Do you actually believe Umar will not become BW champ at some point?

[Harlekin]

Second youngest guy in the Top10 and maybe he even wins a rematch against Merab. Just needed one more round. Merab is 34
Needs to throw more uppercuts vs Merab

 

[FlyingDeathKick]

He's 29 not 19.

 

[MarioLemieux]

He's 29 not 19.

Which means he's the second youngest guy in the top 10.

MMA prime is 30-34, Merab being on the older end of that. The knees start to go by 35, especially with his style.

 

[Bend NvR Break]

We just have another Rory McDonald in the UFC

 

[Kevster]

Do we actually have anything outside of Ali’s word that he injured his hand in the first.

 

[fortheo]

He probably will, but as of right now he's 1-1 against quality opposition. He'll have to do more to earn his next shot, too, which means face more elite guys. This is when we'll truly start to learn how good he is.

Give him someone like bautista next and have him work his way back up from there.

 

[fortheo]

But it was healed, that's not the same as breaking your hand mid-fight lol

I can agree to that, it was 10-9 both rounds.

Merab also didn't do much aside from a few takedowns and showboating.

The wound literally closed fight week. Surely you can see how an injured leg and back throughout his training camp would hinder his condition on fight night.

 

[fortheo]

They are statistically the best team ever and the first team to ever have back to back p4p#1 fighters on one team in a region smaller than Ireland.

This is like asking what's with fans obsession with the prime Edmonton Oilers, and I say that as a Pens fan.

Ray longo from long island has crafted 4 ufc champions, including 2 champs who beat goats in GSP and Anderson silva, and another 1 who just beat your goat team in a head to head contest.

Team khabib is great, but so are many teams.

 

[SerbianSteel]

Look how much better he did against Merab than Henry (olympic gold medalist).

Cejudo should forfeit his gold medals to Umar.

 

[MarioLemieux]

@fortheo Ray Longo has been in the game for decades.

Team Khabib is just getting warmed up and have had 2 back to back p4p #1 fighters and a much higher winning %

 

[Greyscale]

why not? If the real champ gets injured and stripped Umar might get a title rematch against Barcelos or Bekzat Almakhan.

 

[fortheo]

@fortheo Ray Longo has been in the game for decades.

Team Khabib is just getting warmed up and have had 2 back to back p4p #1 fighters and a much higher winning %

Team khabib is team abdulmanap and has been at work for a long time themselves, literally since these guys were all children, and their future success is just your speculation. In the past 5 years alone, both team khabib and team longo have had 2 champs. Team khabib has the more solid champs with khabib and islam, but Aljo had just as many defenses as khabib, and Merab just beat team khabib in a head to head competition. Add that with the more proven history of team longo.

Like I said, Team khabib is great, but there's tons of great teams, and you can't give team khabib credit for their hypothetical future success ....it hasn't happened yet and might not happen.

 

[AL-Tappo McSnappo]

18-1

Close match against a freak of nature and broke his hand in the first round, but took no real damage. Did better against Merab than anyone esle during his run.

Umar is not thirty yet has yet to hit his prime.

Merab is almost 35.

I mean the possibility exists that he won't, but he already dominated Corey, and Umar is a much better grappler than Yan, Figgy, Henry and can strike as well. Look how much better he did against Merab than Henry (olympic gold medalist).

The future of the division, just like his brother Usman at LW.

Only if he makes a few changes.
Work on boxing, he was throwing some ugly punches
No more skipping leg days at the gym.
Defend against over hand right punch that Merab was getting him with all fight, the one that wobbled him?

 

[MarioLemieux]

@fortheo It HAS happened though. I believe they are the only team in history to have 2 back to back P4P #1 fighters in the UFC. That's absoulte top of the foodchain beyond even champions. The gyms winning percentage extends beyond the UFC and even MMA where they have numerous prodigies in other orgs and Sambo... most of which will eventually be seen UFC way. You are witnessing the spectacular beginning of what will be a dynsasty. It's nearly inevitable even in spite of a set back like we saw with Umar. In a recent interview, Khabib was in depth and stated he has recruited 30 future title contenders and champions in his gym.

Of course, Khabib deseves most if not nearly all the credit currently. He's not only training them, but in there on the grindstone battling with them as a fighter himself giving them first hand expererience... not just instruction.

He took over Abdulmanap's role over half a decade ago.

You don't seem to be a fan, but if you didn't know, now you know.

 

[fortheo]

@fortheo It HAS happened though. I believe they are the only team in history to have 2 back to back P4P #1 fighters in the UFC. That's absoulte top of the foodchain beyond even champions. The gyms winning percentage extends beyond the UFC and even MMA where they have numerous prodigies in other orgs and Sambo... most of which will eventually be seen UFC way. You are witnessing the spectacular beginning of what will be a dynsasty. It's nearly inevitable even in spite of a set back like we saw with Umar. In a recent interview, Khabib was in depth and stated he has recruited 30 future title contenders and champions in his gym.

Of course, Khabib deseves most if not nearly all the credit currently. He's not only training them, but in there on the grindstone battling with them as a fighter himself giving them first hand expererience... not just instruction.

He took over Abdulmanap's role over half a decade ago.

You don't seem to be a fan, but if you didn't know, now you know.

Their first guys entered the UFC in 2012, so in 13 years they've produced 2 championship fighters in the UFC. In the past 13 years, Longo has had 3 champions in the UFC. Like I said, Team khabib is great, but there's many great mma teams. As for Khabib saying he recruited 30 future champs -- that's what he should say, but khabib saying it doesnt' make it guaranteed -- It needs to happen before we give him credit for that.

What they've done thus far though is absolutely amazing, though, let's see if they keep it up. They're certainly building a dynasty.

 

[MarioLemieux]

Their first guys entered the UFC in 2012, so in 13 years they've produced 2 championship fighters in the UFC. In the past 13 years, Longo has had 3 champions in the UFC. Like I said, Team khabib is great, but there's many great mma teams. As for Khabib saying he recruited 30 future champs -- that's what he should say, but khabib saying it doesnt' make it guaranteed -- It needs to happen before we give him credit for that.

What they've done thus far though is absolutely amazing, though, let's see if they keep it up. They're certainly building a dynasty.

The truth is Khabib was the first Dagi to compete in the UFC. It took time for the UFC to embrace them and the ball only got rolling after he won the title and beat Conor. Islam, Umar, Usman and Tagir are his first true predessessors and they're all fantastic.

 

[Doctor Grudge]

Their first guys entered the UFC in 2012, so in 13 years they've produced 2 championship fighters in the UFC. In the past 13 years, Longo has had 3 champions in the UFC. Like I said, Team khabib is great, but there's many great mma teams. As for Khabib saying he recruited 30 future champs -- that's what he should say, but khabib saying it doesnt' make it guaranteed -- It needs to happen before we give him credit for that.

What they've done thus far though is absolutely amazing, though, let's see if they keep it up. They're certainly building a dynasty.

It makes sense to start when Khabib joined the UFC, but it is still worth mentioning turning a journeyman Matt Serra into a UFC champion. That's pretty incredible.

Khabib is able to train way better prospects at a much younger age. Longo took a guy already in his 30s and totally restructured his striking to the point where he can out strike a champion striking specialist who was also the best striker in the division at that point (and pretty much all time).

 

[HNIC215]

The wound literally closed fight week. Surely you can see how an injured leg and back throughout his training camp would hinder his condition on fight night.

Merab had no issue with his condition on fight night.

Also, I’m sure the wound was bad and inhibited his training. However, that is still way different than a hand being broken in the middle of an ongoing match.

It’s not a 1 to 1 comparison.

We will definitely see a rematch (unless Merab retires in the next year or two).

 

[Nobru]

I believe he will beat Merab in the desert. Just wait for this rematch say by the end of this year or early next.

 

[fortheo]

Merab had no issue with his condition on fight night.

Also, I’m sure the wound was bad and inhibited his training. However, that is still way different than a hand being broken in the middle of an ongoing match.

It’s not a 1 to 1 comparison.

We will definitely see a rematch (unless Merab retires in the next year or two).

Merab was not 100 percent for this fight -- he could barely kick during the fight because the wound wasn't closing properly. His conditioning wasn't peak either because he was on antibiotics all camp. Just because Merab won while compromised, doesn't mean he had no issue with his condition in the fight.