Media Islam Makhachev could've been undefeated. Was his bout vs Martins an early stoppage?

[Young Calf Kick]

From the above angle it looks like a decent stoppage, but the normal one seems very early. So was it, or was it not an early stoppage? We all know how what that undefeated record can do for your aura and legacy. We can only imagine where Islam's career would be at right now if the ref didn't stop it when he did. I believe if he had recovered and won, he'd probably have had his title shot by now.

 

[Dirty Frank]

Love Islam but nah that was a legit KO

 

[Jin Akutsu]

No. Islam would have had his brains turned into a slushie.

Good stoppage.

 

[JustOnce]

 

[Scheme]

Islam would be dead if the ref hadn't stepped in

 

[Deleted member 359865]

Body language is everything in this sport and the way his head and neck were inches away from bouncing off the canvas like a basketball tell me that he was out. He may not have been “out” for very long but he got hit with something dangerous. Great stoppage IMO, they have to keep these guys safe.

 

[SirKratos]

Its close but I would say decent stoppage. His arms were in a position that didn't look like a man who was intelligently defending himself;

He looked better once the referee got in the way, but they always do unless they are out cold.

 

[kingofthecans]

One of the times people want Herb in.

 

[Gilday]

It's one of those stoppages that seems too early in that he was still in there, but it's obvious that if it wasn't stopped he would've been KOed fully.

Fair stoppage imo.

 

[Deleted member 359865]

Just realized how badly y’all want this guy to succeed Khabib that you’re willing to call great stoppages early stoppages because he wasn’t laying on the ground snoring. Sickos. He lost, accept it.

 

[Young Calf Kick]

Just realized how badly y’all want this guy to succeed Khabib that you’re willing to call great stoppages early stoppages because he wasn’t laying on the ground snoring. Sickos. He lost, accept it.

My first sentence was literally this: from the above angle it looks like a decent stoppage, but the normal one seems very early.

calm your tits homeslice

 

[Deleted member 359865]

My first sentence was literally this: from the above angle it looks like a decent stoppage, but the normal one seems very early.

calm your tits homeslice

Looked like a great stoppage from both angles brotha!

 

[Young Calf Kick]

Looked like a great stoppage from both angles brotha!

Meh. If I saw the above angle first I'd definitely stop it if I were the ref. The other one, I'd think I'd have waited one or two seconds.

 

[Kumason]

Good stoppage, seems pretty obvious to me.....aaand everyone else that's commented. Him not having a title shot yet has a lot more to do with those multiple long stretches of not fighting imo than him losing once six and a half years ago, which also seems obvious.

 

[brakkkop]

confirmed: islam is undefeated on sherdog.

 

[nostradumbass]

It was a pretty big shot, so I doubt the ref was expecting him to just sit right up after it was stopped. Hard to say if he could have tied him up on the ground and recovered.

 

[Dreyga Hates You Sherbums]

Perfect Stoppage

 

[kellier]

Phenomenal stoppage. Islam went flat on his back and his head hit the floor. Ref intervened before he ate unnecessary punches to put an exclamation point on it

 

[BJpencil]

confirmed: islam is undefeated on sherdog.

and Conor and Nate are still undefeated in their minds as well.

 

[Krixes]

He got caught, and it was a great learning experience for him. He now has the best striking defense in the entire division.