Media Some footage of young Khabib and Islam sparring

This footage shows us nothing. Khabib was older by 3 years, when you're 15 and 18 that's a huge fucking difference. Beyond this, Khabib brought Islam in to train with his father...before this besides wrestling as a kid he mostly did Tae Kwon Do...Khabib however was really thoroughly trained Abdulmanap had Khabib leave wrestling to do Judo to get better with the gi for Sambo, and he had him compete in Pankration, Hand to Hand Combat and Sambo in his youth. Furthermore it wasn't until after the flash knockout loss to Adriano Martins when Islam began to really refine his striking style becoming much more defensively sound and technical.

Anyways, Khabib himself and Javier have said that Islam has taken rounds off of him and been competitive. Who would have won prime for prime is tough to say, I think Islam is a lot more complete as a fighter...more range when it comes to his grappling and takedowns, far more technically superior striking and much better defense. But Islam is more a defensive technician and Khabib is a pressure fighter. Khabib had a way better chin, was more aggressive and pushed an insane pace, he's the greatest LW of all time still to me too but his reputation does exceed him...he wasn't the best MMA fighter we've ever seen, he didn't face much great competition and he had a very questionable decision win vs Tibau and fought very few guys who had the skillset to handle his strengths.

Whoever you think wins, this footage isn't very worthful to that debate. Islams got more to prove still in Arman and potentially Topuria and then maybe even a WW belt. He can surpass Khabib, I don't think he has yet though. The two best LWs we've ever seen in MMA and Amru and Usman coming up from their gym might be the next two.
 
I honestly would favor Islam in a fight with Khabib.

I think he has the tools to negate Khabib's biggest asset and is certainly a better striker than Khabib.
 
HuskySamoan said:
This footage shows us nothing. Khabib was older by 3 years, when you're 15 and 18 that's a huge fucking difference. Beyond this, Khabib brought Islam in to train with his father...before this besides wrestling as a kid he mostly did Tae Kwon Do...Khabib however was really thoroughly trained Abdulmanap had Khabib leave wrestling to do Judo to get better with the gi for Sambo, and he had him compete in Pankration, Hand to Hand Combat and Sambo in his youth. Furthermore it wasn't until after the flash knockout loss to Adriano Martins when Islam began to really refine his striking style becoming much more defensively sound and technical.

Anyways, Khabib himself and Javier have said that Islam has taken rounds off of him and been competitive. Who would have won prime for prime is tough to say, I think Islam is a lot more complete as a fighter...more range when it comes to his grappling and takedowns, far more technically superior striking and much better defense. But Islam is more a defensive technician and Khabib is a pressure fighter. Khabib had a way better chin, was more aggressive and pushed an insane pace, he's the greatest LW of all time still to me too but his reputation does exceed him...he wasn't the best MMA fighter we've ever seen, he didn't face much great competition and he had a very questionable decision win vs Tibau and fought very few guys who had the skillset to handle his strengths.

Whoever you think wins, this footage isn't very worthful to that debate. Islams got more to prove still in Arman and potentially Topuria and then maybe even a WW belt. He can surpass Khabib, I don't think he has yet though. The two best LWs we've ever seen in MMA and Amru and Usman coming up from their gym might be the next two.
Click to expand...
Age isn’t far off, pretty sure 16 year old Mike Tyson would KTFO any boxer today.
 
Islam definitely developed his grappling at an earlier age, he was having competitive grappling matches in his early career with D3 wrestler Chris Wade. He has come a long way since that time. At this point he could probably sprawl and brawl Khabib.
 
Khabib versus anyone at 155 in history, Khabib will always be the big favorite. Too strong, too smart, too relentless. As far as him matching up with Islam at both their primes,... the issue i see Islam having is pace & gas tank. Eventually Khabib will just walk him down and wear him out. Either a late stoppage or a decision win for Khabib where it progressively gets worse for Islam as the fight goes on.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HHJ
It just seems like a miserable time fighting or training with Khabib haha.

You'd improve real quick I'm sure but damn, like going through hell every practice..
 
  • Like
Reactions: HHJ
moosaev said:
Khabib versus anyone at 155 in history, Khabib will always be the big favorite. Too strong, too smart, too relentless. As far as him matching up with Islam at both their primes,... the issue i see Islam having is pace & gas tank. Eventually Khabib will just walk him down and wear him out. Either a late stoppage or a decision win for Khabib where it progressively gets worse for Islam as the fight goes on.
Click to expand...

Wouldn't be a "big" favorite. Favored? Yeah maybe. "Big"? No.

I do think pace/cardio could be a factor, but Islam's striking is absolutely on another level than Khabib's ever was and fresh vs fresh the grappling is likely a stalemate to a degree. In a 5 rounder, I see Islam winning the early rounds with crisper striking and negating Khabib's grappling. As the fight wears on I can see Khabib wearing Islam down a bit and getting some success going with his grappling. Fight hits the cards and scores are relatively close, with Islam getting the early rounds and Khabib the late ones.
 
Khabib would win but I think Islam has the better Career and legacy. Khabib would likely outwrestle him though
 
mkess101 said:
Wouldn't be a "big" favorite. Favored? Yeah maybe. "Big"? No.

I do think pace/cardio could be a factor, but Islam's striking is absolutely on another level than Khabib's ever was and fresh vs fresh the grappling is likely a stalemate to a degree. In a 5 rounder, I see Islam winning the early rounds with crisper striking and negating Khabib's grappling. As the fight wears on I can see Khabib wearing Islam down a bit and getting some success going with his grappling. Fight hits the cards and scores are relatively close, with Islam getting the early rounds and Khabib the late ones.
Click to expand...
This will always be an unknown, but I don't think khabib would be any less than a -250/-300 favorite against Islam. With the passage of time people have forgetten how dominant Khabib was. Islam, for as good as he's been, comes nowhere close to Khabib's dominance and just pure inevitability. As a fan of both, i'm always nervous when Islam fights but when Khabib fought i was as certain as any fan can be that he'd not only win, he'd win easily.

Also, I don’t think the grappling would be 50/50, I think Khabib was quite clearly the stronger and more well rounded grappler when you factor in take downs, top control, and GNP. You can argue that Islam has better submissions, but I actually think Khabib has just as good a submission game but it just wasn’t his preferred style. People have to realize that Khabib was arguably the greatest mma grappler EVER.
 
Last edited:
moosaev said:
This will always be an unknown, but I don't think khabib would be any less than a -250/-300 favorite against Islam. With the passage of time people have forgetten how dominant Khabib was. Islam, for as good as he's been, comes nowhere close to Khabib's dominance and just pure inevitability. As a fan of both, i'm always nervous when Islam fights but when Khabib fought i was as certain as any fan can be that he'd not only win, he'd win easily.

Also, I don’t think the grappling would be 50/50, I think Khabib was quite clearly the stronger and more well rounded grappler when you factor in take downs, top control, and GNP. You can argue that Islam has better submissions, but I actually think Khabib has just as good a submission game but it just wasn’t his preferred style. People have to realize that Khabib was arguably the greatest mma grappler EVER.
Click to expand...

Ehh I disagree. Like you said we'll never know but Islam imo is a good enough grappler to at least stalemate Khabib. That doesn't mean he's as good an overall grappler (I agree, all things considered Khabib is better) but MMA isn't set up to have a level 10 grappler like Khabib be able to overhwelm a let's say level 9.5 grappler like Islam. Use his (Khabib's) cardio and grinding pace to turn the tide as the fight goes on? Yes. But imo Khabib isn't chain wrestling Islam early and draining his gas tank. Islam is too good to look like most of Khabib's victims.

It's a fun debate that we'll never know the answer to. Khabib -140ish to me, and I actually might be selling Islam a bit short.
 
Last edited:
The vid could be biased but it makes it look like Kabob was handling him.

Would've loved to have seen Khabib vs. prime Sherk and BJ.
 
Prime for prime, I think Islam has done more in MMA, and I actually think Islam is a more skilled fighter, but Khabib is a bigger, stronger dude, also I feel like Islam himself thinks Khabib is better than him though, probably a big brother figure and sometimes it's hard to shake that off.

So I just feel like even though Islam might be an overall better fighter who has done more in MMA in my opinion outside that flash ko loss, I think Khabib may edge him out if they were to fight seriously just by being bigger and stronger and more aggressive, not to mention Islam probably still feel like Khabib is a better fighter since he grew up and trained with him since young.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

H
Media Noob take that Islam has anything on Khabib
2 3 4
Replies
76
Views
2K
cburm
cburm

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
1,263,132
Messages
57,207,830
Members
175,585
Latest member
Absy

Share this page

Back
Top