Deconstructing MMA Myths... [Part 13.1] - Khabib´s Eastern European Career

Thanks for the time. These type of theads is what makes this place interesting.
 
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How do I have little knowledge of the fight? Both of us have the video to go by and I am not seeing this fight for the first time either.

As for your assumption that Pankration didn't reward ground control, why did Khabib win the fight then? It was obviously scored based on ground control genious. Ref could have stood them up due to his personal preference like we've seen refs in ufc do at times.

What exactly did you give Magomedov the fight for? Two thigh kicks and a barely noticable submission attempt?
You´re the one who said that you dont have a clear image of the fight, not me.

Heck, you dont even know what sub attempt we´re talking about...

Besides, as I said, doesnt make sense to reward ground control if you have this trigger-happy stand-up rule.

Finally, do understand that my main statement is that it was an uneasy fight to score.

You feel Khabib won? Fine, that´s no sin. Guess what? I have a different feeling.
 
I do still think Khabib did enough to win simply by being the aggressor but Tibau was IMHO idealy suited for making him look bad, I mean no he isn't an absolute all time great at LW but in terms of stuffing clinch takedowns against the cage? arguably one of if not the best ever and obviously a massive LW.
 
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great unbiased analysis.

need more of that. too many people regard you as a "hater" if you have any kind of critique on their favorite fighter.

you're then called a "nuthugger" if you say something positive about a fighter they don't like.

it's strange how personally invested people are in fighters who don't even know they exist.
Like people that cry when celebrities die. Don't get it.
 
You've been busy brother @gono btw :D

I see so you were really prepared for that big tittle fight.. proper MMA fight right here, old school style.
 
I usually post in the Worldwide...

I stopped coming to worldwide when UFC acquired Pride and Strikeforce. :oops:

Plus I noticed for big events they move the main topic and sticky it on top of the heavies.
 
I do still think Khabib did enough to win simply by being the aggressor but Tibau was IMHO idealy suited for making him look bad, I mean no he isn't an absolute all time great at LW but in terms of stuffing clinch takedowns against the cage? arguably one of if not the best ever and obviously a massive LW.
http://forums.sherdog.com/threads/d...e-anatomy-of-a-fighter-khabib-part-2.3844507/

The Thibau [sad] Affair:

3 Rounds, 15 mns...4mn48 of pure Wall&Stall...
7 Wall&Stall situations, but only 2 Yamazaki´s interferences...
ONE complete Round lost, sadly... Nobody won that fight, tbh...

IMO, Modern MMA can´t afford this type of Fight Configuration, it only suits the NHB/Vale Tudo one, with no time limit, and 'bureaucratic' progression in the guard & against the fence/ropes...
 
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I stopped coming to worldwide when UFC acquired Pride and Strikeforce. :oops:

Plus I noticed for big events they move the main topic and sticky it on top of the heavies.
yeah, but the dudes there have more patience...
 
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 skil lset & 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.

Orgs:
CSFU: Champions League
Pankration Atrium Cup
Tsumada Fighting Championship
M-1
ProFC
Golden Fist Russia

Opponents = 9 Russians - 2 Ukrainians - 2 Azerbaijanis - 1 Belarusian - 1 Armenian - 1 Brazilian

...which shows a certain homogeneous MMA 'universe' when it comes to skill sets...

CHRONOLOGY :

1/ vs Vusal Bayramov :

Bayramov showcased some good leg kicks.
But Khabib got an 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 skill set, 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

Note1: 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)

Note2: thinking about it, since Pankration Atrium Cup had such a trigger-happy stand-up rule (even when Khabib had side control), makes consequently lil sense to reward ground control, imo...



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

Note: Most of Khabib´s TDs (5) were lightning fast single-leg ones (only 1 double)

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 3 of his recent fights:

Eldar Eldarov vs Davrbek Isakov:
Good technical fight, Isakov bigger & better striker, good submission game, some nice transitions, legit potential imo.
Eldarov stayed composed, understood he was outclassed on the feet, looked quickly for the clinch to get the TD. Isakov transitionned to a decent leglock then armbar attempt, but Eldarov once again stayed composed, secured the full mount (weak defensive guard from Isakov) to get a nice armbar.

Brave 1 : 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 : 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: Khabib again leading with the left hook, but 1st time I see him throwing a jab with the left

Note: Fight Configuration:
headbutts allowed (Khabib´s technique is pretty weird...)

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 skill set, but limited defensive guard,
constantly switching stances, disrupting Khabib´s flow.
decent combos, but a lil bit reaching.
Again, weird stand-up rule with Khabib in side control.
Then Khabib gets easily the side control again, almost full mount.
Agafonov quit on his stool at the beginning of the 3rd Rd (injury...rib)



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 with the lead left hook again, but countered by a right hook, almost dropped (Khabib more "wobbled" than vs MJ).

View attachment 446705

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 performances 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 during the transition...
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

@ 1mn30:



Khabib drops him with a good left upercut (1st successful one in his career).
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 Legit Tests.

{<redford}
 
Why do people act like after a guy wins a lot of fights, thst he was suppose to be fighting top guys when they first start mma? Conor fought bumbs in ireland, and even lost.. .but he still is a great fighter.. As is khabib. He hasnt lost.. Any9ne can decide they thought he did.. But in the end he didnt. Khabib has gained a lot of grappling and striking over the years... He has gotten way better... Its not like he was the khabib we see now fighting total bumbs. When guys start thier career.. They fight in smaller orgs w less talent.. Thats how it works.
 

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