Hot Take I don't think Merab will ever be the same

[ShaggyDoyle]

Once you show that you are beatable then it's really hard to keep that level of confidence. I'm not sure there are many UFC fighters that loss their title, gained it back then went right back to having long title defenses. I think even if he beats Yan in the rematch, people are realizing that the perfect way to take him down is through body shots.

 

[Pequeño Corey]

Time will tell. Not unusual for a man to be emotional after an ass kicking like that.

 

[HI SCOTT NEWMAN]

Who knows, Merab seems like a very focused and determined guy and he already beat Yan before, its won't even be a rematch if they fight again, it will be the trilogy fight, he took some great body shots and never dropped from them so I didn't see a big weakness at all, just maybe needs to block better with the arm lower.

 

[Get To Da Choppa]

Once you show that you are beatable then it's really hard to keep that level of confidence. I'm not sure there are many UFC fighters that loss their title, gained it back then went right back to having long title defenses. I think even if he beats Yan in the rematch, people are realizing that the perfect way to take him down is through body shots.

It's not like Merab has never lost before. He's a consummate professional and will be back stronger

 

[HHJ]

Most people didnt think Yan was gonna be shit after his loss to Merab, so Merab shouldnt keep his head down. This is a high level game these two are playin here.

 

[HatKick]

I don't think he's mentally or physically broken, I just think Yan is a terrible matchup for him when he's healthy. Yan gonna spank him again.

 

[Kung Fu Kowboy]

Merab has top notch Fight IQ.... I expect a completely different game plan for the trilogy.

 

[SuperNerd]

I hope youre right ts.

 

[Cameron]

Once you show that you are beatable then it's really hard to keep that level of confidence. I'm not sure there are many UFC fighters that loss their title, gained it back then went right back to having long title defenses. I think even if he beats Yan in the rematch, people are realizing that the perfect way to take him down is through body shots.

GSP did it, also if you count Jon Jones being stripped and getting it back, Cain also lost it won it back and defended it. However you are right its very rare to win a title back let alone defend it.

 

[Cameron]

Merab has top notch Fight IQ.... I expect a completely different game plan for the trilogy.

Does he? Or is he such a cardio freak that he can just drown most people?

 

[Kung Fu Kowboy]

Does he? Or is he such a cardio freak that he can just drown most people?

I would love to see a post Serra , GSP run from him...

 

[HHJ]

Does he? Or is he such a cardio freak that he can just drown most people?

Thats what it seems like.

When he fought Umar, that fight was fuckin 2-2 until the very last min where Merab just fuckin exploded into Super Saiyan 5 out of nowhere, for no fuckin reason.

 

[ComfortablyNumb55]

Poatan just did it.

 

[humdizzle]

he is still a very good fighter

but yeah i think guys like Yan and Umar (when healthy) have his number. Stuff his TDs, conserve energy, and make it a striking match.

Prime aldo would also probably beat him... even old Aldo stuffed all his TDs.

 

[Oscar Madison]

Sherdog "sees holes in his game"

 

[El Fernas]

He wasnt undefeated, he had a very good run, but in the end of the day, he already knew what is like to lose a fight 4 times before that, will he ever be the same or have another run? Doubt it, he is almost 35 years old, decline starts somewhere, and his style was also dependant on his cardio, which can only go down from here.

 

[Verderglen23]

I do think a blueprint is out on Merab now. It just took Yan to show what works and what doesnt.

 

[WoozyFailGuy]

Once you show that you are beatable then it's really hard to keep that level of confidence. I'm not sure there are many UFC fighters that loss their title, gained it back then went right back to having long title defenses.

Yan just did that to Merab, minus the long defending part I suppose.
Yan was on a 3 fight skid and came back to win his title.
It's only over when you say it's over!

 

[Harlekin]

Merab is 35 in a few days. Usually an age at 135 at which you get a few losses.
But given that his striking is still not that technical, suffering from a decade of Serra/Longo.
And his cardio is still god tier. He could still improve in that regard.
Him being not very smart hinders him though.

Even with a badly damaged nose, he went 5 rounds without tiring.
His takedowns seemed weaker though, due to lactid acid building up.

 

[Bork Neslar]

If you say so.