Was O'Malley "extra" locked in this fight?

[Dreyga Hates You Sherbums]

Interesting thought, his grappling looked improved, his striking looked regressed.

I guess everyone disagrees with me, but I thought he was doing some really good bodywork. I know it’s not as flashing, but he was really targeting that liver and landing frequently.

 

[RockyLockridge]

I guess everyone disagrees with me, but I thought he was doing some really good bodywork. I know it’s not as flashing, but he was really targeting that liver and landing frequently.

yeah but i felt that merab was able to find him on the feet easier than the first fight, sean got hit by some 2-4 punch combinations by a guy so much shorter.... Merab gave sean PLENTY of chances to KO him and still got outstruck i was surprised by that. but again seans grappling was crazy improved he did a way better job of keeping the fight standing. the problem? he was getting lit up on the feet...

 

[the_details]

I thought he looked good, he was defending takedowns well, and landing some good shots. But Merab is just too good a wrestler, and the worst possible matchup for Sean.

I think he should go to FW. Fights with Holloway, Yair, Lopes, and Topuria would be sick.

Merab's takedown % was essentially the same as the first fight. 40% in the first fight, 41% in the second. He didn't defend takedowns any better than he did the first time.

I guess everyone disagrees with me, but I thought he was doing some really good bodywork. I know it’s not as flashing, but he was really targeting that liver and landing frequently.

O'Malley landed 47 sig strikes in the first fight. 23 to the head, 22 to the body, 2 to the leg. Basically half of his strikes were body shots.
In the rematch, he landed 31 sig strikes, 14 to the head, 15 to the body, 2 to the leg. Again, basically half to the body. There isn't any real statistical improvement here.

yeah but i felt that merab was able to find him on the feet easier than the first fight, sean got hit by some 2-4 punch combinations by a guy so much shorter.... Merab gave sean PLENTY of chances to KO him and still got outstruck i was surprised by that. but again seans grappling was crazy improved he did a way better job of keeping the fight standing. the problem? he was getting lit up on the feet...

You saw an improvement in Merab's striking because there was a statistical improvement here. In the first fight, O'Malley landed 45 sig strikes at range, while Merab landed 29. In the rematch, O'Malley landed 30 to Merab's 29. Again, these are at range numbers, so no clinch or ground strikes. So in the first fight O'Malley landed 50% more strikes at range than Merab, in the rematch is was essentially a tie.

O'Malley's grappling, though? I think the commentary did a good job selling his takedown defense. As I detailed above, it was statistically identical to the first fight. Merab doesn't have mystical takedown ability. He tries a lot of takedowns, his UFC career average is only 35%. His average against Sean is 40%.

 

[SuperAlly]

"I really wish ppl would judge fighter's careers at the end instead of in the middle."

The thread was made now but it is a fair point. We need to save this thread until Merab retires.

We really don't

It doesn't matter if people want to discuss Merab's career so far to Weidman's (likely) complete career

It's just fun conversation and no need for you two to gatekeep conversation topics

 

[SuperAlly]

The fight was competitive, but what was surprising is Merab arguably landing the better shots on the feet.

Sean was understandably trying to strike Merab in the body. This was a reasonable game plan since it drains the tank (although Merab's seems limitless) and Merab can't duck under a strike to the head for the takedown. But multiple times after Sean targeted Merab's body, Merab was able to land a clean counter to Sean's noggin.

Sean has shown he's right up there in terms of being elite. His striking is incredible. He sniped Aljo and made Chito into a punching bag.

But Merab is next level. Highest pressure fighter I've ever watched, and he's able to land enough solid shots to his head to be a threat.

It wasn't competitive

Merab won 3 rounds out of 3, including the striking one, and stopped him in the 3rd.

Sean is very good at striking for an MMA guy but certainly not incredible/special/phenomenal

 

[SuperAlly]

Interesting thought, his grappling looked improved, his striking looked regressed.

I thought he looked good, he was defending takedowns well, and landing some good shots. But Merab is just too good a wrestler, and the worst possible matchup for Sean.

I think he should go to FW. Fights with Holloway, Yair, Lopes, and Topuria would be sick.

Stats have been posted in other threads

His grappling was actually worse. Got taken down more times in about half the fight time and at a marginally worse TDD for Sean

 

[krelianx]

Stats have been posted in other threads

His grappling was actually worse. Got taken down more times in about half the fight time and at a marginally worse TDD for Sean

I probably don't remember the first fight well enough, but I do remember thinking Sean was way too passive. He looked good in the first round this time around and things went south from there...

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

Dude hasnt jacked off all year just to get subbed in the 3rd

LOL

Gigasize cum stain on the mat after teh sexy North/South

 

[MigitAs]

Semen retention is proven the worst base for MMA.

So true I mean, just ask Chase Hooper.

 

[ejazahmednit]

Locked into a north south choke

 

[Eric Silva 2.0]

We really don't

It doesn't matter if people want to discuss Merab's career so far to Weidman's (likely) complete career

It's just fun conversation and no need for you two to gatekeep conversation topics

"It's just fun conversation."

I agree. I think that's Sherdog in general (for me). I don't take it too seriously even though I love the sport. If I was taking it seriously, then the comparison would have to wait for Merab's retirement. I answered the question, so I agree with you. I think it's fair to say to really understand the question, when Merab retires, revisit this question again. I didn't mean literally that no discussion about this is productive.

If I'm being honest, when Merab retires, I expect his career to be better than Weidman's. Weidman fell off a cliff later in his career and right now Merab is at least mentioned as a possible GOAT BW fighter. He could possibly be the GOAT if he wins a few more fights. I just don't expect him to get KO'd and go through what Weidman has. I don't have a crystal ball so it isn't a serious thought that I would debate.

 

[ejazahmednit]

Testicular torsion is no joke
#GiveSeanAnotherChance
#FappingSeanOMalley

 

[TheUltraCasual]

Dude changed his whole life and still got utterly broken by Merab.

You could see the shock in his eyes when not nutting or smoking weed didn't stop Merab from lifting him, who would have guessed.

 

[TheUltraCasual]

Testicular torsion is no joke
#GiveSeanAnotherChance
#FappingSeanOMalley

Wtf did he claim to have had one?

 

[the_details]

You could see the shock in his eyes when not nutting or smoking weed didn't stop Merab from lifting him, who would have guessed.

That was his O'face. It's been a while so it didn't take much.

 

[ejazahmednit]

Wtf did he claim to have had one?

Not jackin the peen will cause blue balls I imagine

 

[Söze Aldo]

No clue why O'Malley didn't just pull this move to get out of the choke?

 

[TheUltraCasual]

Not jackin the peen will cause blue balls I imagine

Quite different from a testicular torsion lmao

 

[TrueBias]

Look, he just needs another tattoo.

 

[ejazahmednit]

Quite different from a testicular torsion lmao

I know, i just like the term and its mega painful so