Media Petr Yan names top 3 smartest fighters in UFC history

[Habib The Eagle]

“You can just say: St-Pierre, Khabib. It was even possible to put Khabib in the first place, since he never lost. In second place is St-Pierre, as he is a very intelligent athlete. He developed in all aspects.

"In third place, perhaps, is Jon Jones. I thought about it at first, I wanted to put it in first or second place. But he had fights where he lost and took a lot of damage,” Yan said at the RCC press conference.

https://ringside24.com/en/49069-yang-names-top-3-smartest-fighters-in-ufc-history

 

[bng]

Petr Yan's top boxers/fighters/etc marked orange:
https://forums.sherdog.com/posts/166688331/

 

[Leinster Rugby]

Did he really refer to Jon Jones as 'it'?

 

[13Seconds]

Cruz basically invented his own style.

 

[Get To Da Choppa]

He should include Sterling for taking his title by not actually beating him. That's over 9000 fight IQ

 

[Black Paladin]

Cruz basically invented his own style.

Broken Rhythm MMA is what I called it years ago.

 

[RichyN]

He should include Sterling for taking his title by not actually beating him. That's over 9000 fight IQ

/thread

 

[Mr hanky]

Did he really refer to Jon Jones as 'it'?

Jon is gender neutral now

 

[andrejxvii]

But he had fights where he lost and took a lot of damage,”

 

[MotorCityManiac]

Volkanovski is up there. Started late, developed very good all around game. Knowing how to win rounds that are close is one of his best abilities.

 

[Benoitthegr8]

He should include Sterling for taking his title by not actually beating him. That's over 9000 fight IQ

Sterling’s internal thoughts as he realizes the magnitude of his situation

“wait a second, this isn’t all bad... if I milk this I’ll win by DQ, the belt will change hands, I’ll be the champ and can prolong fighting this monster or straight up duck... okay, pant, blink deliriously, now lazily roll over cause I’m done...and mission accomplished”

 

[Th3Sav4ge]

Cruz basically invented his own style.

and tj's

 

[MMAProfessional]

“You can just say: St-Pierre, Khabib. It was even possible to put Khabib in the first place, since he never lost. In second place is St-Pierre, as he is a very intelligent athlete. He developed in all aspects.

"In third place, perhaps, is Jon Jones. I thought about it at first, I wanted to put it in first or second place. But he had fights where he lost and took a lot of damage,” Yan said at the RCC press conference.

https://ringside24.com/en/49069-yang-names-top-3-smartest-fighters-in-ufc-history

The fact that he said Khabib didn't lose so he's one of the smartest tells me he don't know shit. Khabib was good at what he did. That doesn't mean he's a smart fighter necessarily (and in my opinion he didn't show it out of necessity.) Fight intelligence for me is something like Rose taking down Weili in the 5th round which is something unexpected and won her the fight. Khabib shooting and taking you down the whole fight doesn't show good fight IQ it shows he's great at implementing his gameplan.

 

[Takes_Two_To_Tango]

I think those are good picks.

 

[Takes_Two_To_Tango]

The fact that he said Khabib didn't lose so he's one of the smartest tells me he don't know shit. Khabib was good at what he did. That doesn't mean he's a smart fighter necessarily (and in my opinion he didn't show it out of necessity.) Fight intelligence for me is something like Rose taking down Weili in the 5th round which is something unexpected and won her the fight. Khabib shooting and taking you down the whole fight doesn't show good fight IQ it shows he's great at implementing his gameplan.

So you're saying Khabib is not a smart fighter?

 

[Koro_11]

Yes he lost by disqualification, and was not being very smart when he did it so yeah he’s got a good point.

 

[Morax]

and tj's

And Sandhagen's

 

[Herwald]

Did he really refer to Jon Jones as 'it'?

I think it's the translation. "It" was referring to his pick - a pick is not a person, later he refers to Jones as "him". And "where he lost" I think was meant as "where he was losing" as in getting beat up or losing multiple rounds.

 

[MMAProfessional]

So you're saying Khabib is not a smart fighter?

I'm saying that if you can take someone down whenever you want that doesn't display your fight IQ. It shows you're amazing at grappling. Khabib had great cardio and superior grappling. He was leaps ahead with what he was good at. Deyonte Wilder was KOing fools. If you say he was one of the greatest boxers and highest fight IQ because he was undefeated would be idiotic because he was powerful.

 

[Takes_Two_To_Tango]

I'm saying that if you can take someone down whenever you want that doesn't display your fight IQ. It shows you're amazing at grappling. Khabib had great cardio and superior grappling. He was leaps ahead with what he was good at. Deyonte Wilder was KOing fools. If you say he was one of the greatest boxers and highest fight IQ because he was undefeated would be idiotic because he was powerful.

Oh ok fair enough.