Merab is great, but lets chill brah

[Shane-O-Mac]

it was a war, not a complete blowout but Merab landing a good shot in the 5th should have secured the victory

you have to remember, half the people on this forum thought Moicana had a chance in hell lol

 

[Hymen Crusher]

I don't give a shit how you do it, if you break another fighters will it's the most impressive thing I have seen. Sugar and Umar looked like they wanted to quit after the 3rd round. These are beasts and you know they want it to be over. How is that not incredible.

If you've watched any amount of MMA you've seen people actually break in fights and be destroyed. This wasn't it. Umar looked very tired and Merab still couldn't control him on the ground and did very little damage. He won 3-2 but incredible? His cardio is incredible, that's fair, but this wasn't some legendary blowout and he slowed in the fif of his last two fights. Even Sean hurt him in the fif.

It's not the same to break bottom 15 fighters. He has beaten multiple champs and hall of famers. That's the difference. It's different to break some 2-2 fighter who is coming out of k1 with a wal mart blue belt.

 

[deviake]

I don't give a shit how you do it, if you break another fighters will it's the most impressive thing I have seen. Sugar and Umar looked like they wanted to quit after the 3rd round. These are beasts and you know they want it to be over. How is that not incredible.

It's not the same to break bottom 15 fighters. He has beaten multiple champs and hall of famers. That's the difference. It's different to break some 2-2 fighter who is coming out of k1 with a wal mart blue belt.

I'm just saiyan, I think "break" is a strong word for what happened here, people can just get tired in fights, we don't need to be hyperbolic. GSP broke BJ Penn. Umar lost 3-2 and Merab still couldn't control him on the ground and did little damage in the fif round. This wasn't some pants shitting blowout.

 

[Sean Chowdhury]

I'm still down to see Merab at the end of a bowel-releasing KO. I need a new avatar, and that would be perfect

that would be amazing, all that emoting after doing no damage was pissing me off. And the excuse-making for like 5 minutes in the rogan interview, someone kneeing his head into the orbit would be ideal

 

[Hymen Crusher]

I'm just saiyan, I think "break" is a strong word for what happened here, people can just get tired in fights, we don't need to be hyperbolic. GSP broke BJ Penn. Umar lost 3-2 and Merab still couldn't control him on the ground and did little damage in the fif round. This wasn't some pants shitting blowout.

I agree with that. But when you see these guys get off a stool and look like they do. Umar is fucking awesome. He goes through hell in that camp and it still isn't enough. I actually like Umar the most of all those guys.

 

[Hymen Crusher]

Also I do want to give Umar credit he never quit like Sean he fought exhausted and still tried. He never quit per say just gassed.

 

[fortheo]

I find the common notion that merab doesn't do damage to be overstated and a bit exagerated. He's landing tons of strikes in all of his fights, they're just not heavy. Last night, though, he was sitting on his punches more than ever and he landed a lot of good right hands from the opening bell to the last bell, and he was digging to umar's body hard throughout the fight. He also lands decent strikes off the break. He does damage through accumulation, which I realize people don't seem to appreciate much, but he's still damaging these guys and wearing them out.

 

[Dorkman]

There's a reason he's getting lots of praise. Because his strength of schedule leading up to his title win, and including this defense is legit ridiculous. And he's now unanimously bested what everyone thought was his toughest test as champion. He has very little, if anything to prove that he's legitimately a great fighter. Possibly all time great if he keeps this rolling a while longer. Wins over aldo, yan, umar, omalley, Moraes, and cejudo all in succession is one of the most impressive 6 fight runs we've seen in quite some time. And i don't see anyone in the top 10 who convincingly changes that trajectory any time soon. He's on a 12 fight winning streak. So depending how long Islam goes with his win streak, Merab could challenge for those markers too. He's into extremely elite territory with this run.

 

[Söze Aldo]

 

[SuperAlly]

I find the common notion that merab doesn't do damage to be overstated and a bit exagerated. He's landing tons of strikes in all of his fights, they're just not heavy. Last night, though, he was sitting on his punches more than ever and he landed a lot of good right hands from the opening bell to the last bell, and he was digging to umar's body hard throughout the fight. He also lands decent strikes off the break. He does damage through accumulation, which I realize people don't seem to appreciate much, but he's still damaging these guys and wearing them out.

Americans liked to pretend Joe Calzaghe was just a "slapper" yet when Jeff Lacy come over to much hype and fanfare Calzaghe f'd him up good and proper with volume

 

[SuperAlly]

There's a reason he's getting lots of praise. Because his strength of schedule leading up to his title win, and including this defense is legit ridiculous. And he's now unanimously bested what everyone thought was his toughest test as champion. He has very little, if anything to prove that he's legitimately a great fighter. Possibly all time great if he keeps this rolling a while longer. Wins over aldo, yan, umar, omalley, Moraes, and cejudo all in succession is one of the most impressive 6 fight runs we've seen in quite some time. And i don't see anyone in the top 10 who convincingly changes that trajectory any time soon. He's on a 12 fight winning streak. So depending how long Islam goes with his win streak, Merab could challenge for those markers too. He's into extremely elite territory with this run.

And in addition to all your great points, the vast majority of fans thought all Umar had to do was turn up and it was game over for Merab.

People who don't get all this are clueless. When you get 2 absolutely phenomenal fighters like Merab and Umar it's unlikely one of them is going to son the other

 

[tritestill]

Aldo, Yan, Cejudo...bro...they did not want him to get the belt, but the guy keeps going on forever. Did get tired in the fifth against Sean and Umar. Could be sign his age catching up to him and regardless of what anyone thinks...CONDITIONING IS IMPORTANT IN ATHLETICS. It's super weird to take credit away from one guy, because he's the better conditioned athlete ALWAYS and his opponents KNOW THIS and CAN'T DO ANYTHING AGAINST THAT SHOWS GREATNESS. What a horrid take to discredit someone who EARNED THIS BELT THE HARD WAY. Shame on you man what the freak.

 

[Harlekin]

Nice fence grab

 

[Greyscale]

That's infinitely more than, say, Khabbi did in the Tibau fight.

 

[h_k_m]

I think you have a point. Merab is simply not dangerous. That's what you primarily want of a fighter right?

 

[HP_Nut]

Suga did better than a Nurmagomedov.

Sherdog will ignore

Most people, including every single media score, had it 48-47 for Merab over Umar. Most media scored it 49-46 for Merab over Sean. Official scorecards had it same in both fights, 48-47 x 2, & 49-46.

Merab Dvalishvili def. Sean O'Malley :: UFC 306 :: MMA Decisions

mmadecisions.com

Merab Dvalishvili def. Umar Nurmagomedov :: UFC 311 :: MMA Decisions

mmadecisions.com

 

[SuperAlly]

Most people, including every single media score, had it 48-47 for Merab over Umar. Most media scored it 49-46 for Merab over Sean. Official scorecards had it same in both fights, 48-47 x 2, & 49-46.

Merab Dvalishvili def. Sean O'Malley :: UFC 306 :: MMA Decisions

mmadecisions.com

Merab Dvalishvili def. Umar Nurmagomedov :: UFC 311 :: MMA Decisions

mmadecisions.com

His post is like the desperation of “McGregor did better against Khabib”. Embarrassing nonsense.

Don’t know why some people publicly clown themselves like that?

 

[dschinghiskhan1]

Although he wasn't that dominant and I'm not at all a fan, it was pretty incredible to see him beat Umar. Umar is easily the 2nd best guy in the division and I don't think anyone else at 135 will ever beat him. Unless he fights in his 40s .

 

[FriskyRandy]

"Lil khabib" is a striker.

 

[ejazahmednit]

Funny how everyone loves merab now when they were all saying he was ducking and had no chance to win prior. I agree with your post, Merab didn't dominate like people are saying, round 1,2, went to umar and round 3 was close. Round 4 and 5 were really bad optics for Umar so it made people think he got his ass kicked when he was competitive for most of the fight and did better than anyone else

This is all that is there to it
Umar did well but Merab looked way better doing what he always does
Umar needs adjustments to his approach and composure while wrestling