Usman Nurmagamedov in the UFC

[JKS]

Hooker is underrated but I just dont see a path to victory for him against Usman. Seems like a nightmare matchup for him IMO.

You don't consider Shabliy a top LW?

I think it's a pretty good match up for Hooker. He's certainly got the stand up game to deal with Usman, Hooker is a more dangerous striker as well. And I think he handles the grappling as well, Hooker just deal with Gamrot who's a more aggressive and better grappler than Usman. I dont know if I would pick Hooker, but it woudl be a very competitive fight.

I can't say Shabily is a top LW without actually seeing him fight a top LW. We had all these guys come to LW years ago like Guram, Damir, Gamrot, Arman and only one of them managed to do anything significant at LW. And for those guys it took many fights to get a gauge on how good they are.

 

[JKS]

The fighter's resume isn't the end all be all. Did you not realize Islam was a top LW until he finished Oliveira? His resume got clowned left and right prior to that.

Here is the difference. Islam came up in the UFC and their roster, he developed into a top fighter year after year and evolved based on the UFC skill level. Now before he even fought Olivera, guys like Green, Hooker, Moises and Dober, Ramos were all very good fighters. You had a very good idea that Islam was elite. Islam developed vs higher opposition.

Only haters would clown Islams resume, but to second guess it is okay, to say we don't know if he's elite till he beats elite. We've seen guys come in and look the way Islam did but fall against the top5, while others succeed. You had guys like Till come in and go 7-0, look great and then look bad vs the higher opposition.

So to say Usman is #2 in the world is absolutely ridiculous. You would need to have him come to the UFC and fight several opponets in the top 10 to see how good he is. One thing I know from experiece, is when you have guys who come from other organizations and are already established top figthers, and are thrown in to fight only top 5 and 10, they never do very well overall. And that is why I second guess Usman.

 

[xentreos]

Watching usman and shabily fight last night I felt like that was one of the highest level fights I've watched in recent memory. No excuse for the UFC not to have both of those guys under the UFC banner fighting contenders.

 

[Hdfi]

AJ McKee vs Usman needs to happen to answer some questions.

 

[kingmob6]

I don't know about that to be honest, Hooker is an underated guy and I think he gives him big problems. He's never fought anyone on Hookers level yet.

Until I see vs an actual top LW, I dont know.

Shabliy is probably better than hooker

 

[KavkazDominance]

Alexander shabliy would be a top 5 ufc lw easily. He’s dominated everybody he’s fought ever since losing a split decision to eduard vartanyan 8 years ago (who’s arguably the best lw outside of the ufc). His training partner arman tsarukyan also says shabliy is a top 3 lw in the world.

As far as the question, usman is undoubtedly the second best lw in the world. His style is damn near impossible to beat, point karate that’ll always win on the scorecards with nurmagomedov grappling to fall back on will be very hard to beat

Best LW outside UFC is AJ McKee bro

 

[gracie_barra_samurai]

Usman - 5'11
Arman - 5'7

But Usman is the jacked manlet, OP, right?

I said Usman will kick his head off because Arman's a jacked manlet

 

[JKS]

Shabliy is probably better than hooker

Based on what?

Hooker has been in there with world class fighters and beaten some very good fighters. What has Shabily done??

 

[Xoleth]

I said Usman will kick his head off because Arman's a jacked manlet

In my defense, I made worse mistakes in my life.

 

[kingmob6]

Based on what?

Hooker has been in there with world class fighters and beaten some very good fighters. What has Shabily done??

Hooker pretty much lost to all good fighters he has ever fought, he has a few good wins, but still underwhelming. He is really a journeyman. Shabliy is more skilled fighter, just without ufc on his resume, and quite a few solid fighters as well just with less clout.

 

[BJJ4Tone]

I'd like to see how Usman fares against AJ McKee. He's well rounded with the wrestling/grappling to counter Usman.

Shabily is very skilled but was way too passive.

If Usman can beat AJ McKee as easily as Shabily, then outside of Islam I don't see anyone in UFC posing any problems for him.

All of this.

 

[HuskySamoan]

This guy has fought no one that's an actual top LW in respect to the UFC LW division. He looks dominant fighting in Bellator, but once you get into the top 10 in UFC LW it's very different. I don't even know if Usman would be top 5 in the UFC. There is a very big gap in skill level between Bellator and UFC LW.

I'd consider Shabliy and AJ McKee top 10 caliber in the UFC for sure. If you think Dan Hooker, Moicano, 36 year old Beneil etc are a "big gap" from Shabliy and McKee you might not know what you're watching.

 

[dildos]

Poirier, chandler, bsd, Charles.. they all destroy him.

 

[fortheo]

Shabliy is probably better than hooker

He is, but stylistically, hooker's length and willingness to actually force a fight would probably result in him being a more interesting match up for usman than what shabliy was.

 

[Big Tuppy Hole]

This guy has fought no one that's an actual top LW in respect to the UFC LW division. He looks dominant fighting in Bellator, but once you get into the top 10 in UFC LW it's very different. I don't even know if Usman would be top 5 in the UFC. There is a very big gap in skill level between Bellator and UFC LW.

I've heard this same story about Islam and Khabib. These guys talent is undeniable

 

[Big Tuppy Hole]

Poirier, chandler, bsd, Charles.. they all destroy him.

BsD gives it away, your trolling I better than this.

 

[CC27]

He'd be top 5. UFC LW div is deep but he could def beat and be favored over guys like Hooker, Gamrot, Renato, older Dustin and Justin, BSD etc.

Islam, Arman and probably Charles are the ones who would beat above him.

Problem for Usman is after AJ he's not gonna be fighting anyone on the level of top 10 in the world talent.

 

[wrb]

Both guys last night are amazing and both would do well in UFC but I do think Usman seems small and would have trouble vs Islam, Arman, Olivera and maybe even Max, dustin, hooker and possibly gamrot/Fiziev. I am not saying he would lose and it might be that I don't understand his style of fighting. Honestly it would be awesome to have him in the mix, him vs Olivera would be fire.

 

[ExitLUPin]

Islam and Charles are his only threats

Most other LWs are too one dimensional either in grappling or striking or cant keep up with Usmans speed

 

[TadDunbar]

The guy is boring as fuck. Keep him in Bellator