Deconstructing MMA Myths... [Part 15] - The Anatomy of A Fighter - Khabib... [2/2]

[gono btw]

Warning: TLDR here.
Noticed that people here were showing interest in his skill set...
Thus I tried to assess his evolution...




The Anatomy of A Fighter - Khabib...[Part 2]

Myth > Khabib´s skill set hasnt evolved.

[Part 1]:
http://forums.sherdog.com/threads/d...-the-anatomy-of-a-fighter-khabib-1-2.3844333/

Note: this thread can be seen as an extension of these ones:

https://forums.sherdog.com/threads/deconstructing-mma-myths-part-13-1-khabib´s-eastern-european-career.3830345/

https://forums.sherdog.com/threads/deconstructing-mma-myths-part-13-2-khabib´s-eastern-european-career-the-magomedov-fight.3968083/

http://forums.sherdog.com/threads/deconstructing-mma-myths-part-5.3807975/


Context:

Pre-UFC Run:
> btw Fight 1 & 4: @ LW
> btw Fight 5 & 6: @ WW
> btw Fight 7 & 8: @ LW
> btw Fight 9 & 16: @ WW

UFC Run:
> 9 Fights @ LW.
> 2 fights @ Catchweight (159-160 lbs)


Total = 15 fights @ LW / 12 fights @ WW.

Safe to say that Khabib´s a big LW, realistically a WW...

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

Enclosure > Ring,
except:
Pankration Atrium Cup > Open Mat.
UFC > Cage.


II] The Evolution of Khabib´s Grappling:

> Pre-UFC Run: Flashes of Brilliance, slick transitions showcased, on top or off his back:

[see this link for more details]:
http://forums.sherdog.com/threads/deconstructing-mma-myths-part-13-khabib´s-eastern-european-career.3830345/#post-144836697

vs Vusal Bayramov :
Verdict: Bayramov schooled on the ground.

vs Shahbulat Shamhalaev :
Verdict: Shamhalaev no match on the ground

vs Vitaliy Ostrovskiy :
Verdict: complete domination, probably Khabib´s best performance ever

vs Kadzhik Abadzhyan :
Verdict: one of Khabib´s best performances ever

vs Khamiz Mamedov :
Verdict: one of Khabib´s best performances ever, but... step-down in competition

vs Vadim Sandulitsky :
Verdict: one of Khabib´s best performances ever, but... step-down in competition again.

vs Eldarov: legit wrassler, for sure the most UFC-ready of Khabib´s early career, when it comes to skill set...

Obviously, some mismatches there, but Khabib still did showcase some slick transitions.

During this part of his career, Khabib would mostly go for the single leg, a lightning fast one...

Since there was no fence, double-leg TDs were pretty rare in his arsenal: the lone one was against
Shamil Abdulkerimov...

Only one case of "Wall&Stall", near the ropes: against Shahbulat Shamhalaev (during 1mn10s).
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)


> UFC Run [move to AKA: 2013] :

Khabib would mix it up now, either looking for the clinch near the fence, or shooting for the
double leg TD, and press against the fence, but noticeably less single leg TDs...
Indeed, the fence has become an essential part of his game, & he seems to rely a lil bit less on the single leg TD...

A mix of brilliance and Wall&Stall...

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...

The Abel Trujillo fight:

At the end of the 1st Rd: Abel showing a limited ground game, getting the reversal though,
in controle of Khabib´s legs, prefers to dive into his guard, rather than secure the side control...
Khabib then quickly transitioned to a triangle choke, but Abel was saved by the bell...

The UFC commentators loved to rave about the chain wrasslin´ domination, but it has to be questioned...
There has to be a logical progression in these sequences, to get a better position with a view
to securing a legit submission (Abel´s back was up for grabs) or inflicting some legit damage...
Record for Most TDs is like the one for Most Guard-Passing: looks impressive, but actually
betrays a lack of creativity on the ground...

Here, one can acknowledge the influence of Modern MMA [UFC´s in particular]´s Fight Configuration
& judging criteria [Ground Control being the Main Paradigm, Fence Work, limited stand-up rule, UFC pay structure: show + win money] on Khabib´s ground game...
His transitions pre-UFC were better, he would take more risks back then, while now he prefers to use the fence instead of working on his transitions. Sad evolution, unfortunately...

Like they say: "Hate the Game, not the player...".
Obviously, from Khabib´s & his team´s perspective, it has to be all about perserving his career [maximizing $$$ & minimizing potential damage]. Here, Im talkin´ like someone interested in MMA & Skill Set Evolution.

Still, he showed some smooth transition to get Darrell Horcher´s (WW) back, even a crucifix...
or against MJ, getting again a crucifix, and finally a kimura (Khabib bigger, indeed)...

While against Barboza, was more about Ground Control, with some legit GNP... Still, couldnt submit
him, and that was a disappointment, imo... Good Ground Control but bureaucratic transitions on the ground.

 

[dropshot]

Good post. The obvious expectation for a fighter would be continued progression or evolution, but it does not always happen. I have seen many mma fighters and boxers remain the same throughout their careers. Once the ones that appeared unbeatable get beaten, they seem to continue down that path. For most, it is that they simply never evolved. For others, the game had progressed and they did not have the team or resources to keep up. For many, their time had simply passed.

 

[Mga223]

Great post, we've argued before on other things

He is very entertaining for a man with a better ground game than stand up, Im actually shocked the dude continues to get more dominant.....

 

[Quitcherbichen]

Wtf, I just hit a brick wall......asshole

 

[gono btw]

Great post, we've argued before on other things

He is very entertaining for a man with a better ground game than stand up, Im actually shocked the dude continues to get more dominant.....

He actually has the potential to show more brilliant things on the ground, but imo the UFC environment limits his potential...

 

[gono btw]

Good post. The obvious expectation for a fighter would be continued progression or evolution, but it does not always happen. I have seen many mma fighters and boxers remain the same throughout their careers. Once the ones that appeared unbeatable get beaten, they seem to continue down that path. For most, it is that they simply never evolved. For others, the game had progressed and they did not have the team or resources to keep up. For many, their time had simply passed.

There are so many things to consider when it comes to assessing a fighter´s decline... Not always due to their skill set becoming suddenly outdated...

 

[dropshot]

There are so many things to consider when it comes to assessing a fighter´s decline... Not always due to their skill set becoming suddenly outdated...

Very true. Physical, family, emotional, financial issues, incompatibility with their trainers or managers, etc., etc. Sometimes, they just lose that hunger or desire.

 

[gono btw]

Wtf, I just hit a brick wall......asshole

A wall?
Time 2 Fly then!

 

[One MMA Fan]

Part 2 is also on my reading list.

 

[TerryMcSavage]

I can’t wait for Khabib v Tony. This will showcase his entire skill set.

He’s obviously a supreme grappler, but how he fares in the clinch against a tight striker like Ferguson is the X factor.

Connor had unreal timing but T Ferg is a different animal, no quit in that man. Will against will, really.

I hope they make this fight because this is what NEEDS to happen for the LW division to shake out.

Forget the rubber guard the difference will be if Tony can punish him on the feet. Staph infection Lee dominated Tony on the ground for a good portion of their tilt, so we know there’s some vulnerability there but short elbows and effective leg work may make the difference.

I don’t know Jack shit btw.

 

[gono btw]

I can’t wait for Khabib v Tony. This will showcase his entire skill set.

He’s obviously a supreme grappler, but how he fares in the clinch against a tight striker like Ferguson is the X factor.

Connor had unreal timing but T Ferg is a different animal, no quit in that man. Will against will, really.

I hope they make this fight because this is what NEEDS to happen for the LW division to shake out.

The 'scrambles' will be definitely worth watchin´...