One rarely mentioned common point between Islam and Khabib.

[JustOnce]

They never fought a high level fighter in UFC who can strike AND wrestle before getting a title shot.

Not a shot against either of these guys, I think Islam is the BEST lightweight right now, and Khabib is probably GOAT LW, though that guy's resume is paper thin, but kinda odd how it worked out for them, both of them.

Lightweights right now are filled with amazing grapplers, and the LW used to look like

Edgar
Maynard
BJ
Sherk
Guida
Eddie
Melendez
Bendo
Gomi
Kawajiri
Thompson
Diego
[And a little later]
Tony
Kevin Lee
Chandler

I mean guys with good wrestling and lot of them with good stand ups too. People shit on Guida all the time, but the guy has a win over RDA who's probably the only elite fighter like the guys listed above who could be argued he's one of them

Like I said, Khabib is probably LW goat having retired undefeated albeit a thin resume, and Islam is likely the best LW right now, but it's just odd when LW used to look like that, neither of them has a SINGLE WIN over fighters like that, who can wrestle and strike, or wrestle very, very well. People forget BJ outwrestled Fitch at WW before, and Sherk held his own against Hughes and so on.

Just wierd. I mean, you'd think Khabib or Islam would at least have fought someone like Guida at least, or even Diego. Diego is as washed up as he gets, but no one submits Diego who held his own in wrestling against Koscheck and Fitch, and is Khabib's striking any better than Diego's? Match up make fights after all.

I just find it odd that they have had 10+ fights in their run to a title, and it can be argued none of them fought elite guys who can wrestle and strike, or wrestle very well.

 

[IDGETKTFO]

I can think of another common point...

 

[TARTARA]

I don't like their fighting style... !

Once again, nice thread TS !

 

[DestinedAussie]

They never fought a high level fighter in UFC who can strike AND wrestle before getting a title shot.

Not a shot against either of these guys, I think Islam is the BEST lightweight right now, and Khabib is probably GOAT LW, though that guy's resume is paper thin, but kinda odd how it worked out for them, both of them.

Lightweights right now are filled with amazing grapplers, and the LW used to look like

Edgar
Maynard
BJ
Sherk
Guida
Eddie
Melendez
Bendo
Gomi
Kawajiri
Thompson
Diego
[And a little later]
Tony
Kevin Lee
Chandler

I mean guys with good wrestling and lot of them with good stand ups too. People shit on Guida all the time, but the guy has a win over RDA who's probably the only elite fighter like the guys listed above who could be argued he's one of them

Like I said, Khabib is probably LW goat having retired undefeated albeit a thin resume, and Islam is likely the best LW right now, but it's just odd when LW used to look like that, neither of them has a SINGLE WIN over fighters like that, who can wrestle and strike, or wrestle very, very well. People forget BJ outwrestled Fitch at WW before, and Sherk held his own against Hughes and so on.

Just wierd. I mean, you'd think Khabib or Islam would at least have fought someone like Guida at least, or even Diego. Diego is as washed up as he gets, but no one submits Diego who held his own in wrestling against Koscheck and Fitch, and is Khabib's striking any better than Diego's? Match up make fights after all.

I just find it odd that they have had 10+ fights in their run to a title, and it can be argued none of them fought elite guys who can wrestle and strike, or wrestle very well.

Other than Tony, it doesn't feel like Khabib dodged anyone(using dodged as avoided the fight not that he was scared to fight Tony).

 

[JustOnce]

I don't like their fighting style... !

Once again, nice thread TS !

Yes they are very, very good, but it's not always the most fan friendly style lol, Khabib wasn't the most exciting prospect before his hype snowballed lol

 

[Noraaq]

Yes they are very, very good, but it's not always the most fan friendly style lol, Khabib wasn't the most exciting prospect before his hype snowballed lol

It’s not the fight style, it’s the skill gap between them and their competitors.

I would love to see Khabib fight against someone on his skill level to push him but that guy just doesn’t exist

 

[JustOnce]

Other than Tony, it doesn't feel like Khabib dodged anyone(using dodged as avoided the fight not that he was scared to fight Tony).

Just odd it happened like that. They probably couldn't duck even if they wanted to before they got big anyways, so that probably wasn't the case.

I always thought Chandler had a great shot at Khabib. Kinda wasn't much older than Khabib if at all. Match ups make fights, I think Chandler can hold his own in wrestling and he has never been subbed as well. Prime Chandler used to wrestle people down too.

With that said, I don't really get Chandler push, so not like I'm a big fan or anything haha. He has REALLY thin resume outside prime Eddie, I thought he won the rematch too, so a great win but still very, very thin resume, coming off a ktfo loss to a featherweight like two three fights ago, but he's getting pushed really, really hard. But I digress.

 

[JustOnce]

It’s not the fight style, it’s the skill gap between them and their competitors.

I would love to see Khabib fight against someone on his skill level to push him but that guy just doesn’t exist

Meh because he never fought someone like

Bendo
BJ
Sherk
Maynard
Edgar
Melendez
Chandler
Eddie
Bushido Gomi

Even Guida, Kevin Lee, prime Diego, etc.

When I say he, I mean they I guess.

 

[TARTARA]

Yes they are very, very good, but it's not always the most fan friendly style lol, Khabib wasn't the most exciting prospect before his hype snowballed lol

Well said 100% !

 

[JustOnce]

And when I say they didn't, they REALLY didn't with 10 + fights going into a title fight.

How I ask?

No idea.

 

[JustOnce]

By the way, completely washed up Bendo beat Khabib's prodigy in his last fight. I mean decision probably could have gone either way, but still.

 

[DestinedAussie]

Just odd it happened like that. They probably couldn't duck even if they wanted to before they got big anyways, so that probably wasn't the case.

I always thought Chandler had a great shot at Khabib. Kinda wasn't much older than Khabib if at all. Match ups make fights, I think Chandler can hold his own in wrestling and he has never been subbed as well. Prime Chandler used to wrestle people down too.

With that said, I don't really get Chandler push, so not like I'm a big fan or anything haha. He has REALLY thin resume outside prime Eddie, I thought he won the rematch too, so a great win but still very, very thin resume, coming off a ktfo loss to a featherweight like two three fights ago, but he's getting pushed really, really hard. But I digress.

Styles make fights and Chandler's losses came to the elite. His fight v Justin makes me wonder if he could have really matched it with Khabib. His big wrestling advantage came to nothing v Justin.

 

[JustOnce]

Styles make fights and Chandler's losses came to the elite. His fight v Justin makes me wonder if he could have really matched it with Khabib. His big wrestling advantage came to nothing v Justin.

Yeah because that ain't prime Chandler. When you don't use your skills much, it declines. And he probably went full retard in that fight.

And why would chandler shoot on islam or Khabib? Totally different fight.

Chandler is kinda like Mendes, a great wrestler with heavy hands. Mendes if same size as Khabib and Islam, most everyone would agree, Mendes would be incredibly tough fight for both of them. Same with Chandler.

I do think Mendes is a bit better however. Nor do I think chandler came in his prime.

 

[Pious Augustus]

They never fought a high level fighter in UFC who can strike AND wrestle before getting a title shot.

Not a shot against either of these guys, I think Islam is the BEST lightweight right now, and Khabib is probably GOAT LW, though that guy's resume is paper thin, but kinda odd how it worked out for them, both of them.

Lightweights right now are filled with amazing grapplers, and the LW used to look like

Edgar
Maynard
BJ
Sherk
Guida
Eddie
Melendez
Bendo
Gomi
Kawajiri
Thompson
Diego
[And a little later]
Tony
Kevin Lee
Chandler

I mean guys with good wrestling and lot of them with good stand ups too. People shit on Guida all the time, but the guy has a win over RDA who's probably the only elite fighter like the guys listed above who could be argued he's one of them

Like I said, Khabib is probably LW goat having retired undefeated albeit a thin resume, and Islam is likely the best LW right now, but it's just odd when LW used to look like that, neither of them has a SINGLE WIN over fighters like that, who can wrestle and strike, or wrestle very, very well. People forget BJ outwrestled Fitch at WW before, and Sherk held his own against Hughes and so on.

Just wierd. I mean, you'd think Khabib or Islam would at least have fought someone like Guida at least, or even Diego. Diego is as washed up as he gets, but no one submits Diego who held his own in wrestling against Koscheck and Fitch, and is Khabib's striking any better than Diego's? Match up make fights after all.

I just find it odd that they have had 10+ fights in their run to a title, and it can be argued none of them fought elite guys who can wrestle and strike, or wrestle very well.

Who has a better resume than Khabib at lightweight?

you literally picked the guy with most top 10 wins and top 5 wins in lw history and said he's the one with the thin resume

Khabib has 5 top 5 wins and 7 top 10 wins
Khabib has more wins at top 10 than BJ has wins at UFC LW

Tony only has 3 top 10 wins and 1 top 5 win


another dumb point you made:


Bendo: Lost to RDA who Khabib soundly beat
when Khabib returned from the injury, Bendo wasn't even in the UFC

BJ: wasn't even ranked at lw when Khabib entered the top 10

Sherk: retired 2 years before Khabib made his UFC debut

Maynard: unranked fighter who was on 4 fight losing streak by the time Khabib was ranked, again another pointless fight

Edger: moved down to FW when Khabib wasn't even ranked yet

Melendez: 1-7 in the UFC wasn't even ranked in the top 10 when Khabib was ranked

Chandler: wasn't even in the UFC till Khabib's retirement fight was booked

Eddie: ducked Khabib to Fight McGregor
a well known fact that the UFC used Khabib to make Eddie accept the McGregor fight for less money.

you tried to shit on the fighters Khabib beat yet you mentioned fighters who lost to them

Bendo: Lost to RDA
Chandler: Lost to Gaethje
Eddie Alvarez: Lost to McGregor and Porier
Melendez: Lost to Barboza
Diego Sanchez: lost to Iaquinta
Kevin Lee: lost to Iaquinta twice
Tony Ferguson: got destroyed by Gaethje
Guida: got submitted by Thiago Tavares

 

[JustOnce]

Anyways, I just found it odd. Not meant as a shot at them or anything. How do you have 20+ fights together before title shots and have no single elite opponent like those mentioned above who can wrestle and strike?

I have no idea.

But before some people get mad, yes, Khabib is probably LW Goat despite his thin resume, and Islam is likely the best LW right now, and possibly not close.

 

[JustOnce]

Who has a better resume than Khabib at lightweight?

you literally picked the guy with most top 10 wins and top 5 wins in lw history and said he's the one with the thin resume

The most delusional thing I read on Sherdog this year. lol.

If that's true, I don't think it is, then it shows how washed up the lightweight division became I guess, holy dear god, I mean in terms of being elite and know how to wrestle at high level and strike too, because I'm sure they are great strikers and fighters in their own right.


So just checking.....Poirier/Gaethje/Conor?

Two former featherweight strikers and Gaethje who has zero grappling off his back?

 

[Goosemen]

Now Gaethje, Poirier, 2015 RDA, 2018 Conor are not good wins according to the OP.

Let it go man, this thread sucks.

 

[JustOnce]

I will give you that Khabib does have a win over RDA and Islam does have a win over Armen. Two fights out of 20+ fights, yes.

However, RDA improved a lot at WW, but at LW, I don't think he really belongs in the fighter list posted above, an elite fighter with strong wrestling and decent/good/great striking. I mean now it looks like I'm wrong, but back then, he wasn't. Guida beat him.

And Armen was coming in like a five day notice.

 

[JustOnce]

Now Gaethje, Poirier, 2015 RDA, 2018 Conor are not good wins according to the OP.

Let it go man, this thread sucks.

RDA wasn't an elite fighter with good/great wrestling and good/decent/great striking. RDA was losing to Tibaus and Guidas early in his career. He did look a lot better at WW fighting Colbys and such.

Conor and Poirier are two featherweight strikers, Conor especially was coming off a lay off longer than a year.

I've seen a lot of WMMA fighters look much beetter off their back than Justin does. Pretty sad.

 

[JustOnce]

Anyhow, just want to make it clear, this isn't a shot at their record or strength of schedule.

We can agree to disagree on that, not what I was trying to talk about.

I was just curious how on earth out of 20+ some fights, before title shots, both of them never fought a single elite fighter with great wrestling and good/decent striking like listed above.

Just odd to me.