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so long he can maul ferguson against the fence he'll do just fine most likely, i really don't think ferguson is going to have much success if he winds up playing clinch game with khabib, it's really only in open space khabib has to mind his p's and q's. i also think you and multiple others are disregarding how freakishly strong khabib is in those positions, and how developed his sense for posture on the
ground is. you need space to work '10th planet' khabib is not a fighter that gives you space, he suffucates people until they can't take it anymore and essentially give up.
I don't disagree with a lot of this. But as I just posted, cardio plays a big role in why guys "give up". Khabib suffocates them and eventually they become too tired to put up solid defense and make Khabib work anymore. It was obvious with MJ (along with the fact that MJ does not seem to know what he's doing at all once on his back). If there's a guy in MMA who's gas tank I trust to hold up and continue to make Khabib work hard and potentially tire HIM out, it's Ferg.
I do agree Ferg is gonna need to tweak his 10th planet game a little assuming he's on his back. Mixing things up between high guard, rubber guard, traditional guard. Tying Khabib up at times, throwing short elbows with good timing (meaning only opening up when Khabib isn't threatening to advance position, etc.) If Ferg is on his back I believe it will be a much better chess match than some Khabib supporters think. Khabib hasn't finished (or even come close or even done any damage to) anyone with any semblance of a guard game at all in the UFC. And while Ferg's aggressive style is a mild concern (does he get passed because he's too aggressive trying to create scrambles, etc.) I really do think he'll hold his own. I don't think he can spend 20 minutes on his back and win, but I think he'll be okay if it's for stretches.