak. Hopefully Merab gets some time off and they don't try to pressure him into rushing back in against their cash cow who is allowed to sit on the sidelines and get whatever he wants.

 

[pistolpete11]

Fell asleep before the main event, but this was only going to go one way. Dana being petty again saying Arman won't get the next title shot Whatever. They've been trying to give Oliveira another shot for a while now, so that'd be my guess. Arman vs. any of Gaethje, Max, Poirier, Chandler. Builds Arman's name if he beats them and justifies a title shot for any of those guys if they pull off the upset.

Umar is a more skilled fighter than Merab. Merab just wore him down. Merab is beatable, but you're going to have to either KO him or win the first 3 and then hang on. He's not much of a finisher, but NOBODY can match that pace.

Jiri doesn't always look good, but he's always dangerous and if your name's not Alex Pereira, good luck to you. I don't really have much interest in seeing the Pereira fight again, though. Don't know what I'd rather see, but one win shouldn't get you a title shot against a guy that KO'ed you twice already.

 

[I am not exposed]

The version of Merab that fought last night would finish O'Malley. I don't know if he can top that performance on Umar, sooner or later he has to come down from his peak. Hopefully Merab gets some time off and they don't try to pressure him into rushing back in against their cash cow who is allowed to sit on the sidelines and get whatever he wants.

He wants to defend the title 4 times this year!

 

[Sheppy]

Not deserving of that type of opportunity yet. Fair play for getting the win but that was a lackluster fight. Should be an Aldana, or winner of Chiasson/Viera or Jasudavicius/MBS type of fight. Win that, then fair enough you earned it the hard way. UFC knows it's fanbase though so nothing would shock me.

I just want to see her get dummied.

 

[bov]

He wants to defend the title 4 times this year!

Just saw his comments, I'm surprised. He has a lot of miles on him already. He's already in the convo for best 135er ever but another win or two would solidify that, just a ridiculous resume. More power to him.

 

[Taytro]

I think Ilia would beat Islam if the takedowns can be defended. Big if there and the size difference would be a factor. I'd like to see this fight.

If Islam fights again at 155 it has to be Topuria or Arman, nothing else makes sense. Can't see him sticking around for both so it probably hinges on the UFC's plan for Topuria.

I think there's a 0% chance that Islam fights Topuria next. Islam has defended his belt 4 times, two of those were against a 145er. It would make no sense for 3 of Islam's 5 defences to be against 145lbers. Regardless of how cloudy 155 is.

Meanwhile Ilia has only defended his belt 1 time, with plenty of exciting matchups. Lopes vs Topuria would be an absolute banger. You move up once you've cleared your division, Ilia has only just gotten started.

What I see more likely is Islam moving up to 170 if Belal loses the belt.

 

[bov]

I think there's a 0% chance that Islam fights Topuria next. Islam has defended his belt 4 times, two of those were against a 145er. It would make no sense for 3 of Islam's 5 defences to be against 145lbers. Regardless of how cloudy 155 is.

Meanwhile Ilia has only defended his belt 1 time, with plenty of exciting matchups. Lopes vs Topuria would be an absolute banger. You move up once you've cleared your division, Ilia has only just gotten started.

What I see more likely is Islam moving up to 170 if Belal loses the belt.

Definitely agree on 170 if Belal loses. I just have no appetite for a rematch with someone Islam already destroyed with ease such as Oliveira or even Hooker (if he gets by Gaethje). There aren't many options at 155 that move the needle imo. It seems like Arman pissed off the brass with that last minute removal, so I can't even imagine who would be next outside of Topuria at 155. There's no need for Islam to get back in there anytime soon, so he can probably wait until late spring/early summer to see how things shake out and hopefully by then, the right matchup will present itself.

 

[Moncherry]

Jiri is in the Gaethje tier of must watch violence at this point

I'd say he entered that a while ago.

 

[16Skippy]

I'm not sure what the timeline is for Tsarukyan's recovery but maybe do Oliveira-Tsarukyan. I love Topuria but Islam really needs to fight legit lightweight contenders for his legacy, or move up if Belal loses.

 

[bov]

I'm not sure what the timeline is for Tsarukyan's recovery but maybe do Oliveira-Tsarukyan. I love Topuria but Islam really needs to fight legit lightweight contenders for his legacy, or move up if Belal loses.

He beat all the legit lightweight contenders already, and it sounds like Arman blew his chance. He was the only guy who actually looked competitive against Islam. I'm a big fan of Oliveira but he'll get destroyed again(By Islam), that fight doesn't do much for me. He had nothing for Islam in the first fight. Gaethje or Hooker have no business in the cage with him, even if one wins in spectacular fashion. Has to be Topuria or Arman if the fight takes place at 155, and the latter seems unlikely based on recent comments.

None of the rematches really do anything for Islam's legacy since he already smoked them, I just don't see the point of him wasting another weight cut like that unless it's for something special.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Sucks for Arman but reading between the lines from watching the post fight press conference Dana basically thought he could tough it out but didn't. I get it from Arman's side cause Islam is absurd and you want your title shot to be at 100% and the promotion just cares about the $$$. I guess with him being out for Islam's next fight I guess the options are....

-Rematch Oliveira. After his fight vs Islam he took out Chandler and Dariush pretty decidedly with a split vs Tsarukyan sandwiched in there.

-If Gaethje never lost the BMF vs Max he probably would have fought Islam instead of Poirier. Hooker was pretty easily subbed but Islam 3 years ago, not that I think it would have made a difference, but it was on short notice and Hooker has been on a nice run since getting tatt'd up. I could when they face off in March if something big happens the winner could get a post Ramadan title shot.

-Arman takes a fight within the next month or so against a top 10 opponent like Gamrot or Chandler... Maybe they do Charles again as a number one contender match and winner gets the shot.