If Merab beat Umar he will be the main candidate for GOAT of the division

[DanDragon Machi]

Yes , he's gonna be considered by many people how better than Cruz. He's not so technical or well-rounded but for sure the most efficient and difficult to beat BW ever

He is the only man who beaten decisively O'Malley and Yan in them primes with no much competition. He woud have in his resume two of the best p4p strikers and a elite grappler like Umar. He would have two legends like Aldo and Cejudo too.

 

[IronGolem007]

Yes , he's gonna be considered by many people how better than Cruz. No so thecnicall or well-rounded but for sure the most efficient and difficlt to beat BW ever

He is the only man who beaten decisively O'Malley and Yan in them primes with no much competition. He woud have in his resume two of the best p4p strikers and a elite grappler like Umar. He would have two legends like Aldo and Cejudo too.

To be real, Merab does have certain "superhuman" + "great" qualities.

Unfortunately, ENTERTAINMENT VALUE ≠ One of Them.

True Greatness is hard to define.

One aspect of Greatness = Dominance over other great fighters. Merab definitely has this.

Another aspect of Greatness = The Ability to Finish + Willingness To Take Chances, to get the finish. Merab fails here.

So yeah, people are always been argue about Merab Dvalishvili, and the truth will always be the same: Merab is truly great in some areas, utterly lacking in others.

Most truly great fighters have to be more rounded than this; they have to be both dominant finishers, have shown guts and determination through adversity, and be willing to take risks.

Merab's physical and skillful attributes allow him to "dominate people" ... but only to avoid finishes while failing to finish.

This ≠ True Greatness, when all is said and done.

.

 

[joy2day]

Beating legends that are way past their time like Aldo isn't terribly impressive.

I don't usually complain about decisions because it is hard to finish at the top level, but this guy has had decisions all the way from the bottom level. Guys like GSP and Jones have a lot of decisions against top-tier fighters, but they were mostly finishing lower-level fighters before that, unlike this guy.

Hopefully someone good comes along and tools him so he doesn't rule the division with boredom.

 

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

GOAT? He doesn't even have a title defense. But he's come a long way from losing his first two UFC fights.

 

[Eric Silva 2.0]

Yes , he's gonna be considered by many people how better than Cruz. No so thecnicall or well-rounded but for sure the most efficient and difficlt to beat BW ever

He is the only man who beaten decisively O'Malley and Yan in them primes with no much competition. He woud have in his resume two of the best p4p strikers and a elite grappler like Umar. He would have two legends like Aldo and Cejudo too.

I'm hoping Umar ends Merab's run. I like Merab but dislike him at the same time. I don't expect Merab to be able to control Umar on the ground. Umar will pick Merab apart on the feet. Merab's run ends here.

 

[cold_spring_harbor]

People truly overuse the goat term.
We have to realize that the sport has evolved, fighters today are better and more technically sound then past fighters...

So in theory a prime merab could beat a prime cejudo or DJ!!!

However this is due to the sports natural progression..

IMHO no one should be in the goat discussion short of three successful title defenses and a history of showing domination throughout many years..

Just my 2 cents

 

[DanDragon Machi]

People truly overuse the goat term.
We have to realize that the sport has evolved, fighters today are better and more technically sound then past fighters...

So in theory a prime merab could beat a prime cejudo or DJ!!!

However this is due to the sports natural progression..

IMHO no one should be in the goat discussion short of three successful title defenses and a history of showing domination throughout many years..

Just my 2 cents

I'm not convinced about this theory "fighters today are better and more technically sound then past fighters". This depends on the division, the evoluition is not a natural rule

I can see many top past fighters beating top current fighters and becoming champion

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

 

[RockyLockridge]

To be real, Merab does have certain "superhuman" + "great" qualities.

Unfortunately, ENTERTAINMENT VALUE ≠ One of Them.

True Greatness is hard to define.

One aspect of Greatness = Dominance over other great fighters. Merab definitely has this.

Another aspect of Greatness = The Ability to Finish + Willingness To Take Chances, to get the finish. Merab fails here.

So yeah, people are always been argue about Merab Dvalishvili, and the truth will always be the same: Merab is truly great in some areas, utterly lacking in others.

The way I see it, A point is a point. Doesn't matter if it's a Layup, A baseline Jumper, A freethrow or a Slam Dunk.

As long as you're winning decisively and your competition is fair, It doesn't matter If I enjoyed it.

 

[RockyLockridge]

GOAT? He doesn't even have a title defense. But he's come a long way from losing his first two UFC fights.

TO be completely fair to him, If not for Sterling, Probably would have been the champ years sooner with multiple title defenses by now.

I also think How easily he handled Yan, Cejudo and O'Malley speaks VOLUMES as those are all former champions. Yan and O'malley are in their prime or close to. Cejudo, Not so much, But Merab did beat henry at his own game. Despite Cejudo not being in his prime, Still gave sterling all he could handle

 

[IronGolem007]

The way I see it, A point is a point. Doesn't matter if it's a Layup, A baseline Jumper, A freethrow or a Slam Dunk.

As long as you're winning decisively and your competition is fair, It doesn't matter If I enjoyed it.

Respectfully disagree.

As the customer, meaning — THE ONE WHO PAYS EVERYBODY — it flocking matters to me whether "I enjoyed" what I paid for.

If I don't enjoy a performer, I'm not can be paying to see that MF again.

If you want to pay to see people you don't enjoy seeing, that is your own money mismanagement, IMO.

.

 

[cold_spring_harbor]

I'm not convinced about this theory "fighters today are better and more technically sound then past fighters". This depends on the division, the evoluition is not a natural rule

I can see many top past fighters beating top current fighters and becoming champion

I mean I'm not trying to get into a debate with you, but I don't agree

IE
Tim Sylvia, multiple time UFC HW champion, there was talk on this very board that he was the GOAT, of course this was disputed by the pride fans ....
Tim Sylvia wouldn't be a top 20 HW today

Randy couture, multiple division UFC champion, wouldn't win a belt in any division today

Chuck Liddell(My favorite fighter) 4 time defending UFC LHW champion would probably be top 5 today but most certainly wouldn't be as dominant today as he was back then


I could go on and on

But the progression of the sport is extremely noticable especially if you have followed as long as I have

 

[Azure]

Yes , he's gonna be considered by many people how better than Cruz. He's not so technical or well-rounded but for sure the most efficient and difficult to beat BW ever

He is the only man who beaten decisively O'Malley and Yan in them primes with no much competition. He woud have in his resume two of the best p4p strikers and a elite grappler like Umar. He would have two legends like Aldo and Cejudo too.

Stop with the GOAT shit. Every new champ is the future GOAT now..

 

[RockyLockridge]

Respectfully disagree.

As the customer, meaning — THE ONE WHO PAYS EVERYBODY — it flocking matters to me whether "I enjoyed" what I paid for.

If I don't enjoy a performer, I'm not can be paying to see that MF again.

If you want to pay to see people you don't enjoy seeing, that is your own money mismanagement, IMO.

.

I don't Give the UFC any of my money to begin with.

So Buyers remorse doesn't factor what I think of a fighter. I enjoy fights that are entertaining yes, But my viewership of MMA is curiosity based. I want to know who the best is. I know that wont always leave me on the edge of my seat.

Merab doesn't give me that Giddy, "THIS IS EPIC!!!" feeling, but He gives me that "...........wow, He made that look easy" type response.

 

[DanDragon Machi]

I mean I'm not trying to get into a debate with you, but I don't agree

IE
Tim Sylvia, multiple time UFC HW champion, there was talk on this very board that he was the GOAT, of course this was disputed by the pride fans ....
Tim Sylvia wouldn't be a top 20 HW today

Randy couture, multiple division UFC champion, wouldn't win a belt in any division today

Chuck Liddell(My favorite fighter) 4 time defending UFC LHW champion would probably be top 5 today but most certainly wouldn't be as dominant today as he was back then


I could go on and on

But the progression of the sport is extremely noticable especially if you have followed as long as I have

I disagree, Randy Couture had tools to beat every one current LHW, including Pereira
The current LWH champion got a split decision victory against a 40 yr old who was finished by old Glover. Prime Glove had no chance against Davis, Johnson and Gustafsson

Pirme Liddell probably would lose only by Pereira nowadays. He won guys way better than Hill, Jiri, Ratik. Numberg...

 

[Islam Imamate]

Yes , he's gonna be considered by many people how better than Cruz. He's not so technical or well-rounded but for sure the most efficient and difficult to beat BW ever

He is the only man who beaten decisively O'Malley and Yan in them primes with no much competition. He woud have in his resume two of the best p4p strikers and a elite grappler like Umar. He would have two legends like Aldo and Cejudo too.

If he can tie Aljo's three defense streak or break it I would agree with you. As is he has the longest win streak in the division's history IIRC, at least the UFC BW division.

 

[VinceArch]

I don't think beating Umar alone qualifies him as GOAT at bantam weight but it's definitely a step in the right direction.

 

[SuperNerd]

Until the next guy defends the belt I guess.

 

[GrantB13]

Isn't it a little bullshit when you can get in the GOAT discussion with one title defense? Doesn't that make the alarm bells go off? It should.

 

[Streeter]

Needs 2 more good wins to supplant Cruz