Media Islam, Usman and Umur (64-2) make me realize how special Khabib is

[MarioLemieux]

Islam's reliance on his "superior striking" has cost him many beatings, wars and even losses. It's not an argument that you're better than Khabib because you have more dynamic striking. Most of the UFC has more dynamic striking than Khabib, but he ran through them. In fact, striking is something Islam needs to risk because he's an inferior grappler.

Once again I'm stating all over sentiment and it all points to Khabib being better and haters have a problem with reality.

Funny you mention DC, he is a friend and commentator of both guys, obviously he's not going to come in the middle, but he did a bit with Chael a couple weeks ago and said Khabib was the GOAT over Islam. I doubt his opinion changed because Islam beat Moicano.

- Their coach Javier says Khabib beats Islam
- Islam says Khabib beat Islam
- the limited videos we have show Khabib handling Islam
- Islam has gone life or death with Poirier, Wade, Adriano Martins, Arman, Volk, and Mansour
- Islam has gotten dropped many times
- Islam has gotten beaten up many times and taken facial damage
- Islam has gotten finished and has an L

There's pretty much zero reason to choose Islam over Khabib at this point unless you're a salty hater other than title defences. Khabib is still the better fighter.

The subtle differences in their grappling techniques give Khabib a massive edge. It's the difference between GOAT tier and elite.

 

[El Fernas]

That was pretty close to be 63-3 from Hughes not gonna lie, Khabib was special between them, and at this point Islam looks better than Usman Nurmagomedov, better standup than Khabib imo.

 

[haj02]

He looked mortal against Al Laquinta of all people though.

Stop listening to mush brained Joe Rogan. Khabib 43-50'd Iaquinta, you don't get a much more dominant score card.

 

[Superzorro]

Islam's reliance on his "superior striking" has cost him many beatings, wars and even losses. It's not an argument that you're better than Khabib because you have more dynamic striking. Most of the UFC has more dynamic striking than Khabib, but he ran through them. In fact, striking is something Islam needs to risk because he's an inferior grappler.

Once again I'm stating all over sentiment and it all points to Khabib being better and haters have a problem with reality.

Funny you mention DC, he is a friend and commentator of both guys, obviously he's not going to come in the middle, but he did a bit with Chael a couple weeks ago and said Khabib was the GOAT over Islam. I doubt his opinion changed because Islam beat Moicano.

- Their coach Javier says Khabib beats Islam
- Islam says Khabib beat Islam
- the limited videos we have show Khabib handling Islam
- Islam has gone life or death with Poirier, Wade, Adriano Martins, Arman, Volk, and Mansour
- Islam has gotten dropped many times
- Islam has gotten beaten up many times and taken facial damage
- Islam has gotten finished and has an L

There's pretty much zero reason to choose Islam over Khabib at this point unless you're a salty hater other than title defences. Khabib is still the better fighter.

The subtle differences in their grappling techniques give Khabib a massive edge. It's the difference between GOAT tier and elite.

All I've ever heard Javier Mendez say is that training between them was back and forth. And that Islam was the only person in the training room at that weight who had ever bested Khabib.

 

[markys00]

Khabib hasn't fought anyone like Paul Hughes? Prime Gaethje, RDA and Poirier would kill Paul Hughes what a dumb statement.

Khabib would dominate little man Volk in the wrestling. Even Islam dominated Volk in the wrestling besides round 5 overall and Khabib smokes Islam in a grapple.

Lololololol. U khabib nuthuggers are deranged

 

[MarioLemieux]

All I've ever heard Javier Mendez say is that training between them was back and forth. And that Islam was the only person in the training room at that weight who had ever bested Khabib.

I like how you used the word bested when what he actually said was he was the only guy he ever saw even take a round off Khabib in a spar, which means Khabib always gets the best of him, outside of a round here and there.

 

[MarioLemieux]

"There's no secret I've always said I've never never seen Khabib lose a sparring session, but Islam is the only guy I've ever seen take rounds off him"

In plain english.

Now make up some more excuses.

 

[moosaev]

Khabib hasn't fought anybody like Merab who fought Umar, Hughes who fought Usman and Volk who fought Islam.

He looked mortal against Al Laquinta of all people though.

Who the fuck has Paul Hughes beaten? He’s a good fighter but his resume is literally non-existent. He was in Cage Warriors like 5 mins ago and then got an upset victory over AJ McKee, that’s his entire career. To say he’s a tougher test than Gaethje, Poirier, RDA, and Conor is delusional. One of the most casual takes I’ve ever read on sherdog lol.

 

[moosaev]

Lololololol. U khabib nuthuggers are deranged

You really think Paul Hughes is a better fighter on a resume than prime Gaethje or prime DP or prime RDA? The Khabib derangement syndrome is really something else.

 

[JustOnce]

Who the fuck has Paul Hughes beaten? He’s a good fighter but his resume is literally non-existent. He was in Cage Warriors like 5 mins ago and then got an upset victory over AJ McKee, that’s his entire career. To say he’s a tougher test than Gaethje, Poirier, RDA, and Conor is delusional. One of the most casual takes I’ve ever read on sherdog lol.

Aspinall was fighting in Cage Warriors about a year before he fought Andrei.

It's not always who you fought, you noob.

 

[moosaev]

Aspinall was fighting in Cage Warriors about a year before he fought Andrei.

It's not always who you fought, you noob.

What has Paul Hughes done to say he’s better than the fighters I mentioned? He’s literally done fuck all. Dustin Poirier has had better performances than that against better fighters than Usman (DP versus Holloway for the interim title for example). And 5 months after that career performance he got steam rolled by Khabib. To say Hughes is a tougher test than DP is clownish.

 

[JustOnce]

What has Paul Hughes done to say he’s better than the fighters I mentioned? He’s literally done fuck all. Dustin Poirier has had better performances than that against better fighters than Usman (DP versus Holloway for the interim title for example). And 5 months after that career performance he got steam rolled by Khabib. To say Hughes is a tougher test than DP is clownish.

I have eyes.

I can't say the same about Andrei because he fought just incomparably better competition than Khabib ever did, but he fought the similar level of competition that Khabib did, then I could've said the same about Aspinall though he hasn't fought nobody yet.

Holloway at LW better than Usman? lol

Hughes is way tougher fight than Dustin "I will act dead when charles has my back and do a funny roll" Poirier.

 

[moosaev]

I have eyes.

I can't say the same about Andrei because he fought just incomparably better competition than Khabib ever did, but he fought the similar level of competition that Khabib did, then I could've said the same about Aspinall though he hasn't fought nobody yet.

Holloway at LW better than Usman? lol

Hughes is way tougher fight than Dustin "I will act dead when charles has my back and do a funny roll" Poirier.

“I have eyes”….Loool. Case closed. You’re just going off “feels”. Hughes shouldn’t get credit for what you think might happen in mythical fights, he needs to prove what he is over the long haul, same with Usman. Pretenders can have great performances over short periods against lower competition (Kevin Lee), true contenders have to prove out over time against the very best (Dustin Poirier). You keep bringing up Aspinall, Aspinall has proved he’s the real deal, Hughes hasn’t. To claim that Hughes is already a better win on the resume than what Khabib has done is casual “prisoner of the moment” thinking.

 

[Siver!]

These guys are all amazing, future GOAT's possibly, but none look anywhere near as dominant as Khabib who whoops them in the sparring room with superior grappling and top control. They've all taken beatings even though they usually win but Khabib never has.

Lot's of fighters in MMA are well rounded, and Khabib's effective striking was more limited, but he had a way more controlling ground game which is what made him dominate.

This is the most sensible approach to this set of fighters.

Instead of looking for the next Khabib clone or a spiritual successor, then being upset when the fighter isn't quite as watertight, just appreciate Khabib for what he is/was.

Dude was a hell of a fighter, retired undefeated, and dominated the competition he faced.

Can't ask for more!

 

[JustOnce]

“I have eyes”….Loool. Case closed. You’re just going off “feels”. Hughes shouldn’t get credit for what you think might happen in mythical fights, he needs to prove what he is over the long haul, same with Usman. Pretenders can have great performances over short periods against lower competition (Kevin Lee), true contenders have to prove out over time against the very best (Dustin Poirier). You keep bringing up Aspinall, Aspinall has proved he’s the real deal, Hughes hasn’t. To claim that Hughes is already a better win on the resume than what Khabib has done is casual “prisoner of the moment” thinking.

lmaaaaao man I've never been on Kevin Lee train even a single second in my life lol that was so funny lololol

no i meant Hughes is a much, much, much tougher fight than Poirer ever was and will be.

And Aspinall was good when he fought Andrei, in spite of he was like a year removed from fighting Cage Warriors, not because he fought nobody, but because he was good.

Rankings are overated as hell.

For example, guys like Shavkat, or even DDP, they aren't that far removed from fighting in a lesser orgs. But they were on a run and moved up quickly. They were good when they were coming up the ranks when they fought nobody in spite of them having fought nobodies. Same with Aspinall.

If you are great, you are great. It doens't matter if you are fighting in the backyards of Cancun, or if you fought the best of the best.

 

[moosaev]

lmaaaaao man I've never been on Kevin Lee train even a single second in my life lol that was so funny lololol

no i meant Hughes is a much, much, much tougher fight than Poirer ever was and will be.

And Aspinall was good when he fought Andrei, in spite of he was like a year removed from fighting Cage Warriors, not because he fought nobody, but because he was good.

Rankings are overated as hell.

For example, guys like Shavkat, or even DDP, they aren't that far removed from fighting in a lesser orgs. But they were on a run and moved up quickly. They were good when they were coming up the ranks when they fought nobody in spite of them having fought nobodies. Same with Aspinall.

If you are great, you are great. It doens't matter if you are fighting in the backyards of Cancun, or if you fought the best of the best.

“If you’re great you’re great”……except Khabib because he hasn’t proven it against wrestlers. Looooooooool. Don’t you see how you just agreed with the main claim of Khabib fans? Khabib’s in cage performances demonstrated his greatness, the “he hasn’t fought xyz fighter” is irrelevant, everyone saw his greatness. You’re willing to use that argument for Hughes but not Khabib, even though Khabib demonstrated far greater abilities and dominance than Hughes could ever dream of.

 

[MarioLemieux]

no i meant Hughes is a much, much, much tougher fight than Poirer ever was and will be.

Paul Hughes?

 

[JustOnce]

“If you’re great you’re great”……except Khabib because he hasn’t proven it against wrestlers. Looooooooool. Don’t you see how you just agreed with the main claim of Khabib fans? Khabib’s in cage performances demonstrated his greatness, the “he hasn’t fought xyz fighter” is irrelevant, everyone saw his greatness. You’re willing to use that argument for Hughes but not Khabib, even though Khabib demonstrated far greater abilities and dominance than Hughes could ever dream of.

man, I'm not saying nothing about khabib, the thread was about how these fights with those three guys where they struggled a bit make Khabib look better or something.

It doesn't. He never fought guys like that. It's a fact. Never fought guys like Volk, Merab nor Hughes.

 

[JustOnce]

Paul Hughes?

Paul Hughes indeed.

 

[JustOnce]

But anyway it is just going in circles. Let's say we agree to disagree.

Khabib had a hell of a career. Respect.