Can we please admit merab is the bantamweight goat?

[RonDante]

Just the title really. It’s undeniable if you value beating extremely high level fighters on a double digit win streak and having already defended the belt.

 

[RockyLockridge]

I'm almost there it's weird i feel like just one more defense and it's case closed but at the same time it'd probably just be a rematch with Yan or O'Malley who he has already dominated so what's the point?

Give it up to merab pretty much the first fighter on UFC roster to ever clear out bw.

I guess there is figgy, Vera and sandhagen but they are all off losses. Could have of course just made figgy Vs merab and do Vera Vs Umar after he beat sandhagen... But nooooo

 

[moosaev]

Probably. When you look at his resume, it’s pretty insane. But what does that say about Umar, he was easily the guy who gave the BW goat his closest fight in years. Respect to both!

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

No.

 

[Streeter]

TJ or Dom in prime beat Merab. They just do

 

[Sean Chowdhury]

Still think Merab is a whiny prick but can't deny his goat status, he would beat any BW in UFC history and has the best resume(Cejudo, Umar, Omalley, Yan, Moraes,Aldo)

 

[RonDante]

TJ or Dom in prime beat Merab. They just do

justin Tafa would beat demetrious johnson. Who cares bratha? It’s not a head to head it’s who has accomplished the most

 

[RockyLockridge]

TJ or Dom in prime beat Merab. They just do

Epo Dillashaw Could keep pace with merab but Cruz would get smashed and has zero finishing ability to keep merab off him

 

[JudoThrowFiasco]

Yeah.. his run is the best the division has seen. Cruz is a close 2nd.

 

[JKS]

I like Merab, always have. But I think he needs to be a more decorated champion to be goat.

 

[Streeter]

TJ or Dom in prime beat Merab. They just do

Epo Dillashaw Could keep pace with merab but Cruz would get smashed and has zero finishing ability to keep merab off him

Maybe I just don't think Merab gets to prime Cruz who likely has the goat footwork was also a cardio beast. I know it would be great fight.

Dillasnake I think finishes Merab .... his wrestling striking combo i think would prove to much. Also Tj had alot of power in his shots for a little guy.

 

[sdpdude9]

He is if you want him to be because it’s a made up personal list.

 

[smiles mma]

I used to only count title defenses for goat. But lately some of these guys are beating g so many challengers on the way up. Similar to Ferguson, his resume is better than some former champs, so if he could have got the belt he would have jumped above bj to me... but didn't happen

 

[BFoe]

Christ is Cruz ever underrated around here.
NO, Merab is not the BW GOAT. I wouldn’t even put him ahead of Aljamain yet, whom I have as #2. Mayyybe he could be #3, ahead of TJ.

Cruz was also on a 12 fight win streak, beating high level fighters, and he had 7 title wins and 5 total defenses (4 consecutively) as part of that streak. Renan Barao also beat high level fighters while on a double digit win streak while defending the belt at the same time. It’s a great accomplishment but Merab is hardly alone in that regard.

 

[markys00]

Probably. When you look at his resume, it’s pretty insane. But what does that say about Umar, he was easily the guy who gave the BW goat his closest fight in years. Respect to both!

Huh? Merab has had closer fights than Umar. He clearly won 3 if not 4 rounds

 

[BFoe]

justin Tafa would beat demetrious johnson. Who cares bratha? It’s not a head to head it’s who has accomplished the most

I agree. Do you (or anyone) know how many ranked wins Merab has? That’s an honest question, I don’t know.

Cruz has:

10 ranked wins
12 fight win streak at BW (Merab is technically at 11 as his fight with Lopez was at a 140lb catchweight)
7 title fight wins
5 total title defenses, 4 consecutively in one reign, (and the reign was stopped by injuries not by losing)

What are Merab’s stats?

 

[TerrorTimmy]

I still think Cruz has it for now but Merab is closing in for sure. If he can get another couple of title defenses, he's got it imo. His resume really is ridiculous, just needs title defenses now

 

[wolffanghameha]

In terms of achievement I don't put him ahead of Cruz, but it's debatable. He had his initial reign, couple of big wins on the way to the WEC title, then came back and beat the next generation's champion, who some people said was like an upgraded version of him (TJ). Still top 10 at 37yo and years of opponents studying his tape.

He may well be the best BW ever though, if you put the top 20 BWs ever in a league and had them fight each other. His cardio is stupid. Be interesting to see if he can get a hold of Cruz enough to tire him out.

 

[TITS]

Might as well let Merab fight Cruz's corpse just to put that feather in his cap, who cares if he's unranked and ready to retire.

 

[moosaev]

Huh? Merab has had closer fights than Umar. He clearly won 3 if not 4 rounds

Well Merab has lost fights, so technically that’s true…but in the current championship form that he’s in Umar gave him by far the closest fight. Merab pretty much washed everyone else. Umar took it to the last round. Merab arguably won every round against O’Malley (possibly dropped rd 5), won every round against Yan, won every round against Cejudo. None of those fights were remotely competitive.