Am I crazy to think that Sean will make quick work of Merab?

I can see a masvidal/askren type finish from Sean.

Otherwise it's gonna be Georgian backpack time for a few rounds.
 
If Sean wins it'll be quick. Merab has been tagged early in fights, and if Sean is able to do that I think he'll finish him. However, if this fight goes past the second round, Merab will drown Sean just like he's done to everyone else.
 
Sean seems like a very smart fighter and is obviously extremely talented in striking. His fight IQ is up there, his reflexes are up there, his footwork and hand speed are up there. His top 5 wins have been big tests, which he's passed. He knows what he's up against and he'll come in very well prepared. I think he's the far more dangerous fighter of the two in the short term. None of that guarantees him victory, but a TKO/KO in the first 3 rounds seems like a very real possibility (and I think that would be my prediction).

I don't see Sean indulging the wrestling in the same way that Yan & Cejudo did. Sean also obviously has the height and reach advantage. Merab looked superb against the last two guys who were his height or shorter. That extra distance between them, plus Sean's footwork could give him the necessary space to react to the TD, better than Yan or Cejudo could.
 
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BangBang said:
Sean is excellent at distance control and lateral.movement. difficult to catch himself square against the cage. Hell circle out before you gets the chance. Merab I think will get caught trying to come in and get knocked out.
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Yeh, it's either this or he can't finish him and eventually slows down from all the movement after a couple rounds and gets mauled. There's really no other way this fight's gonna go.
 
I don't think it's crazy, depends on whether the fight stays on the feet or not.
 
.wrap has great takedown and endless cardio. Hes not greatest at keeping you down. Sean just needs to accept he's gettibg took down multiple times. If he fights regular and not to avoid td he gets him in first 2 rds. If he changes his fighting to stop tds he looses
 
If he beat Sterling he can beat Merab. He'll be defending the clinch here more than the takedown, there's lots of ways he could connect if he prepared correctly.
 
I think whoever's gonna win this fight we'll know real early. It won't necessarily end early, but we'll know who wins.
 
I don’t think it’s a crazy pick. That or Merab humps his leg for 5 rounds are probably the most likely outcome.
 
CombatCyborg said:
If he beat Sterling he can beat Merab. He'll be defending the clinch here more than the takedown, there's lots of ways he could connect if he prepared correctly.
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Eh they don’t fight the same though. Sterling will trade for periods of time on the feet. Merab absolutely will not.
 
I'm about 50/50 on this one. Good chance of a knockout. But you don't wanna underestimate Merab. Yan did that and got big brothered. The longer the fight goes on, the KO becomes less likely.
 
I don't like Sean as a person but he is capable of beating any 135er on the planet on any given night. Merab gets hit even when dominating, anything can happen in this fight.
 
Substance Abuse said:
It comes down to Sean's ability to dictate distance, pivot off while moving back and not backing solely into the cage and if Merab isn't reckless enough to shoot into a knee or catch a counter coming in. I'm leaning 55/45% SOM.

We all know the path to victory for both.
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I am leaning Sean over time myself. I do not think anyone can really dictate or control distance vs Merab very well without rocking his shit. He's too tenacious, too well conditioned and just super willing to take risks & walk through the fire. I think when Sean gets off he needs to make it meaningful, he can win rounds by having the big moments but still gets pressed to the cage, taken down...get back up, mat returned etc. Unless he just rocks Merab early and puts him away, hes going to have to deal with his range getting stifled and being forced to defend for periods of rounds. If he can circle out, cut angles, avoid the cage, create space when he stuffs shots and break clinches and just piece of Merab for rounds I'll be shocked. But I think he will rock Merab, if it goes to decision probably multiple times.

I'm probably 60/40 Sean, I actually don't hate his chances to win a decision in a dog fight so long as his gas tank is up for the task. And I think he can finish Merab too. Merab is awesome, super high level and a unique threat. While Merab is limited in skills, he's really imposing and go at taking away what guys do well. I just want O'Malley vs Umar, that's a legendary level fight like MM vs Cejudo, Jones vs Cormier, Islam vs Charles, GSP vs Hendricks. It's rare to get something that good.
 
Jose Beehive said:
I think it's the most likely outcome too, Sean manages distance really well and that quick right hand will fold Merab imo.. That said, I hope i'm wrong and Sean gets taken down 59 times, WAR MERAB!
merab-merab-walking.gif
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Having Merab, Pantoja, and Belal all as champions at the same time.
<31>
Rakic upsets Poatan, Jailton upsets Aspinall after Jones retires
<31><31>
 
Sean's going to snipe him and put him away by KO or gnp while he's rocked. Or he's going to have to go through hell to pull of the win.

We saw Sean able to deal with Yan's wrestling and win a decision, so it's not out of the realm of possibility to win that way.

It's going to come down to whether Merab can close the distance intelligently or Sean has an answer that punishes him. Should be a pretty good fight.
 
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