I wouldn't say more Yair than Khabib, I'd say Khabib was the prototype and maybe the most talented but certainly the roughest around the edges. And yes it's true, Umar and Usman came from a Muay Thai background while Islam and Khabib a grappling background but you can see the Abdulmanap and Mendez influences. They are very technically and defensively sound, the level of discipline they exhibit as fighters in their mid twenties is pretty shocking and they are so well rounded. Well rounded and intelligent with it, they won't needlessly strike with someone then can grapple nor will they needlessly grapple with someone they can strike with, they will impose their skills against their opponent in the most effective and risk averse way possible. No sense of pride either, no lapses in focus, they dont take unnecessary risks. Their conditioning is top notch too, they are always dictating and fighting their fight and almost never show signs of slowing down.
I don't think their grappling is as far along but Umar was a Sambo world champion and you can tell there's a strong emphasis on physical strength, control, positional dominance. They like their single legs, their body locks, their trips and mat returns. They're super sticky on the cage when they wrestle too, its there and Khabib, Islam and Abdulmanap have worked rigorously on the grappling with them.
What Abdulmanap did was a big deal, selling everything and moving to Makhachkala to open a gym and having Usman and Umar and Islam and so many others come out to train and devote themselves to provide futures for them and many others. He even noted how in Makhachkala there were the needed resources for fighters which is to say he didn't think he could do everything on his own despite being one of the best Sambo coaches in Russia, a Judo coach and very experienced. You see Khabib and Islam working with different Olympians, I saw Umar fly out to Uzbekistan and meet with Murodjon an undefeated boxing champion. He knew they needed to be connected to the world and but rooted in their culture so the capital was the way to go. Even emphasizing that his fighters needed to learn English and train at American gyms so they could have different perspectives, fighting in Russia and the US isn't the same, the styles, body types, strengths and weaknesses can be different and also a technical striking coach was needed for them as Abdulmanap isn't a striking coach/wasn't and Dagestan has limited striking resources compared to grappling.
Lastly these guys have devoted their lives from an early age and clearly the genetics in Dagestan are very strong. Abdulmanap really tried to build a dynasty in MMA and the approach is super intentful. To circle back, sorry for rant, Yair is crazy talented but he gets hit a lot, he gasses, he gets bullied by grapplers, his fundamentals are often unsound...Hes nothing like them, even if he beat one of them this opinion wouldn't change. Umar and Usman will be world class for their entire careers whether UFC champions or not, even if they have some losses. They're too good and too overprepared and experienced for their ages. Yair is more thrown together.
