Usman is still elite

[TerraRayzing]

Hilariously they also needed someone for aliskerov to fight they could have easily put him vs khamzat. Costa was deemed the perfect opponent for both.

But then they don't get to see both win in highly favored matchmaking for the home crowd.

They actually had the gall to reach out to Sean, the fucking MW champ, and asked him to defend his belt on short notice for a contender who had 0 ranked wins at MW. <45><45> Can't write this shit.

 

[Deleted member 110072]

He doesnt seem as shot as latter Woodley I'd agree but I think he has become rather more passive, he was never ultra aggressive of course but he does seem more comfortable doing very little.

 

[Mmmmmmma1234]

His problem seems mental more than anything, as he himself said in the post fight interview. He has been at it for a while and his knees are shot but when he really commits, he does look like the Usman of old. You could see it in the third Leon fight as well, when he wanted to press the action, he was able to but most of the time, the dude looked wary. In the Khamzat fight, he looked hesitant in the first but you could see him build confidence as the fight went on.
That said, mental block aside, dude is still legit. His last two losses were razor close and even at 36, idk, I think he's a top 5 MW.

Usman still good but he's got nothing for the top of MW come on, he'd look like Rockhold taking over LHW.

He's still beating most ww now but he only gets older and more worn out from here.

 

[Neck&Neck]

A few months in Nebraska to tighten up the screws and Marty will be back

 

[Busgosu]

Watch him lose next three fights. Seen this many many times before. He's done.

 

[TerraRayzing]

Watch him lose next three fights. Seen this many many times before. He's done.

Nah I don't think so. Not like he's going the Woodley route. At all.

 

[HHJ]

Yes but is he ALL ELITE

@Peli

 

[Gamboal]

Yea. The pre fight narrative that he’s washed made no sense. Usman would beat a lot of ranked MWs. He’s good size, has elite cardio, elite grappling, and a championship pedigree.

He had no full camp for this fight but he has not shown elite cardio his last two fights. 2nd Leon fight in rounds 4 and 5 was the most gassed I ever seen him, he was falling into Leon Scott. This fight, he was gassed after round 1 like Khamzat. So yeah he shows elite cardio when he fights a powder puff puncher that won't grapple him like Coby, or against a retiring age Masvidal, but when the fight is not made easy for him he tires like any other fighter.

I'd also disagree he has 'elite' grappling with those crumbling legs of his. Elite grappling is the likes of Khamzat, Islam, Jones etc. Usman right now is a level below those guys, very good but not elite.

 

[Peli]

Yes but is he ALL ELITE

@Peli

Well, no. WWE was bought by endeavor, so no.

 

[HHJ]

Well, no. WWE was bought by endeavor, so no.

<[analyzed}>

 

[Yellowcrab]

He's still a top fighter, at least in his own division.

 

[deanambrose]

Yes. it looks like Usman was just at mental disadvantage in last Leon fight. Was gun shy and was worried to be not KOed again. Leon now has his number.
Yesterday it didn't look like he lost a step. He might be still in twilight of his prime.

 

[C0NCH3TO]

Not sure if elite or not but definitely not in his prime. He’s 36 years old which is OLD for a welter.. and almost 25 fights.

Also lol @ him being a top 5 mw, based on what?

 

[Thepaintbucket]

What are the odds for a former champion who is pushing 37 years old with two bad knees and having been Kod to make a big turn around?

While it may be true Usman can still be competitive it's very unlikely we will see his old self. Even if it was a strong possibility time is not on his side.

Usman is asking for DDP next and this can be a disaster waiting to happen

 

[icffedor]

So cringe people calling him the goat before Leon happened, he literally beat masvidal twice and Colby twice and Burns in the middle, no where near gsp's run.

 

[usernamee]

Yea. The pre fight narrative that he’s washed made no sense. Usman would beat a lot of ranked MWs. He’s good size, has elite cardio, elite grappling, and a championship pedigree.

The pre fight narrative made sense because it was Khamzat haters trying to devalue whatever Khamzat did in there against him.

It was extra hilarious seeing the posts of the nature "I for some reason have took a liking in Usman"

Completely oblivious that it's their hatred for another fighter that made them change their tune.

 

[WallNStallToeStomper]

Coming of a career altering KO and a total routing in the rematch as an aging champ with highly suspect knees... shit fighters get written off for less in MMA.

I think he's still elite and would likely have made a better showing for himself with a full camp, he still made it competitive in r3.

Unfortunately I think Usman is barreling down the hill from here on out. He'll bounce between wins and losses with title contenders before hanging it up dude to his shot knees imo

your just saying that because it allows you to try and dismiss GOATmaev's greatness

 

[Poirierfan]

Proper training camp and a 5 Rd fight, Khamzat would have been in deep shit.

 

[Huligani]

usman is still there 100%. a proper fight camp, no more USADA, he's right there at either WW or MW IMO. he went the distance with full fight camp kamzhat, and IMO won rounds 2 and 3.

MMA fans are getting dumber. Never before has anyone believed anything as outrageous as Volk deserving the win over Islam in their first fight, and now Usman deserving the win over Khamzat.

 

[BabyBlue_Bomber]

Jury is still out at 185…

But he is definitely a top welterweight.