Now that was a fight!

[BowserJr]

Props to both Yan and Merab for making it a great fight. Moreso to Yan of course since most Merab fights are just takedown spam contests. Light sparring + wrestling at best.
I will say Merabs style of 99% wrestling (rather than fighting) style is better than just "controlling" on the ground.

Anyways, last night's fight was the most entertaining Merab fight I've seen. And it was not just rock em sock em robots.

Yan is just a joy to watch. This fight and his fight with Sandhagen are 2 of my favorites in recent years.

Yan is super technical AND comes to fight. He doesnt just run away and avoid fighting. And he doesnt just stand and wang.

He truly shows what high level FIGHTING skill is all about. I wish most fighters fought like that.

Unfortunately most prefer to barely do anything and are happy to just avoid, clinch and hold because its "smarter".

Cheers to Yan

 

[Senzo Tanaka]

That might have been one of the greatest displays of cardio I've seen in a fight. They went HARD for 5 rounds and never felt like they got tired. That's true championship caliber fighting which we don't get that often. It felt like we were actually watching the 2 best fighters fighting each other.

 

[BowserJr]

That might have been one of the greatest displays of cardio I've seen in a fight. They went HARD for 5 rounds and never felt like they got tired. That's true championship caliber fighting which we don't get that often. It felt like we were actually watching the 2 best fighters fighting each other.

It certainly did feel that way!

Interestingly during the decision announcement it looked like Merab was breathing harder.... pure madness

 

[World eater]

It felt like we were actually watching the 2 best fighters fighting each other.

Amen, sherbro. I agree.

 

[BowserJr]

BTW did anyone catch the sneaky downward hellbow to the forearms by Yan?

I think that helped him with TDD. After rnd 1 Merab was holding the arm Yan targeted. Wouldn't be surprised if he hurt the nerve or tendon. If true I could see that diminishing Merabs ability to grip and grab

 

[RichardHarrow]

Elite level combat. Props to both.

 

[Neck&Neck]

Stand and Wang, that’s a new one

 

[Gang Sign Luke]

That was the best fight I've seen this year.

 

[10000yearsold]

Wild, it didn’t feel this way to me at all.

Merab seemed zapped of power. Yan seemed his usual low work rate self..

 

[don't ask]

It felt like we were actually watching the 2 best fighters fighting each other.

 

[Morris88]

Wild, it didn’t feel this way to me at all.

Merab seemed zapped of power. Yan seemed his usual low work rate self..

Yan low work rate? Brother he never stopped working

 

[10000yearsold]

Yan low work rate? Brother he never stopped working

At what? Throwing a single jab? A single hook? A single body kick?
The hardiest he worked on anything was not being taken down

 

[HHJ]

BTW did anyone catch the sneaky downward hellbow to the forearms by Yan?

Merab did not react well to those at all

 

[BowserJr]

At what? Throwing a single jab? A single hook? A single body kick?
The hardiest he worked on anything was not being taken down

Yan literally took Merab down more, he probably broke his rib with kicks, broke his nose for sure, even slammed him on his head.

With a takedown machine you're not gonna spam combos. He threw plenty of 2-3 strike combos not much more which was smart.

Sorry it wasnt a tough man comp lol

Still way better than 99% of merab fights in which merab does TD only with no offense and no ability to control

 

[jnes]

Wild, it didn’t feel this way to me at all.

Merab seemed zapped of power. Yan seemed his usual low work rate self..

Weak bait

 

[Gamer2k4]

BTW did anyone catch the sneaky downward hellbow to the forearms by Yan?

I think that helped him with TDD. After rnd 1 Merab was holding the arm Yan targeted. Wouldn't be surprised if he hurt the nerve or tendon. If true I could see that diminishing Merabs ability to grip and grab

Merab was rubbing that forearm as he returned to his corner after the round, too.

 

[TheMMAnalyst]

BTW did anyone catch the sneaky downward hellbow to the forearms by Yan?

I think that helped him with TDD. After rnd 1 Merab was holding the arm Yan targeted. Wouldn't be surprised if he hurt the nerve or tendon. If true I could see that diminishing Merabs ability to grip and grab

Maybe that’ll get Merab to start fighting more and stop holding dudes waists from behind for as long as humanly possible.

 

[TrueBias]

Yan also showed its very possible to stop a smotherer while putting on some offense.

DDP and other fighters that get blanketed now know there are ways to avoid this shit.

 

[BowserJr]

Merab was rubbing that forearm as he returned to his corner after the round, too.

Yup. As soon as I saw Yan doing it I was like "oh dam thats smart"... then merab was holding it. Definitely hurt him.

If you've ever injured that tendon you know your grip strength is zapped. Almost like the calf kick but to forearms