Merab will wipe the floor with Umar if they fight

[Rapa]

Hes nowhere close to as good a striker or submission artist as Umar.

I think they tangle back and forth with the grappling for the fight but Umar will outpoint him by kicking him repeatedly from the outside.

UD.

Wanna bet?

 

[kingmob6]

It's an interesting fight up until the first round, where it's very likely we know who wins it within minutes. I'd be interested to see it stylistically, but Figgy absolutely deserves the shot more.

I mean come on, he's a former two time champion who's moved up in weight and beaten 3 guys who are all highly ranked. It's a much bigger fight than Umar who honestly only has one big name on his record. His 2nd to last fight was against a guy making his debut ffs

There is no fucking way thats a bigger fight. Umar has 3x the clout figgy has.

 

[fortheo]

Hes nowhere close to as good a striker or submission artist as Umar his only edge maybe in cardio but they are both top notch there.

I think they tangle back and forth evenly with the grappling for the fight but Umar will outpoint him by kicking him repeatedly from the outside.

UD.

What makes you think umar can keep merab on the outside? He just repetitively got in on a longer striker than umar. Umar uses the take down threat to prevent people from closing the range, will that work on merab??? Maybe if umar can get some control time. Not sure.

 

[UppercutFromHades]

I favor Umar in this. Better striking, equal ground game at least.

 

[kingmob6]

What makes you think umar can keep merab on the outside? He just repetitively got in on a longer striker than umar. Umar uses the take down threat to prevent people from closing the range, will that work on merab??? Maybe if umar can get some control time. Not sure.

Merab uses takedown threats to keep strikers in check like today. Umar will have no fear. Easy.

Merab takes down but cant keep anyone down. His grappling wont be effective

 

[MarioLemieux]

Don’t mistake Merab’s humility as him being afraid of the Umar matchup.

He knows he would wipe the floor with him. He just doesn’t think it’s fair that he had to fight Moraes, Aldo, Yan, Cejudo and O’Malley to win the title whereas Umar has only beaten Sandhagen and now he gets a shot.

There’s levels to this. Merab made Yan and O’Malley look stupid. He made them look like they don’t belong in there with them.

Umar is good on the feet and will give him trouble but did you see how thick Merab’s back is? He will wrestle fuck Umar with ease.

Merab will reign that division for a while. He has a high IQ, is strong, can wrestle and has insane cardio. He didn’t even break a sweat during that fight. He’s not gonna be beaten for a while.

You can put your delusional hopes aside, whether it’s Umar or anyone else. Merab is a monster…. And you’re gonna have to deal with it for some time.

I don't buy it Merab never freaked out about fighting anyone else before yet he is storming out of interviews when asked about Umar. He won't hold the title long.

 

[MarioLemieux]

What makes you think umar can keep merab on the outside? He just repetitively got in on a longer striker than umar. Umar uses the take down threat tOo prevent people from closing the range, will that work on merab??? Maybe if umar can get some control time. Not sure.

O'Malley was even keeping Merab on the outside with kicks and teeps at points, he even hurt him and O'Malley was scared of the td which Umar will not be.

Merab showed a weakness to kicks tonight and that's all Umar does.

 

[Rum that Chimay-Leffe]

I dream of a Merab v Volk fight

 

[fortheo]

Merab uses takedown threats to keep strikers in check like today. Umar will have no fear. Easy.

Merab takes down but cant keep anyone down. His grappling wont be effective

They both use takedowns to set up their striking. That's why the match up is so interesting. I give umar the edge in submission grappling, and he'll actually take the back, but merab's cardio and output is a real x factor, especially in what will likely be a grapple heavy fight. If it comes down to pace and conditioning, which grapple heavy fights often do, I'm not sure if Umar can keep up.

 

[fortheo]

O'Malley was even keeping Merab on the outside with kicks and teeps at points, he even hurt him and O'Malley was scared of the td which Umar will not be.

Merab showed a weakness to kicks tonight and that's all Umar does.

Omalley did that after merab had the fight won and was coasting. Shockingly, merab was the one landing kicks most of the night.

 

[RichardHarrow]

Umar is the better striker and more dangerous on the ground but man, that pace of Merab is just insane. I can see Umar matching the grappling and even out grappling Merab in round 1 for sure but can he do it for 25 minutes if he can't find the finish?

I think he can keep up for 4 rounds and then heart will allow him to endure the fifth.

Sandhagen kept him alert for the full 5 and yes although Merab poses a different set of problems it’s not something I see Umar struggling with.

 

[MarioLemieux]

Another factor is the UFC doesn't like Merab.

Those 49-48 decisions were laughable. They will get rid of him asap.

 

[TerraRayzing]

I think he can keep up for 4 rounds and then heart will allow him to endure the fifth.

Sandhagen kept him alert for the full 5 and yes although Merab poses a different set of problems it’s not something I see Umar struggling with.

We might see Umar outclassing him in the grappling and getting a submission early on or Merab proves people wrong again and does to Umar what he did to Henry.
Intriguing fight.

 

[Gilday]

There is no fucking way thats a bigger fight. Umar has 3x the clout figgy has.

You don't think a fight between Merab and a former 2 time FlyW champion is bigger than Merab vs a guy with 1 top 15 win and a famous cousin?

 

[CobraCobretti]

You can blink as much as you want when these two killers fight.

 

[ExitLUPin]

Merabs defense is not good hes hittable but his grappling pressure is so overwhelming better strikers arent able to get the shots in and Umar will know that front kick is open to hurt him too. Umars one of the only BWs Merab wont be able to impose his grappling on. Merabs striking has come a long way but Umar is more athletic, faster, cleaner in standup and of the 2 def has power advantage.

 

[RichardHarrow]

We might see Umar outclassing him in the grappling and getting a submission early on or Merab proves people wrong again and does to Umar what he did to Henry.
Intriguing fight.

What do you make of Henry and where he is in his career ? Do you think he was game that night ? ( not a challenge rather curious)

 

[Dirty Frank]

It's an interesting fight up until the first round, where it's very likely we know who wins it within minutes. I'd be interested to see it stylistically, but Figgy absolutely deserves the shot more.

I mean come on, he's a former two time champion who's moved up in weight and beaten 3 guys who are all highly ranked. It's a much bigger fight than Umar who honestly only has one big name on his record. His 2nd to last fight was against a guy making his debut ffs

One big his name on his record but there's an even bigger name... his own.

 

[AMAZINGUFC]

Umar is too well rounded for Merab. better effective as a grappler, better striking, better bjj too.

 

[TeenageMutantLesnarTurtle]

thats a fight i will definitely not be watching

Its one of the highest level fights possible in the sport right now.

Do you even like MMA?