Pantoja vs. Merab Makes a lot of sense at the moment

[Dorkman]

At what weight class? Merab weighed 156.8 the day of the fight last weekend. He'd be cutting over 30 lbs if it were at 125. That's over 20+% of his body weight, that's pretty ridiculous. And I don't know if Pantoja will be big enough for 135. Feel like Merab is just going to steam roll him all fight long unless he's super compromised from cutting if it's at 125. He was already doing 17% in his cut to 135.

 

[SalvadorAllende]

Don't care. Defend the belt. For me the min number is 5 when it comes to defenses and being a "Dominant Champion".

He can defend.. vs Pantoja

 

[Dreyga_King of Sherbums]

Both of them are dominant champs. Both of them have no clear contenders other than rematches that people aren't excited about. I think if you match these guys up, it gives each of their divisions time to put forward a new contender, which both of their divisions desperately need.

Would you guys be into this match up? if not, why not?

I think you are correct.

Pantoja has more than earned his shot at the weight division above

There are no clear contenders for either guy

The grappling exchanges would be very interesting.

This fight should happen.

 

[kkthx]

Honestly? I think this is a hell of a fight. Pantoja is a beast and perhaps he could find a way to sub Merab. I think it would be a banger.

 

[RockyLockridge]

Both of them are dominant champs. Both of them have no clear contenders other than rematches that people aren't excited about. I think if you match these guys up, it gives each of their divisions time to put forward a new contender, which both of their divisions desperately need.

Would you guys be into this match up? if not, why not?

I'd rather see figgy get the shot against pantoja. One more time for old times sake see if Figgy can get his title back once more and prove he's number 2 to mighty mouse for good. I personally would really like to see that and I believe he would win.Pantoja does have a fresh contender in Kai Kara-France, but that's only if the UFC wants to give Pantoja a guy off 1 win a title shot (not unheard of) they are making Kape fight royval so i assume this is the plan for KKF.

Pantoja has certainly earned this opportunity, but I do not think this match up is competitive in the slightest.

Merab fights Yan in a rematch, Pantoja vs Figgy, (Taira vs KKF same card) would be my ideal scenario

If Yadong can beat cejudo, Yadong vs Merab is also fine

 

[RockyLockridge]

Yes.. both guys pretty much beat everyone. Nobody wants to see Pantoja fighting fucking Moreno or Royval again

I love royval he's a top 5 favourite fighter to watch for me

 

[dipstickjimmy]

Would you rather see Pantoja and Merab in rematches against people they already beat?

I want to see them defend their belts. Rematches are sometimes amazing. Gray Maynard beat Frankie Edgar. Good thing they had #2 & 3 right? GSP's rematch with Serra didn't go the same as the first. His rematch with Hughes didn't go the same either.

Pantoja won a SD against Moreno. Does he win the next one for sure? Merab almost got KO'd in the last round against O'Malley.

If a guy earns his title shot he earned his title shot. If Pantoja and Merab and any other champion gets to 5 actual defenses (Islam is at 1 1/2) then we can entertain the idea they are "Dominant Champions" and possibly move up.

 

[dipstickjimmy]

You'd rather see Merab vs. O'malley 2 and Pantoja vs. Moreno 4? Or are you simply nitpicking at my lackadaisical usage of the phrase "dominant champs" ?

I would rather only hear talk of a champion (Any Champion) moving up after 5 legit title defenses. Islam doesn't 4 legit defenses, Volk rematch was silly considering there was an Official Back Up challenger. Moicano should have been a Non Title bout. Alex doesn't get Khalil as a defense either. Champs should have to defend twice per year not once every 9 months to a year.

 

[Conor Strickland]

That would be a great fight. I got Merab by a finish if it happens. Maybe a sub lol

 

[dipstickjimmy]

He can defend.. vs Pantoja

But who does Pantoja defend against? Why have all these titles if nobody defends them. Alexandre is at 3 whole fucking defenses. He will also lose and his opponent you propose has 1 whole fucking defense. Soon the UFC will have titles awarded by Twitter poll or something.

 

[RockyLockridge]

Pantoja won a SD against Moreno. Does he win the next one for sure?

Pantoja has beaten moreno 3 times now. It's royval he has to fight again. Royval is patently better than moreno

But who does Pantoja defend against? Why have all these titles if nobody defends them. Alexandre is at 3 whole fucking defenses. He will also lose and his opponent you propose has 1 whole fucking defense. Soon the UFC will have titles awarded by Twitter poll or something.

The thing is Pantoja fought the best fighters on the way up. he had already beaten moreno twice before he won the belt. He'd already beaten royval before he won the title. He's also already beaten Kape and Alex perez.

There is only KKF left as a fresh match up and he's on a 1 fight win streak. He's already beaten everyone in the top 10 more or less. you'll have to go below 8 rank to find someone on a streak for him to fight.

 

[Plissken]

I can't see Pantoja winning at all, but it's a fun idea.

 

[fortheo]

I would rather only hear talk of a champion (Any Champion) moving up after 5 legit title defenses. Islam doesn't 4 legit defenses, Volk rematch was silly considering there was an Official Back Up challenger. Moicano should have been a Non Title bout. Alex doesn't get Khalil as a defense either. Champs should have to defend twice per year not once every 9 months to a year.

Then you are going to be stuck with some very uninteresting rematches in this case. I do understand and typically agree with your opinion on this subject, though.

 

[Edward Henry Berg]

Pantoja has beaten moreno 3 times now. It's royval he has to fight again. Royval is patently better than moreno



The thing is Pantoja fought the best fighters on the way up. he had already beaten moreno twice before he won the belt. He'd already beaten royval before he won the title. He's also already beaten Kape and Alex perez.

There is only KKF left as a fresh match up and he's on a 1 fight win streak. He's already beaten everyone in the top 10 more or less. you'll have to go below 8 rank to find someone on a streak for him to fight.

It's laughable that you're even saying this.

How many times in a row must a Champion beat a contender, before the contender falls by the wayside?

It's utterly laughable (and, seriously, a waste of the Champion's prime) to keep facing the same LOSER over-and-over again

 

[Big Tuppy Hole]

I'd love to see it, Pantoja is underrated I feel, he is so slick and crafty on the ground and would be hard to deal with.

Not only that, he has areal dog in him, if pushed he will throw himself into the kaos.

 

[Dreyga_King of Sherbums]

But who does Pantoja defend against? Why have all these titles if nobody defends them. Alexandre is at 3 whole fucking defenses. He will also lose and his opponent you propose has 1 whole fucking defense. Soon the UFC will have titles awarded by Twitter poll or something.

3 defenses should be more than enough to go up. People don’t realize just how few champions have more than one title defense.


Besides Pantoja has already beaten every respectable contender in his division MULTIPLE times already. He has lapped the division.

 

[blunttruth]

I think it is a good idea, and I guess I would be in the minority here thinking Pantoja might be too quick, slick, and aggressive for Merab on a particular night. Only one way to find out is book it. Merab gets to defend his belt again, while KKF and Royval heal and prepare, or fight each other for next 125 belt challenge.

 

[dipstickjimmy]

3 defenses should be more than enough to go up. People don’t realize just how few champions have more than one title defense.


Besides Pantoja has already beaten every respectable contender in his division MULTIPLE times already. He has lapped the division.

I am sad that 3 is a lot to you. Everyone is an infant champion so a pathetic 3 is magically dominant.

 

[dominion]

How will pantoja defend the takedowns and the hugging? Once merab gets cracked he will hug and hold like he did Aldo

 

[Thesnake101]

I am sad that 3 is a lot to you. Everyone is an infant champion so a pathetic 3 is magically dominant.

3 defenses is plenty when you've already beaten most of the top 10 and they had to give a title shot to a champ from a different org from the get-go to have a fresh matchup.

Even KKF already has a loss to Alex back from when they were on TUF.

Shit, BJ got to fight GSP for the WW belt after defending once against Sherk.