Missing Khabib

[TriangleMonkey]

People shouldn’t hate the fact that he left on his own terms, left healthy, and is pursuing a better life. The haters would be there if he stayed or left regardless.


Take notes fighters, leave on a high note and don’t turn back. The fans never want them to leave but we all hate to see them stick around too long too. And we still hate LoL.

 

[TempleoftheDog]

Is it just me or the UFC isn’t the same without Khabib? The aura that he had was something else. The anticipation of his fights, the domination, the hilarious commentary.. shit just isn’t the same. It was a dark day when he left the sport.

Straight up, man.

You NEVER actually saw GSP, Lesnar, Ronda, Silva, or Jones 10-15 years ago in real time, did you?

Khabib.. You can’t be serious?

Apart from Conor the people I just named ruled the ppv sales back in the day.

Anytime those people fought it was a big deal. UFC 100 had Lesnar, and GSP defending their belts. And that scrub Jones was on the prelims, iirc.

The UFC made a brand new program called “Primetime”. 3 one half hour episodes on regular/cable TV (Spike iirc).

Once episode per week leading up to UFC 94. And the biggest fight in the UFC up until that time. A TRUE Super Fight. The LW champ moving up to fight the WW champ.

“To the death.. Georges”.

Back then they used to have “phone in polls”. LIVE so you could “vote” on the massive shit that was about to come down. 66% said Penn was going to beat GSP.

The reasoning was. Because GSP won a split with BJ in 2006?

Anybody with a clue SAW BJ piece GSP up in round 1. Battered and bleeding.. But GSP rebounded and won rounds 2, and 3. And won the fight by SD.

Thanks for telling everyone reading this thread that your “join date” does NOT jive with your knowledge of the UFC.

True story.

People looked forward to each card, back in the day. Because we only saw one card per month if we were lucky. Until TUF exploded.

Then we started seeing “FN” level cards once a month or some shit . As well as the PPV.

OGs remember the “Pearl of the Palms”. And the cards at “Mandalay Bay”.

Rooms with about 5000 seats.

What did Khabib have to do with ANY of that?

Believe it or not. Neither Conor, or Khabib invented the Zuffa era UFC.

 

[cws80us]

I think it's more just lack of starpower and compelling match-ups.

 

[NoSmilez]

If Khabib stuck around then he would probably would have lost or declined. He picked the right time exit. He is already an athlete with back and knee issues.

 

[Juzie]

Nah that was such a shit era. All the belts being held hostage by everyone who never wanted to defend them. For all the shit I talk about Izzy, I love how active that man was as a champ.

 

[Edward Henry Greb]

Is it just me or the UFC isn’t the same without Khabib? The aura that he had was something else. The anticipation of his fights, the domination, the hilarious commentary.. shit just isn’t the same. It was a dark day when he left the sport.

It's not just you.

 

[jx820]

I wish he'd have stuck around and rode out a little more of his career, but I don't miss him. I sort appreciate that he basically disappeared and isn't really looming over the commentary on the division as much anymore

 

[Goutfather]

I disagree, he dominated what was given to him. I truly believe he could have done the same to any LW in history. I respect you opinion even though I disagree.

he can only be rated at the level at which he performed. the problem is, because he retired so early, some people want to give him credit for fights he never had. this leads to a situation where his rating exceeds the level he performed at. hence he has become overrated. he was still obviously a very good fighter. just not quite the mythical figure his fans sometimes portray him as.

and i respect your opinion as well.

 

[Goutfather]

I wish he'd have stuck around and rode out a little more of his career, but I don't miss him. I sort appreciate that he basically disappeared and isn't really looming over the commentary on the division as much anymore

that’s a good point. i respect that he just kinda fuqqed off and didn’t pretend to be the president of mma.

 

[Neck&Neck]

It hasn’t been the same since the Muscle Shark left to be honest

 

[Juzie]

It hasn’t been the same since the Muscle Shark left to be honest

Since Tank Abbot left....it's became way too woke!

 

[RonDante]

No it's not like he fought much to begin with. And people act like he was an exciting fighter, which he was not.

And we have Islam. They are similar, not same, but Islam is just as skilled. I don't think as big or strong though.

Islam is more willing to strike, better on the mic and more active, really just an upgraded khabib

 

[cheesus]

Send him a love letter then

 

[moosaev]

it has to do with the fact that he’s massively overrated. but he actually did ok at ufc.

It has to do with “insert my completely subjective opinion” lol. You say it like it’s a fact.

Khabib gets hate because there’s a large cohort of fans who’ve been jonesing to see him lose, and they simply will never forgive him for depriving them of that opportunity. As a form of retaliation they attempt to tarnish his legacy at every opportunity. That’s why his name comes up completely unprompted. “Fighter X is already greater than Khabib” etc.

 

[Bushwhacker B]

I mean, who in the division can realistically challenge Islam now? Idk if he's as dominant as Khabib, but he's in the ballpark. He's got better standup, but likely isn't quite as good grappling; prime Islam v prime Khabib would be an amazing battle

 

[richardjohnson]

Everyone misses Khabib, even his most passionate haters.

 

[boyer]

Meh. Didn't really have an exciting style, wasn't particularly charismatic and only fought at one weight class.

 

[gracie_barra_samurai]

Meh. Didn't really have an exciting style, wasn't particularly charismatic and only fought at one weight class.

He had the most natural charisma of any major mma guy tbf. Even with the language barrier he was witty and funny as hell.

Khabib may be gone, but he's still with us, living rent free in the head of @d1wrestler

 

[Jesus H. Sherdog]

I miss him in the sense that I would have liked to see him fight on longer. I think he could have had success at WW if he wanted to open up LW for Islam. I enjoyed his fights very much and he’s one of the best I’ve seen so of course I’d like to have seen him fight more.

Some of his fans are the absolute worst though. The ones who act like he is infallible, invincible, and perfect lol. Fanboys are weird enough as it is.

 

[fortheo]

I don't miss his one title fight a year pacing in one of the most stacked divisions.