does Umar lack heart or was it lack of experience?

[Misanthropist]

It’s the receding hairline. Nothing like other Dagi top calibre with full hair.

 

[Thepaintbucket]

Merab has top tier cardio and stylistically he doesn't commit to heavy punches which won't be a big drain on his gas tank.

With all things considered I thought it was a pretty close fight.

If there was one mistake Umar made it was wanting to only strike with Merab. Made him super predictable with his approach. Should've grappled early on to establish dominance, pace and dictate where the fight goes

 

[Doctor Grudge]

He doesnt lack heart, he just got tired.

 

[HeffDoesWant]

At 2 minutes left in rd5 it was anyone's fight,

Then Merab landed a great punch, but without that single punch we could have had AND NEW.

Umar will fight for a title again.

 

[HHJ]

At 2 minutes left in rd5 it was anyone's fight

This is true.

 

[Trabaho]

Broken hand and more mature cardio by Merab

 

[Hellowhosthat]

Relatively speaking, of course. Islam proved that he can keep moving forward in the first Volk and the Dustin fight even if he is tired but Umar was visibly exhausted, couldn't maintain a good poker face and he looked defeated, especially in the championship rounds. He beat Cory in a five round fight but he was mostly dictating the whole thing and was never pressured like he was this time.
Or was it just a lack of experience, against the worst fucking guy possible in Merab?
I like Umar tho. I can see him becoming champion as he is young but curious to see, now that he lost his 0, whether he will get better like Islam did or will this sorta damage him moving forward.

The pace Volk and Dustin set isn't the same as fighting Merab. I don't know if Islam could stand up to it if he couldn't get him out of there early if they were the same size either.

Merab literally has the best cardio in the history of the sport.

 

[MarioLemieux]

The pace Volk and Dustin set isn't the same as fighting Merab. I don't know if Islam could stand up to it if he couldn't get him out of there early if they were the same size either.

Merab literally has the best cardio in the history of the sport.

Islam's grappling, submission and top control is levels above Umars though, just like Khabib's (top control) is levels above his.

We have yet to see Merab against that tier of grappler.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

Islam's grappling, submission and top control is levels above Umars though, just like Khabib's (top control) is levels above his.

We have yet to see Merab against that tier of grappler.

Well that's how he'd get him out of there early. Merab is gonna make you work to hold him down, so whoever you are you're going to be tired late. Islam could absolutely catch him in something early.

That's why my advice for people who wanted to bet Umar on this fight was to bet his R1/R2 finish as he was never winning a decision.

 

[jeff7b9]

MMA fights are only 15 - 25 minutes. So a lot of people don’t realize this. But to be fair, the fights being so short means cardio and pacing play a smaller role. Anyone can win in the beginning of a fight.

Perhaps I take it for granted but anyone who did high school wrestling knows 2 minutes can be a LONG time let alone, 5, 15 or 25, if those minutes are spent competing against a well trained well conditioned human in a physical battle of wills.

 

[skylolow]

I'd say a little experience with a guy you can't break and breaking your hand in the 1st round usually doesn't end well for you.

Can't wait to see the rematch.

 

[outbreak92]

Merab is man first and top level high level

 

[Iroh]

Anybody else think of the tin Woodman from the Wizard or Oz, when people talk about a lack of heart?

 

[Kwic]

Umar is elite. He just needs to work on his cardio for a 5 rounder. I knew going into this fight that he may have cardio issues because you can see him breathing heavily as he speaks during his post fight interviews against previous opponents

He needs to speak more at the gym.

 

[fortheo]

At 2 minutes left in rd5 it was anyone's fight,

Then Merab landed a great punch, but without that single punch we could have had AND NEW.

Umar will fight for a title again.

True, but round one was similar, though. Round one was leaning Merab's way until umar landed one big punch that stole it. Even when both guys were fresh, they were very evenly matched.

 

[Reileyb]

His striking and grappling were enough to win the first two rounds. Once his cardio started to suffer, it brought the other two aspects down.

That's true, but I also thought those rounds were very close as well.
If Umar rematches Merab and starts slower to save energy but takes the same approach otherwise, he 100% loses those rounds.

Umar is definitely good enough to make the correct game plan adjustments and win, I'm sure we will see in the future if he does or not.

 

[Brandino]

What a dumb thread... maybe he was tired from being pressured for 5 rounds in a row? 99% of the fighters would of slowed down.

 

[ScholarDayo]

He tired himself out shooting those failed takedowns.

 

[xhaydenx]

Canmar lacked both.

 

[MisfitsBR]

people talking about the 5th, that it was close until the end...

but the first round too, Merab was winning until the last minute that he just received a good punch

and for one judge he still got that round