Today :
The evolution of Khabib´s Eastern European Career, btw 2008 & 2011.
Myth 1: Khabib was protected & only fought cans.
Myth 2: He was dominant & 'undefeated'.
Note: this thread can be seen as an extension of this one:
http://forums.sherdog.com/threads/deconstructing-mma-myths-part-8.3822123/
Important:
The term 'Can' is an uneasy one, often misused in the MMA World.
The way I see it, it´s a matter of perspective, and one should bears in mind that a MMA career highly depends on timing, markets & opportunities.
Thus, my analysis here will only be about skillset & technical sequences during these 16 fights, to determine whether these fighters were mismatches or not, in this progressive non-UFC career.
Context:
> btw Fight 1 & 4: @ LW
> btw Fight 5 & 6: @ WW
> btw Fight 7 & 8: @ LW
> btw Fight 9 & 16: @ WW
Total = 6 fights @ LW / 10 fights @ WW.
Opponents = 9 Russians - 2 Ukrainians - 2 Azerbaijanis - 1 Belarusian - 1 Armenian - 1 Brazilian
...which shows a certain homogeneous MMA 'universe' when it comes to skillsets...
CHRONOLOGY :
1/ vs Vusal Bayramov :
Bayramov showcased some good leg kicks.
But Khabib got the easy TD, then easy mount & slick transition to a triangle choke.
Verdict: Bayramov schooled on the ground.
2/ vs. Magomed Magomedov :
Magomedov was 3-6 btw 2003 & 2014.
But...A striker [kickboxer] with legit submission arsenal: interesting skillset, reminds me a lil bit of a [less complete] Amar Suloev.
Unfortunately, obviously didnt get the right opportunities during his career.
Magomedov outclassed Khabib on the feet, but remained tentative because of the TD threat.
Khabib got easy single-leg TDs during this fight.
Magomedov showcased good body kicks, good jabz.
Khabib : brief armbar attempt, shaken off.
Magomedov : uneasy legit armbar attempt on a transition.
Khabib: brief side control, good knees,
Magomedov: could have gotten side control but not interested. Showcased good GNP
Note: Fight Configuration:
The Referee [org: Pankration Atrium Cup] was a huge fan of the stand-up rule...(even when Khabib had side control... but seems Russian fighters were accustomed to this, since no whining from Khabib)
Verdict : tough fight to score, depends on your MMA 'ideology',
but imo Magomedov did more damage and had more legit submission attempts.
> In my books, it´s Khabib´s 1st loss.
3/ vs Ramazan Kurbanismailov :
Kurbanismailov : striker,weak TDD, weak ground game
Verdict: mismatch, easy Khabib win. Kurbanismailov showed nuthin
4/ vs Shamil Abdulkerimov :
Abdulkerimov reversed Khabib and almost mounted him, but bad scramble.
Then Khabib got an easy mount, but surprisingly transitionned to side control...
Again: quick stand-up rule by the Ref.
Abdulkerimov: more of a striker, limited defensive ground game
Khabit gets side control, good knees to the body but stand-up rule again.
Good armbar attempt by Abdulkerimov.
Khabib then pulls a smooth transition to an eazy mount, but surprisingly lost it
Verdict: Khabib wins relatively easily
Welterweight debut.:
5/ vs Said Akhmed :
Khabib: easy single leg, easy side control, easy mount, efficient GNP
Verdict: easy Khabib win
6/ vs Eldar Eldarov :
> This is the only fight that I havent seen.
Right now, Eldarov´s MMA record: 8-1
He lost to Khabib via TKO (punches) in the 2nd Round.
I checked 2 of his recent fights:
Brave 1 Free Fight: Kevin Koldobsky vs Eldar Eldarov:
Eldarov showcased heavy hands, but is more of a grinder, not very tecnhical on the feet or on the ground
Brave 6 Free Fight: Henrique Rasputin vs Eldar Eldarov:
Eldarov showcased efficient GNP, with nasty elbows.
Eldarov seems talented, an accoomplished wrestler, more of a WW.
In his profile, Khabib describes him as a childhood friend (!), and his hero:
http://www.ufc.com/fighter/Khabib-Nurmagomedov
For sure, he´s potentially the readiest of this list for the UFC Fight Configuration, but Im definitely not impressed.
Return to Lightweight. :
7/ vs Shahbulat Shamhalaev :
1st time I see Khabib going more for TDs from body lock.
Khabib gets reversed though, but was a trap: transitions to armbar, but loses it.
Then fluid transition: from side control to full mount, then armbar
Verdict: Shamhalaev no match on the ground
8/ vs Oleg Bagov :
Strong Bagov in the clinch but limited & awkward striking.
Khabib almost taken down but saved by using the ropes.
Khabib gets the TD but fails to secure top control, is easily reversed
Bagov: telegraphed TDs,easily stuffed
Note: Fight Configuration:
headbutts allowed
Verdict: easy Khabib win.
Return to Welterweight. :
9/ vs Vitaliy Ostrovskiy :
Khabib showcases a lethal single leg, gets an easy full mount.
Transition: slick armbar attempt, unreal defence by Ostrovskiy,
but khabib still secures a dominant position, even a crucifix,
Verdict: complete domination, probably Khabib´s best performance ever
10/ vs Aleksandr Agafonov :
Agafonov : solid stand up, boxing, legit leg kicks. Interesting skillset, but limited defensive guard
Again, weird stand-up rule with Khabib in side control.
Then Khabib gets easily the side control, almost full mount.
Agafonov quit on his stool at the beginnin of the 3rd Rd
Verdict: Agafonov did more damage on the feet, but Khabib got easy TDs...
Still, Khabib actually did lil damage.
Could have been an interesting 3rd round, and final decision.
11/ vs Said Khalilov :
Khalilov: unimpressive stand-up, limited TDD.
Khalilov: 1st TD stuffed, but not the others.
Khabib: easy guard-passing, side control, kimura
Verdict: easy Khabib win
12/ vs Ashot Shahinyan :
Shahinyan: undersized & outstruck
Verdict: mismatch, waste of time in Khabib´s progression
13/ vs Kadzhik Abadzhyan :
Khabib countered by a right hook, almost dropped.
Khabib gets an easy TD, easy guard-passing, easy side control, almost crucifix.
Abadzhyan: seems to have a decent striking, jab, but hindered by TD threat
Then: Khabib getting an easy TD, full mount, slick armbar transition
Abadzhyan: unreal defence, tough, reverses Khabib
Khabib: transition to a slick triangle
Abadzhyan: defends once, not twice
Verdict: one of Khabib´s best performance ever
14/ vs Khamiz Mamedov :
Mamedov: chubby, undersized (btw looks like a Russian BJ)
Khabib: only body lock, works a lil bit, TD secured
Then: easy side control, almost transitions to full mount,
But Mamedov escapes.
Note: Khabib fails to snap the arm to get the armbar
Mamedov: outmuscled.
Khabib almost takes his back, but prefers to secure the TD, gets the full mount.
Then: decent transition from armbar to triangle choke
Verdict: one of Khabib´s best performances ever, but... step-down in competition
15/ vs Vadim Sandulitsky :
Khabib: easy single leg TD
Then: side control, but guillotine attempt from Sandulitsky.Shaken off.
Khabib gets the easy full mount.
Then: armbar attempt & quick transition to triangle choke, not really tight
But Sandulitsky gives up...
Verdict: one of Khabib´s best performances ever, but... step-down in competition again.
16/ vs Arymarcel Santos :
Santos (Carlson BJJ): showcases nice leg kicks.
Santos then shoots for the double-leg TD, almost gets it, but Khabib uses ropes
= 1 point deducted
Khabib drops him with a good left upercut.
Santos: weak armbar & leglock attempts.
Khabib wins via GNP, efficient but not very technical GNP
Verdict: tough to say, since Khabib used the ropes to avoid the TD.
Santos on top could have been interesting...
CONCLUSION:
> Khabib = 15-1
> 6 Mismatches, 4 Easy Wins, 6 Tests.