Umar vs Yan is destined to be an all-timer

[hbombbisping]

Umar and Yan are going to cross paths soon.

Umar's biggest advantage here is ironically Khabib's genius game-planning. Umar is going to need to kick and grapple.

I don't think he can hang in a boxing match against Yan, who is tougher and has more of a mean streak and Umar's grappling is good but not Khabib level it will probably mostly be a stand up war with some positional back and forth.

50/50

 

[MrBlackheart]

It will be a hell of a fight for sure. One good thing about beating a long reigning champ is a set of new matchups.

 

[LoveMyMMA]

Gonna be a banger fight for sure.

But let's worry about Umar vs. Fig first.

Khabib is leading Umar's camp from start to finish this time so hopefully we see a better version of Umar.

 

[Orochimaru 大蛇丸]

I hope Umar wins and that's what we get

The UFC loves O'Malley and have sank to new lows in their willingness to book blatantly unearned horseshit TS this year so if O'Malley wins that's what you gotta expect

 

[Kung Fu Kowboy]

It'll definitely be the Best 135 Pound Title Fight of the Night.

 

[europe1]

In before Umar takes body-triangle during a scramble and sits on it for a whole round ala Sterling-vs-Yan II.

 

[alchemy]

I doubt Dana makes this fight. Two Russians fighting for the title is too much for the UFC, I think. They'll find someone else.

 

[HuskySamoan]

In before Umar takes body-triangle during a scramble and sits on it for a whole round ala Sterling-vs-Yan II.

Seriously doubt he can pull that off. Hes going to circle away a lot to exploit Yans flat feet, kick and pot shot + evade. When Yans able to close distance he will diffuse by trying to grapple. If Yan can effectively pressure it could get really interesting but Umars going to frustrate him a ton.

 

[methrogenn]

Umar isn't getting the TS anymore even if he beats figgy, it'll be Merab & if Yan beats him again it'll be O'Malley

 

[Elvis.]

Yeah , that fight is a probable war

 

[europe1]

Seriously doubt he can pull that off. Hes going to circle away a lot to exploit Yans flat feet, kick and pot shot + evade. When Yans able to close distance he will diffuse by trying to grapple. If Yan can effectively pressure it could get really interesting but Umars going to frustrate him a ton.

Dunno. Potshoot kicks + takedowns to backcontrol was basically how Usman beat Hughes. So its a part of the Nurmi catalogue. Plus its not like Yan doesn't expose his back during scrambles, like many wrestlers do. Keep in mind Umar don't need to take him down he only needs to make Yan turn around.

 

[Streeter]

If Yan is healthy he wins an its not tough.

Yan has crazy TDD . A good gas tank . Superior striking.

Umar might ......."might" get him down rd 1. Be tough after that and I doubt he keeps him down .

Yan wins and easiercthsn merab did

 

[xhaydenx]

Yeh, going to be an all time ass whooping for Unmar, that's for sure.

 

[Alpha_T83]

People are sleeping on UFC favoritism.

O'Malley could beat Song and earn the rematch against Yan. Even if Umar wins, there's no guarantee he'll be willing to fight again in April, shortly after Ramadan. If the timing doesn't work, O'malley could easily jump the line and get the next title shot.

 

[rjmbrd]

Merab turns 35 next month and fought FOUR times in 2025, his last fight being in October. It was completely asinine to turn around from a 5 round fight October 4th to another 5 round fight with Yan December 6th. The UFC operates like a carnival coming to town, not a professional sport.

That isn't even enough time to physically recuperate from a camp and actual 5 round title fight, then have a camp and another weight cut starting just 6 weeks later.

For comparison, Yan's last fight was in July.

I add this context to say - Merab would have likely performed better with a suitably turnaround time, minimum of 3 more months, and he's also aging out.

IMO as good as Yan is, he looked better because of those factors and Umar is a much more difficult problem style wise.

 

[Preston broadus]

Petyr looks unbeatable.

He outwrestled merab and punished him striking. Any other man besides merab would have been finished.

Petyr would be the heavy favorite in my eyes and im looking forward to seeing someone obliterate team khabib.

 

[mkt]

I doubt Dana makes this fight. Two Russians fighting for the title is too much for the UFC, I think. They'll find someone else.

They've already had Merab vs. Yan twice and Merab vs. Umar. No reason they won't have Umar vs. Yan in the future if one of them is the champ.

 

[mkess101]

Man people are really deluding themselves here. Umar's skills are second to none. He CLEARLY won rds 1 and 2 vs Merab, and then his gas tank failed him. Merab does that to people, i know. Yan learned his lesson from the first fight: if you think you're in good enough shape to stay with Merab, you're wrong. You have to be in God-like shape. Maybe Umar also learned his lesson. If so, and he doesn't fade, he can absolutely go skill for skill with Yan. Beat him? That I don't know. Maybe? Maybe not. But it will be epic to find out.

 

[hbombbisping]

Umar isn't getting the TS anymore even if he beats figgy, it'll be Merab & if Yan beats him again it'll be O'Malley

Yeah there's no way in hell Merab is getting a TS again much less over an O'Malley or a Nurmagomedov.

Sorry buddeh Merab is basically Belal part 2 to the UFC

 

[Kratos94]

Umar better hope his cardio has been greatly improved over five rounds.