Who does Vitaliy Minakov beat out of the UFC's top 10?

[mattandbenny]

Very wishful thinking, but if UFC did manage to sign Minakov, how many of the top 10 would he beat?

 

[Mixfight]

Its hard to say. He can punch and can grapple and is 31 years old.

Watching Stipe vs Werdum and Rockhold vs Bisping just proves that a fighter can be "better", more "decorated" and expected to win and still have a fight costing mental lapse. Thats just the way this sport goes.

Vitaly can and should definitely compete.

 

[Phrozenspite]

I think he beats Hunt, Browne and Roy Nelson for sure. Possibly Arlovski too. Josh Barnett is an intriguing one if it comes down to the two of them grappling, Same with Rothwell. I wouldn't favor him vs the top 5

 

[moreorless87]

The thing is I think the HW division today is very different from the mid 00's, back then I think there were far fewer obvious weaknesses to target vs most of the top 10 and as a result if you wanted to get near the top you needed to some exceptional skill in one or more areas..

Today though I would argue that whilst the top 10 clearly does have dangerous fighters in it there are now a lot more weaknesses to potentially exploit. Look at Stipe becoming champ for example(or to a lesser degree Rothwell/Browne), I wouldn't say he's shown the very highest level of ability to do so but he's well rounded and has fought smart. Minakov obviously isn't identical but to me is the same kind of fighter(rather than a new Fedor or even a new Sergei), not sure he's at the very highest skill level anywhere but he's good enough to exploit flaws in an opponent anywhere they are and not prone to errors or gassing badly.

I look at the top 10 besides Stipe and see a lot of weaknesses...

Overeem - Obviously the chin, perhaps cardio if pushed hard.

JDS - Defence when backed up standing, potentially cardio as well.

Cain - Defence standing, cardio and potentially sub defence.

Hunt - Grappling as always but now also cardio/speed.

Arlovski - Defend when backed up and chin.

 

[TheBrownRanger]

It's a "who knows?" type of thing. As played out and cliche as it sounds, there's a huge difference in skill between guys like Peter Graham and Mondragon and guys in the UFC. Minakov struggled with an old, out of prime Cheick Kongo. His last four opponents are guys Stefan Struve and Derrick Lewis would easily be able to beat.

Minakov is a bit overrated. Only wins I see him getting most of the time are Nelson and Arlovski.

Browne, Hunt, Barnett, and Rothwell would be like some 50/50 Heavyweight shit. Interesting match-ups IMO.

Stee-pay, Werdum, JDS, and Cain should be able to beat him handily, IMO.

 

[moreorless87]

It's a "who knows?" type of thing. As played out and cliche as it sounds, there's a huge difference in skill between guys like Peter Graham and Mondragon and guys in the UFC. Minakov struggled with an old, out of prime Cheick Kongo. His last four opponents are guys Stefan Struve and Derrick Lewis would easily be able to beat.

Minakov is a bit overrated. Only wins I see him getting most of the time are Nelson and Arlovski.

Browne, Hunt, Barnett, and Rothwell would be like some 50/50 Heavyweight shit. Interesting match-ups IMO.

Stee-pay, Werdum, JDS, and Cain should be able to beat him handily, IMO.

I'd have to watch it again but my memory of Kongo was more that he played it safe rather than "struggled" with him plus of course an ex UFC champ was almost KOed by him multiple times and couldn't finish him on the ground.

It is really tough to say for sure since we just haven't seen him tested against higher level comp, I can give the example with Stipe doing well fighting smart but we don't know for sure. What I would say is that I'd be pretty confident in him not being upset easily should be be signed and fight lower/mid level guys which I would be less confident of with some of the top 10 HWs.