News Petr Yan opens as betting underdog for Merab trilogy

[FilipEmoFights]

I don’t think so not after last night. Yan has his number and has figured out how to shut off Merabs offense. Merab has to level up his striking and his grappling if he wants to beat Yan, he must put Yan in a position where he’s constantly defending and working hard to do so-their first fight basically. Merab basically couldn’t do anything but struggle and wing punches back, Petr stopped everything coming his way.
Maybe Merab was overconfident, If Merab wants to win that fight he certainly can’t get hurt within the first round again.

 

[RichardHarrow]

Merab will probably have to go through a two man gauntlet of O Malley and Umar if he wants a title shot.

 

[hbombbisping]

I think he already got it, he asked Dana before they declared Yan the winner on live TV. I still hope he does not take it until later and we get Yan vs Umar

So you think Belal Muhammad 2 is going to get a TS because he begged Dana with some barely coherent rambling before the decision?

This has to be the least likely prediction to come to fruition in UFC history. They will age Merab out, maybe he'll get another shot when he's 37 and completely shot if they run out of contenders.

 

[Killer Kadoogan]

old UFC would have done at least 4 rematches

 

[fight_fiend]

Hard not to like Yan if they go again, especially as a hypothetical underdog.

 

[JustBleed69]

You're fucking high if you think UFC is giving Merab an instant rematch.

The UFC likes Merab, I would be surprised if he doesn't get it.

 

[Trabaho]

Petr took years off his chin and body this weekend too.

Drama queen much. Than clean HW KOs would take off a decade if it went like that.

 

[stronghulk]

I think this fight showed that if Petrs conditioning holds up, he has more skills than Merab and will beat him.

 

[mjoln]

UFC know Merab is active champion and that was awesome fight so they might rematch soon.
Yan could win but he got mileage too. He was great but it was not easy fight.

 

[Greyscale]

Bookies are idiots. They see a wooly hat and make the guy heavy favorite. It's almost a knee jerk reaction.

 

[wrb]

I think this fight showed that if Petrs conditioning holds up, he has more skills than Merab and will beat him.

It showed Meerab will need to figure out how to hurt Yan and get through the high guard as his strikes really did not stop Yan from going forward and Merab could not get him down 11 times like the first fight. The only one so far to really hurt yan on the feet is Sean O and I think Umars kicks are really dangerous as Yan leaves his body exposed. Besides all that, Merab is still a dangerous fight in the rematch but IMO he needs to find some way to really hurt him if he can't get him down.

Does anyone else think Yan seemed ALOT stronger and bigger that fight than before, Kinda strange but I guess its been awhile since Merab 1?

 

[pv3Hpv3p]

+130 to -150 isn't quite a pick em but it's not that ridiculous... and the line will shift if the fight actually gets signed and bets start coming in

 

[LordHellraiser]

+130 to -150 isn't quite a pick em but it's not that ridiculous... and the line will shift if the fight actually gets signed and bets start coming in

was gonna say clearly the action has all come in on Yan, because I had a hard time believing Yan was the dog. Just looked at live odds on betonline, and Yan is now -175. That makes more sense than +130. Kudos to all who got a Yan bet in at the opening dog rate though

 

[Pequeño Corey]

But why is there a caricature of Corey Sandhagen in the OP?

 

[Lee Danger]

Merab has the multiple defences' card but overall it looks like a Pereira-Ank situation for me.
A more evenly matched than you remember first fight when one was injuried and a more clear second fight.
For a number of reasons it may make sense to have an immediate rematch but if you think about it the more time'll pass before their rubber match the more are the chances for Merab to come up with some improvements: an immediate rematch IMHO will not be that different than the last one they fought.

 

[FlyAmericanEagle]

I think this fight showed that if Petrs conditioning holds up, he has more skills than Merab and will beat him.

He has a better chin that’s it

 

[mkess101]

Oddsmakers know what's up

Most of the time yes. Here...no. but they're also setting the line based on their perception of what the betting public will do and not taking a stand on who they think will win. Merab still has a lot more name recognition than Yan.

There's just a ton working against Merab for the trilogy fight. Age being the primary. Also, Yan showed he could more than deal with the cheat code that was Merab's insane pace and cardio. Yan didn't tire, didn't even begin to wilt. And Merab was doing what he does, moving forward and pressuring nonstop. Yan just had all the answers.

 

[mkess101]

He has a better chin that’s it

Delusional

 

[Natural Order]

We’re in the Paramount + era ladies. Merab may be lucky to see prelim headliner in 2026!

 

[Rampage_Jackson]

We’re in the Paramount + era ladies. Merab may be lucky to see prelim headliner in 2026!

I think the company really digs Merab. You can tell by the commentary they wanted him to win. He's still their guy. He's def getting the rematch whenever he wants it.