should the importance of round 3 changed Umar's approach?

[Dionysian]

Not sure if anyone caught the conversation in the corner between Khabib and Umar at the end of the 2nd (I missed it) but it seems round 3 was pretty monumental, both in terms of 20/20 hindsight and also while the fight was actually unfolding.

Umar won the 1st two rounds on two of the judges scorecards (+ my scorecord) so if he won the 3rd he would have won the fight unless Merab got a 10-8 or a stoppage in the championship rounds. Which his style doesn't really pull off often. So if I was Umar and I knew I was up 2 rounds going into the third AND ALSO knew Merab was a machine that will no doubt win the championship rounds on cardio (which, let's be fair, we knew prior to this fight) then...

I would EXPEND 110% of my cardio to win the 3rd round. As in spend so much that concede I will do absolutely nothing (other than stop myself from getting finished) in the 4th and 5th besides get taken down and get 9-10d to hell and back. Just gameplan for losing those rounds by default in non-competitive fashion... bet everything on the winning just the 3rd for a potential 48-47 victory.

 

[AmonTobin]

If you blew everything you had left in the third and didn’t get a finish, you’d have no defence left to offer and you’d be a sitting duck for 2 whole rounds. Merab would see your utter exhaustion and finish you. He paced himself wisely imo. Going all in on R3 would’ve been a huge gamble. It would make sense if he had Merab hurt in the 3rd, THEN went HAM.

 

[Koro_11]

Not sure if anyone caught the conversation in the corner between Khabib and Umar at the end of the 2nd (I missed it) but it seems round 3 was pretty monumental, both in terms of 20/20 hindsight and also while the fight was actually unfolding.

Umar won the 1st two rounds on two of the judges scorecards (+ my scorecord) so if he won the 3rd he would have won the fight unless Merab got a 10-8 or a stoppage in the championship rounds. Which his style doesn't really pull off often. So if I was Umar and I knew I was up 2 rounds going into the third AND ALSO knew Merab was a machine that will no doubt win the championship rounds on cardio (which, let's be fair, we knew prior to this fight) then...

I would EXPEND 110% of my cardio to win the 3rd round. As in spend so much that concede I will do absolutely nothing (other than stop myself from getting finished) in the 4th and 5th besides get taken down and get 9-10d to hell and back. Just gameplan for losing those rounds by default in non-competitive fashion... bet everything on the winning just the 3rd for a potential 48-47 victory.

Yeah sounds good in theory but he was probably already starting to gas in the third so easier said than done.

 

[RockyLockridge]

I would EXPEND 110% of my cardio to win the 3rd round. As in spend so much that concede I will do absolutely nothing (other than stop myself from getting finished) in the 4th and 5th besides get taken down and get 9-10d to hell and back.

That gas tank he didn't empty in round 3 stopped him from getting 10-8 in round 4 and 5

 

[TheMoa]

Empty the gás early is the worst fighter nightmare. We've seem an multiple time bjs world Champion bê subbed by ancient Clay Guida.

Yeah sounds good in theory but he was probably already starting to gas in the third so easier said than done.

I think he started tô gas in the Second, end of the round he was open mouthed breathing heavy. IIRC his corner was asking tô Go take merab down, that It was crucial

 

[Dionysian]

That gas tank he didn't empty in round 3 stopped him from getting 10-8 in round 4 and 5

Yeah but it is Merab / when was his last 10-8? (serious question) Probably the only advantage you have in the universe vs Merab when it comes to cardio is that Merab strategically drowns you enough just to net the comfortable 10-9 via volume/rarely pours enough for the 10-8. If Umar just had enough to stall / lay underneath and take inconsequential shots in round 4-5 he could escape the 10-8s/finish.

Let me put it this way... if you are losing the third vs Merab the 4th and 5th are very very likely going to be lost anyway, so if you lose the 3rd you're likely to lose the fight (again, absent 10-8s and finishes).

 

[RockyLockridge]

Yeah but it is Merab / when was his last 10-8? (serious question) Probably the only advantage you have in the universe vs Merab when it comes to cardio is that Merab strategically drowns you enough just to net the comfortable 10-9 via volume/rarely pours enough for the 10-8. If Umar just had enough to stall / lay underneath and take inconsequential shots in round 4-5 he could escape the 10-8s/finish.

Let me put it this way... if you are losing the third vs Merab the 4th and 5th are very very likely going to be lost anyway, so if you lose the 3rd you're likely to lose the fight (again, absent 10-8s and finishes).

Good point

 

[Bork Neslar]

He broke his hand...maybe you people should know the facts before giving "advice".

 

[moosaev]

The problem is Umar was gassed after Rd 2. Merab is simply a cardio freak. Any other division that doesn’t have Merab and Umar would be the champ, I don’t see anyone at BW who beats Umar besides Merab, it is what it is.

 

[World eater]

I have a counter question. Would you have been happier with Umar winning such a decision?
I wouldn’t.

 

[Pechan]

Not sure if anyone caught the conversation in the corner between Khabib and Umar at the end of the 2nd (I missed it) but it seems round 3 was pretty monumental, both in terms of 20/20 hindsight and also while the fight was actually unfolding.

Umar won the 1st two rounds on two of the judges scorecards (+ my scorecord) so if he won the 3rd he would have won the fight unless Merab got a 10-8 or a stoppage in the championship rounds. Which his style doesn't really pull off often. So if I was Umar and I knew I was up 2 rounds going into the third AND ALSO knew Merab was a machine that will no doubt win the championship rounds on cardio (which, let's be fair, we knew prior to this fight) then...

I would EXPEND 110% of my cardio to win the 3rd round. As in spend so much that concede I will do absolutely nothing (other than stop myself from getting finished) in the 4th and 5th besides get taken down and get 9-10d to hell and back. Just gameplan for losing those rounds by default in non-competitive fashion... bet everything on the winning just the 3rd for a potential 48-47 victory.

You would be a terrible coach.

 

[omawho402]

Good point TS. Merab can't hurt a fly, so all Umar had to do was survive.

 

[ElLunico]

No offense but that's the dumbest strategy ever.

 

[Dionysian]

I have a counter question. Would you have been happier with Umar winning such a decision?
I wouldn’t.

Good point that no one wants to win that way. But if it came down to winning a 48-47 vs losing a 47-48... just saying there may be value in understanding Merab is a momentum/cardio machine and ALSO a guy that primarily wins by accumulated 10-9s only.

 

[fightfan70]

khabib himself said before the fight, merab is better freestyle wrestler and better at applying pressure.

the fight was all about conditioning.