If Merab successfully defends his title for a 4th time this year, how do you rank him all time compared to Khabib

[Benoitthegr8]

I’m of the opinion that it’s impossible to compare fighters of different era, class, and most of all sample size. Both are great in their own way.

 

[cws80us]

In this pansy era where fighting twice a year is considered "active", it's great to have a guy fighting 3 much less 4 times a year and a division champion to boot. The only other current champion who has fought more than once this year is Pereira, with 2 fights.

 

[GrantB13]

Would be the first UFC fighter to ever defend the belt 4 times in one year.

Yeah, but I guess I don't see how defending 4 times in one year directly compares to what Khabib did throughout his career.

 

[markg171]

He was already ahead

 

[markg171]

Yeah, but I guess I don't see how defending 4 times in one year directly compares to what Khabib did throughout his career.

Defending more times in a single year than Khabib did in 3 years doesn't compare for you?

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

Bantamweight is ineligible for my rankings

 

[methrogenn]

It is absolutely wild to me how literally everyone is compared to Khabib, Khabib beat the piss out of people & had incredible skills, Merab is an energizer bunny who repeats the same thing over and over again because he doesn't get tired, that's his great skill, not striking, BJJ, grappling or wrestling. He has some 100 failed TDs in his last 4 fights and somehow Merab fans love that.

Merab as a guy is endearing and funny but I will never understand how people can enjoy his actual fights.

 

[jnes]

Not close. One guy beat the shit out of people, finished all of his title defenses, never lost, and only lost 2 rounds in his career where nothing happened. The other has more losses than finishes, gets rocked all the time and just spams TDs he does nothing with until the clock runs out.

One has 3 elite wins in his entire career, the other got 3 elite wins in a year alone...

 

[GrantB13]

Defending more times in a single year than Khabib did in 3 years doesn't compare for you?

The why wouldn't 3 defenses in a year count already? Or even two? My point is what's the magic behind 4 in a year compared to Khabib? I don't see how the DIRECTLY conflict. Khabib was also undefeated and never in danger.

 

[markg171]

The why wouldn't 3 defenses in a year count already? Or even two? My point is what's the magic behind 4 in a year compared to Khabib? I don't see how the DIRECTLY conflict. Khabib was also undefeated and never in danger.

I don't believe you really don't understand why MORE defences in LESS time isn't more impressive.

You're a liar.

 

[JKS]

To be ranked over Khabib, it's not so much about getting over the stats and wins, it's about getting over the propaganda and marketing machine.

 

[Kratos94]

I know he has a few losses, but Aldo, Yan (maybe x2 soon), Moraes (he was shot tho), Cejudo, Nurmagomedov and O'Malley x2 is more impressive than McGregor, Poirier and Gaethje.

 

[Pequeño Corey]

Khabib not even the GOAT LW anymore, let alone P4P GOAT

 

[GrantB13]

I don't believe you really don't understand why MORE defences in LESS time isn't more impressive.

You're a liar.

Wouldn't the same number of defenses in less time also be worth more in itself? It's not JUST about number of defenses in a given timeframe. The OP is asking how their entire body of work compares. Khabib is 29-0. Merab has 3 losses and two of them being his first two UFC fights.

THAT'S why I don't think 4 in less time is hugely significant and is enough to push him over the edge. It's meaningful, but at the same time, who's to say Khabib couldn't have fought more often if it weren't for injury or personal choice? Could he have physically done it if he was motivated to without injury? I don't know.

I simply don't think time between defenses is a reflection of a skill issue. The quality, diversity, longevity, and quantity carry more weight than the rate so that's how I'm looking at this idea.

 

[GrantB13]

I know he has a few losses, but Aldo, Yan (maybe x2 soon), Moraes (he was shot tho), Cejudo, Nurmagomedov and O'Malley x2 is more impressive than McGregor, Poirier and Gaethje.

You're mixing non-title fights compared to Khabib's title-fight-only stats. That's not an honest comparison.

 

[markg171]

Wouldn't the same number of defenses in less time also be worth more in itself? It's not JUST about number of defenses in a given timeframe. The OP is asking how their entire body of work compares. Khabib is 29-0. Merab has 3 losses and two of them being his first two UFC fights.

THAT'S why I don't think 4 in less time is hugely significant and is enough to push him over the edge. It's meaningful, but at the same time, who's to say Khabib couldn't have fought more often if it weren't for injury or personal choice? Could he have physically done it if he was motivated to without injury? I don't know.

I simply don't think time between defenses is a reflection of a skill issue. The quality, diversity, longevity, and quantity carry more weight than the rate so that's how I'm looking at this idea.

The problem is you don't already have Merab ahead of Khabib as is like he clearly is.

So of course a 4th title defence does nothing for you if you've got Khabib on a pedestal like you clearly do.

 

[GrantB13]

The problem is you don't already have Merab ahead of Khabib as is like he clearly is.

So of course a 4th title defence does nothing for you if you've got Khabib on a pedestal like you clearly do.

I don't think about it much to be honest. I never compare champions - especially across weight divisions - myself anymore unless I feel like read a thread or a comment first. They're too subjective and hypothetical.

 

[Xoleth]

Total bullshit.

What did Khabib do to win the Tibau fight? He himself was shocked when the decision was announced. No one thought he won back then, so it took years of brainwash and propaganda for everyone to now be like "yeah, sure he won, no doubt about that."

The quality of opponents is NOT close since 25 out of 29 Khabib's opponents were cans.

1. He ws constantly attacking. That's what he did. Tibau just stood there.
2. It was a shit fight, there was no damage, except Tibau's eye.
3. Watch the fight. I don't give a shit about the stats or the "no one thought he won back then", Tibau barely touched him. He had a takedown with 1 second control.

 

[Greyscale]

1. He ws constantly attacking. That's what he did. Tibau just stood there.
2. It was a shit fight, there was no damage, except Tibau's eye.
3. Watch the fight. I don't give a shit about the stats or the "no one thought he won back then", Tibau barely touched him. He had a takedown with 1 second control.

1. Failed on all 13 takedown attempts and got taken down himself
2. Got outstruck in 2 rounds out of 3 where Tibau landed almost twice as many strikes
3. You don't seem to give a shit about other stats too because you seem to be a braindead nuthugger lol

 

[SuperAlly]

Merab is fighting Yan in December. If he beats him, he’ll have four title defenses in a single year. In Khabib’s entire UFC career, he only had three. In one year, Merab could potentially surpass what took Khabib his whole career. I don’t see how Merab isn’t immediately ahead of Khabib on everyone’s all-time list if/when that happens, there's a strong argument he’s arguably there.