Could Merab convince Dana to let him move up and challenge Topuria?

[Gabe]

Not right now. Dana wants the O Malley rematch and he’s gonna give Merab a huge bag to take it.

 

[prime_lobov]

Didn't Merab say Ilia rag dolls him regularly in practice?

We talkin about practice now?

 

[prime_lobov]

Not right now. Dana wants the O Malley rematch and he’s gonna give Merab a huge bag to take it.

O’Malley doesn’t stand a chance. Just going to get laid on for 5 rounds again.

 

[blunttruth]

We talkin about practice now?

Naw,..I say Merab be taklin bout it then.

 

[El Fernas]

So, only cause they are from the same country, one lives in Spain and seems to have embraced that country, they would never fight? That would stop SO many fights...

Do you really except him to fight against another Georgian lmao

Fighters fight their country man a LOT, imagine US fighters not going against US fighters, brazilians, and so on...their "friendship" is based off being from the same country, neither lives in btw, and thats it, similar to Adesanya and Usman iirc.

 

[Ezekiel 25:17]

Maybe. Islam got knocked out by a bjj guy. Ilia could definitely catch him.

That was a decade ago, lol.

Dude is a completely different fighter now. No one in his weight class or below is defeating him.

 

[NoSmilez]

F it. Book Merab and Islam….

 

[Meathead Jock]

Uhh yes? Two fighters can’t duck each other because they were born in the same country.

You can't duck someone in a different weight class.

 

[prime_lobov]

You can't duck someone in a different weight class.

Ok, substitute “refuse to fight” for duck

 

[contrail]

It’s clear nobody at 135 has anything for Merab, and the division would be more entertaining without him.

I’ve said before that Topuria probably destroys everyone including Belal at 170 and under, but Merab “The Decision Machine” might be the one guy that could smother Topuria to a UD. Merab gets rocked in most fights but has a pea brain and is difficult to KO. He can probably spam takedowns all day against Ilia, who will be helpless on the ground.

You think Topuria "destroys" Shavkat? Garry? Della Madallalena? That's not even getting into LW's who could easily give him very tough fights. Jesus Christ, dude.

 

[HHJ]

I doubt it. You can already tell Dana thinks dude is a fuckin knucklehead as it is. I doubt he wants a guy who dont even TRY to finish people to have two fucking belts/

 

[prime_lobov]

You think Topuria "destroys" Shavkat? Garry? Della Madallalena? That's not even getting into LW's who could easily give him very tough fights. Jesus Christ, dude.

Yeah Topuria flatlines all those jokers.

 

[nostradumbass]

Merab wouldn't even take his title shot at BW until Aljo lost, so I doubt he'd move up to fight Topuria, but that would be an interesting fight. Not sure about the "it's clear nobody at 135 has anything for Merab" when he just lost every aspect of fighting for the first half of the fight and was on his way to losing again in the 5th until the last burst of energy with 40 seconds left. Umar can heal his hand, beat another top 5 in the summer and set himself for another shot either later this year or early next year after Merab fights O'Malley or Yan again.

 

[contrail]

Yeah Topuria flatlines all those jokers.

Great case you've made - airtight as they say.

 

[prime_lobov]

Merab wouldn't even take his title shot at BW until Aljo lost, so I doubt he'd move up to fight Topuria, but that would be an interesting fight. Not sure about the "it's clear nobody at 135 has anything for Merab" when he just lost every aspect of fighting for the first half of the fight and was on his way to losing again in the 5th until the last burst of energy with 40 seconds left. Umar can heal his hand, beat another top 5 in the summer and set himself for another shot either later this year or early next year after Merab fights O'Malley or Yan again.

Yeah Umar was piecing him up in rounds 1-2, but there’s no indication he would win a rematch unless he significantly improves his cardio.

 

[clackers]

What a bullshit thread. These guys are friends both same background and you think Merab would want to go and challenge Topuria.
They constantly speak highly about each other and have respect.

 

[prime_lobov]

What a bullshit thread. These guys are friends both same background and you think Merab would want to go and challenge Topuria.
They constantly speak highly about each other and have respect.

Right because two brazilians or two Americans with respect for each other have never fought.

 

[clackers]

What a bullshit thread. These guys are friends both same background and you think Merab would want to go and challenge Topuria.
They constantly speak highly about each other and have respect.

Right because two brazilians or two Americans with respect for each other have never fought.

This is clearly different and not once has Merab mentioned he wants to fight Topuria. They both have the belts and are Georgian.

This is a bullshit post

 

[Petah Bash]

Uhh yes? Two fighters can’t duck each other because they were born in the same country. Dumbest excuse I’ve ever heard. Ilia doesn’t even wear Georgia’s colors on his fight shorts.

Almost as dumb as doubling down on your post, in an obnoxious manner, instead of just admitting that you didn’t know they were good friends?

 

[Petah Bash]

What a bullshit thread. These guys are friends both same background and you think Merab would want to go and challenge Topuria.
They constantly speak highly about each other and have respect.


This is clearly different and not once has Merab mentioned he wants to fight Topuria. They both have the belts and are Georgian.

This is a bullshit post

OP just can’t take an L.

Merab and Ilia are tight. Merab literally refers to it as a brotherhood. Anyone who follows MMA enough to post on these boards knows that Merab doesn’t fight his friends. No matter what. They are never fighting. The end.