Media Umar claims Merab is ducking; He considers fighting someone else before Ramadan

[TheMMAnalyst]

Merab tweeted that he’s willing to fight O’Malley in December, so why can’t he fight Umar in January or February lol?

Suga is getting or just had hip surgery, out probably 9 months, that’s why Merab called him out (because he knows he can’t take the fight lol).

 

[Alpha_T83]

I would just add to this a bit. You can train and fight during Ramadan. It is obviously harder, but many do it. There are caveats to it, as UFC fighters can be considered both “warriors” and “travellers” and be an exception. But even if not, many muslim fighters fought in this period, including Pereira and Khabib. Somehow, lately, it became widely accepted that they can’t fight during this time. Ank himself accepted a fight in this period for UFC 300, but later turned it down because of “reasons”.

Ya I'm not sure what's going on but it seems the problem of fighting during and after Ramadan is just getting worse as time goes on. Ankalaev last fought during Ramadan in June of 2017 I believe, when he defend his WFCA title. But he hasn't even fought until months after Ramadan since then.

It seems like most top 10 guys that observe Ramadan now won't even do training camp during that time, and want 2-3 months after Ramadan before they fight.

 

[TheMMAnalyst]

Why the fuck should Merab be pressured to fight on Umar's timeline? Who's the one who holds the belt? Who's the one who had to fight like 4 former champions and still get passed up for fucking Chito Vera before they got their title shot and who's the one who got to skip the entire rankings to get a top-5 guy?

These Dagi's just want everything tilted in their favor and play the victim when the opposing party doesn't play ball.

He’s pressured to fight on the UFC’s timeline, Umar happens to be next in line is all.

They need to put on so many title fights a year to satisfy PPV requirements for that sweet guaranteed ESPN money - by sitting out 4 extra months it makes them book other champs faster to fill spots.

A non-star, non-defending, non-action fighter that helped stall the division by not fighting Aljo deserves to fuck with their business model because….?

The UFC tilts the scales for fighters they like and ones they don’t - Ank is a Dagi who got fucked, Umar is one who didn’t. The reason is Poatan is a star they don’t want to waste against a dangerous sometimes boring opponent, while Merab is a control fighter that they don’t like because of the Aljo situation.

It’s got nothing to do with “deserves” or “fairness” it’s the fight business where dollars make sense.

 

[TheMMAnalyst]

Having an "element of fasting" or a "history of fasting" isn't the problem. GSP did intermittent fasting. But he did it while training and showed up to fight.

What is a problem is when you are so brainwashed that you devoutly follow antiquated rituals and refuse to eat or even drink water during the day for a whole month, and refuse to even do your job during that month. That I don't respect.

So you literally don’t respect a religion because it requires fasting for a month?

I’m an atheist that will criticize every religion (this board isn’t the time or place), but it’s obscene to think fighters should change their entire belief system/way of life because it’s convenient for the UFC. If the UFC likes them they allow it, if not they’ll punish them for it, that’s how it works no matter how you feel about it.

Turns out they kind of like these Nurmagamedov guys for some reason, almost as if they are proven elite fighters that are useful for their Saudi/UAE influence peddling….

 

[TheMMAnalyst]

OK bro. Whatever you say.

Umar is an MMA fighter that wants to be a UFC champion, and as far as I'm concerned that should mean fighting any time you are told to fight, including Ramadan. When you consider that Umar probably won't even train during Ramadan, he will have 3-4 months every year that he can't even fight.

Umar is doing this to himself. If it was just one month, Umar could easily fight Merab in April, making it almost impossible for Merab to duck him. But if Merab says "I'm fighting in March", the UFC can't force him to fight earlier. The UFC aren't going to have Merab wait until June-July so Umar can have 3 months of training camp after Ramadan. That's completely unreasonable and as far as I'm concerned it's unprofessional.

The UFC didn’t ask him to fight during Ramadan, Merab did, that’s why it’s considered a duck.

Umar can fight Jan-Feb then May-December, plenty of time to fight 3 times a year (most fighters fight twice).

If the UFC wants they can do whatever they want - they can offer Merab the fight and strip him if he refuses. They can make an interim gimme fight for Umar (or a layup like Vera).

It’s unrealistic to expect the UFC to cater to your whims just because you’re “champ” - it’s a “how useful are you to us” sport - is Merab super-popular? Does he put on super-violent and exciting fights? Is Georgia a region they are trying to build for big money?

You know the answers are no, no, and no, and yet you still think it’s unreasonable when they are in the business of making money by putting on fights. Letting Merab sit until next Summer puts pressure on every other champ to fight more often, he hasn’t earned the goodwill to take a 3 month vacation with little injuries after a fight to start a 3 month training camp.

 

[Alpha_T83]

If the UFC wants they can do whatever they want - they can offer Merab the fight and strip him if he refuses. They can make an interim gimme fight for Umar (or give him a layup like Vera).

This is the crux of your argument and, again, it is both true and untrue.

It's true that the UFC can force Merab to fight Umar next. If Merab won't fight until March, the UFC can make him wait until Umar can fight in June or July. And yes they can strip him if he refuses to fight Umar over the coming 10 months. However, they cannot in practice strip him for refusing to fight Umar before March. I've never heard of the UFC stripping any champion with less than 12 months of inactivity, much less 4-5 months of inactivity. That would set and insane precedent that would not be good for the UFC. I'm pretty sure it would be so bad that the athletic commissions could even overrule them.

And no, the UFC are not going to make an interim fight for Umar when it's been less than 6 months since Merab fought. That would be ridiculous.

 

[Alpha_T83]

So you literally don’t respect a religion because it requires fasting for a month?

I’m an atheist that will criticize every religion (this board isn’t the time or place), but it’s obscene to think fighters should change their entire belief system/way of life because it’s convenient for the UFC. If the UFC likes them they allow it, if not they’ll punish them for it, that’s how it works no matter how you feel about it.

Turns out they kind of like these Nurmagamedov guys for some reason, almost as if they are proven elite fighters that are useful for their Saudi/UAE influence peddling….

As you said, they humor these guys because they have connections to big money in the middle east. No big surprise there.

Again, it's not just one month. Ankalaev last fought during Ramadan in June of 2017, but since then he hasn't even fought until months after Ramadan. This is the trend. More and more fighters observing Ramadan are not only refusing to fight during Ramadan, but refusing to even train during Ramadan. They want 2-3 months afterwards for training camp.

I'm sorry but it's insanely unprofessional to be an MMA fighter and refuse to fight for 3-4 months of the year because of your religion.

And to add onto this point: If Umar came out and said "I will fight Merab in January, Febraury, April, or May, just not March", I don't think we'd be having these discussions right now. And the UFC certainly wouldn't allow Merab to duck Umar by only fighting during March (they would just not offer him a fight that one month). That would make it impossible for Merab to duck him. But Umar won't fight in April, because he won't even train in March. That's Umar's fault for being unprofessional.

 

[TheMMAnalyst]

This is the crux of your argument and, again, it is both true and untrue.

It's true that the UFC can force Merab to fight Umar next. If Merab won't fight until March, the UFC can make him wait until Umar can fight in June or July. And yes they can strip him if he refuses to fight Umar over the coming 10 months. However, they cannot in practice strip him for refusing to fight Umar before March. I've never heard of the UFC stripping any champion with less than 12 months of inactivity, much less 4-5 months of inactivity. That would set and insane precedent that would not be good for the UFC. I'm pretty sure it would be so bad that the athletic commissions could even overrule them.

And no, the UFC are not going to make an interim fight for Umar when it's been less than 6 months since Merab fought. That would be ridiculous.

It’s actually just true.

If they wanted to they could, right? I’m not saying they will, but you saying they can’t if they wanted to is a denial of reality.

They own the Athletic Commissions, literally bought and paid for in their back pocket.

I don’t think they should strip him and they likely won’t because of the bad PR they’d get, but they can do whatever they want - they just had the Commission suspend Khalil for 4.5 months for PEDs to coincide with a PPV where they needed a headliner.

When have they ever given a 4.5 month suspension in their entire history? And it’s just a coincidence that it ends right before the title fight they needed to book him for?

If you can’t see the forest through the trees I don’t like what to tell you.

 

[TheMMAnalyst]

As you said, they humor these guys because they have connections to big money in the middle east. No big surprise there.

Again, it's not just one month. Ankalaev last fought during Ramadan in June of 2017, but since then he hasn't even fought until months after Ramadan. This is the trend. More and more fighters observing Ramadan are not only refusing to fight during Ramadan, but refusing to even train during Ramadan. They want 2-3 months afterwards for training camp.

I'm sorry but it's insanely unprofessional to be an MMA fighter and refuse to fight for 3-4 months of the year because of your religion.

And to add onto this point: If Umar came out and said "I will fight Merab in January, Febraury, April, or May, just not March", I don't think we'd be having these discussions right now. And the UFC certainly wouldn't allow Merab to duck Umar by only fighting during March (they would just not offer him a fight that one month). That would make it impossible for Merab to duck him. But Umar won't fight in April, because he won't even train in March. That's Umar's fault for being unprofessional.

Who do you think the UFC is behind, Merab or Umar?

Based on that everything that falls into place will make sense, no further arguments needed from either of us.

He’s not being unprofessional by being religious lol, he’s doing what he’s done his entire life.

If the UFC didn’t like him they’d punish him for it - what do you think they are going to do?

 

[Objectively Correct]

it was visible on live tv how merab shit his goblin pants, did anybody think he would NOT be ducking Umar

 

[Alpha_T83]

Who do you think the UFC is behind, Merab or Umar?

Based on that everything that falls into place will make sense, no further arguments needed from either of us.

He’s not being unprofessional by being religious lol, he’s doing what he’s done his entire life.

If the UFC didn’t like him they’d punish him for it - what do you think they are going to do?

Sorry but I consider allowing your religion to dictate your life that much to be unprofessional. It's one thing to take one month off a year. Some people take vacations like that every year. But it's another thing to say "I won't do my job for 3-4 months of the year". He can retire from MMA and go be an Imam, then we won't have a problem.

Again, answer me: Why won't Umar offer to fight Merab in April? Or May? If Umar offered to fight Merab in January, February, April, May, or June, the UFC wouldn't let Merab duck him. Why won't Umar offer to fight any month outside of Ramadan?

 

[Objectively Correct]

I have no respect for religious extremists that allow their religion to dictate their behaviour. Believe what you want, but when you start only eating certain foods and observing ridiculous starvation rituals, you have taken things too far. I include the cult of vegans in this as well.

If Umar can't fight during Ramadan, and Merab is willing to wait & schedule a fight during Ramadan to avoid him, then that's Umar's own fault. Umar can join the civilized secular world and fight during Ramadan, or he can punish himself and have noone but himself to blame.

Weird way to say you're envious of their discipline. I dont like the bathtub crew either but this reply reeks of soy and lack of testosterone, its crazy. The civilized world you adhere for, has morals because of Jesus' teachings.

 

[Alpha_T83]

Weird way to say you're envious of their discipline. I dont like the bathtub crew either but this reply reeks of soy and lack of testosterone, its crazy. The civilized world you adhere for, has morals because of Jesus' teachings.

We are getting off topic here so I won't respond more to this line of discussion.

However, I am not at all envious of brainwashed religious zealots. In fact, I consider religion to be the leading cause of violence around the world, and in my opinion the world would be a better place if religion didn't exist.

 

[TheMMAnalyst]

Sorry but I consider allowing your religion to dictate your life that much to be unprofessional. It's one thing to take one month off a year. Some people take vacations like that every year. But it's another thing to say "I won't do my job for 3-4 months of the year". He can retire from MMA and go be an Imam, then we won't have a problem.

Again, answer me: Why won't Umar offer to fight Merab in April? Or May? If Umar offered to fight Merab in January, February, April, May, or June, the UFC wouldn't let Merab duck him. Why won't Umar offer to fight any month outside of Ramadan?

They are independent contractors, not employees, right? Seems like the UFC is fine with fighters doing it as long as they are useful to them. But you let your hatred of Islam blind you to the logic of the fight business.

He doesn’t want to wait until end of May, like you said he won’t train in March so needs April to rebuild before training camp. He never said he needed 4 months off, that’s you lying to make your point more salient.

In fact, he wants to fight someone else in February to stay busy and keep his timing/confidence anyways, so if Merab wants to duck he’ll fight Cejudo/Vera. If he fights in Jan/Feb and then takes March/April off it makes sense to fight next in June. If he fought in Feb/June he could still fight 3 times in the year, while Merab would be lucky to get 2 fights in if he has to wait until May/June for Umar or Figgy/Yan winner.

Somehow you are fine with Merab taking 8-9 months off with no injuries, but not Umar taking 2 months off for religious reasons.

Explain to me what the difference is except you clearly hate fighters that follow Islamic practices?

 

[Thepaintbucket]

Merab might've gotten a title shot sooner if he was willing to fight Aljo. Yes the UFC shouldn't have given Vera a TS over him but it is what it is.

I honestly can't tell if Merab is just playing mind games with Umar or he's trying to make the most of it as champion by trying to make a rematch happen with Sean.

Umar is dangerous and we all know it. Merab knows it too. It's going to happen sooner or later so I'm not worried

 

[Alpha_T83]

They are independent contractors, not employees, right? Seems like the UFC is fine with fighters doing it as long as they are useful to them. But you let your hatred of Islam blind you to the logic of the fight business.

He doesn’t want to wait until end of May, like you said he won’t train in March so needs April to rebuild before training camp. He never said he needed 4 months off, that’s you lying to make your point more salient.

In fact, he wants to fight someone else in February to stay busy and keep his timing/confidence anyways, so if Merab wants to duck he’ll fight Cejudo/Vera. If he fights in Jan/Feb and the takes March/April off it makes sense to fight next in June.

Somehow you are fine with Merab taking 8-9 months off with no injuries, but not Umar taking 2 months off for religious reasons.

Explain to me what the difference is except you clearly hate fighters that follow Islamic practices?

It's unprofessional to refuse to fight for 3-4 months of the year as an MMA fighter, period. It has nothing to do with hatred my friend.

And you keep missing the point that Umar is not the champion. He has zero right to demand Merab defend against him at specific dates, and there is zero precedent for the UFC forcing champions to fight 4-5 months after their last fight. Trust me, if the UFC could force fighters to fight every 4 months, they would do it.

Again, it is very standard for champions to fight every 6 months. There is nothing unreasonable about that. You know what is 6 months after September? Oh that's right, the month of March. It's not Merab taking 8-9 months off, it's Merab taking 6 months between fights and Umar refusing to fight him for 3-4 months of the year.

This is a problem created by Umar, not Merab.

 

[RockyLockridge]

Only Suga thinks he deserves it and he’s getting hip surgery, out 9 months.

So again - who should he fight? Wait until May to fight Figgy/Yan? Would love to see that fight but he should fight Umar in February and then the winner will fight the winner of Figgy/Yan over Summer.

These divisions get stalled forever because of this shit, it’s frustrating as fans because it stalks out all other contenders waiting for their shot as well.

Waiting until after ramadan to defend the title would be holding shit up. Fighting before that is keeping things moving.

 

[Alpha_T83]

Merab might've gotten a title shot sooner if he was willing to fight Aljo. Yes the UFC shouldn't have given Vera a TS over him but it is what it is.

I honestly can't tell if Merab is just playing mind games with Umar or he's trying to make the most of it as champion by trying to make a rematch happen with Sean.

Umar is dangerous and we all know it. Merab knows it too. It's going to happen sooner or later so I'm not worried

Exactly. It will happen sooner or later.

Even if Umar refuses to fight in March/April, and Merab ends up fighting the Figgy/Yan winner in April, I still believe these two will fight before the end of 2025.

I just don't like everyone blaming Merab, when Umar is seemingly unwilling to accept a fight for a 3 month period in 2025. When you limit yourself that much you lose opportunities, and you have no one but yourself to blame.

 

[Big Tuppy Hole]

or merab himself who had to watch his title fight go to chito for some reason

So this justifies him ducking the No1 contender and deliberately looking to fight in March to avoid Umar.

 

[kkthx]

Ah, here we are. My opinion is 100% based on a strongly biased hate for not one, but both fighters.

Umar should fuck off with the ramadan bullshit and he really doesnt deserve a title shot anyway.

Merab should fuck off after the "buh buh not gonna fight my friend aljo" bullshit and I still hate him for hugging Aldo for 15 minutes. He is also clearly ducking Umar specifically.

Veredict: Hate for Merab more substantial. So book Merab vs Umar in feb and let him cry.