Would Islam, Usman N and Khabib get gassed out by round 4 vs a LW like Merab?

[wolffanghameha]

If Merab was 20-25lbs heavier (25lbs since heavier guys can cut more water) and proportionately taller/longer, would he gas out the Eagles LWs? When I watching him beat Umar, I was thinking it's further confirmation that BW is better-skilled than LW nowadays (has been for a few years). People were rightly high on Umar being the new dominant champ from that camp, on par with Islam, but Merab made him look like nothing special in rds 4 and 5.

I think a "LW Merab" would gas out Islam, worse than Volk did in their first fight - by the end, Volk was doing quite well in the wrestling. Only seen two Usman fights (vs Benson and another), but he seems to fight similarly to Umar so I'm guessing LW Merab can make it happen. Khabib I'm not so sure about, since we've never seen him against anyone who's a great MMA wrestler and willing to use it against him, so we don't know how tired he'd get or how he looks when tired.

Yeh sure, if he was 20lbs heavier he might not be able to sustain a high pace for as long, but even if he loses some stamina, he has such a surplus that it probably wouldn't matter.

Yes he'd also have to worry about the extra KO power, especially before he gasses them out, but we've seen him on the feet with powerful early-fight strikers like Marlon and O'Malley. We know he can take a punch. Plus his recovery is good after being rocked. And it's not like these three are known for big power. The main KO risk is a head kick from Usman/Islam or Khabib hitting him with one big punch (eg leaping rear uppercut). Not like we're putting his skillset against Chandler or Oliveira, who have big KO power.

 

[Koala]

What about a WW Merab vs GSP, or a LHW Merab vs Jones or a giant Merab vs Godzilla? Will they gas out?

 

[rorschach51]

 

[RockyLockridge]

Yes absolutely

 

[TerraRayzing]

Must be peak derangement if you start giggling over fanfiction fighters.

 

[Dr. Rose]

Khabib is a lightweight Merab

 

[Dr. Rose]

Khabib is a lightweight Merab

 

[Dana's Moonface]

Khabib smesh

 

[VinceArch]

A fantasy fight I'd like to see is Khabib vs a prime Sean Sherk.

 

[FreedomCricket]

Khabib is a lightweight Merab

No. Khabib has the ability to take you down and keep you there. There's no time when Khabib shot 20+ times for a takedown let alone 49 times as Merab did against Yan.

 

[xhaydenx]

No. Khabib has the ability to take you down and keep you there. There's no time when Khabib shot 20+ times for a takedown let alone 49 times as Merab did against Yan.

Khabib went 1/6 on takedowns after round 2 against short notice Al Iaquinta lol. Bro didn't have the energy to shoot 20+ times like Merab can. And it's not like Iaquinta was some great wrestler either.

And most of the time Merab isn't even trying to get you down. He's just trying to get you to react and struggle a bit. It taxes the opponent and gets them worrying about the next one while he starts mixing in other things. Like, there were a couple takedowns towards the end against Umar where he just got him down and then immediately separated. He didn't care about keeping him down. He just wanted to take him down. He then just did it again.

 

[Greyscale]

Yeah, they only look good against Horchers and Bekzat Almakhans while not making weight or being juiced to the gills with accidentally ingested/doctor prescribed PEDs.

Omar met his Tibau but thanks God this time around judges were not incompetent enough to give the win to Omar

 

[FrappeDuRocma]

Khabib is a lightweight Merab

With JJB and finishing abilities.

 

[MarioLemieux]

LW's can't have cardio like that. That's manlet cardio.

Khabib would throw Merab out of the cage I've seen him suplex Umar.

 

[moosaev]

How would Jon Jones look against a LHW or HW Merab? How would GSP look against a WW Merab? Oh that’s right, you don’t care, because it’s a dumb hypothetical and you’re not trying to diminish their careers. Fuckin clown lol.

 

[Doctor Grudge]

Khabib has top tier genetics when it comes to cardio. Khabib could probably hang in there, but it really depends on who would be stronger in the wrestling department which is pretty hard to say, since we have no idea how a 155 pound Merab would look like.

Usman and Islam wouldn't fair any better than Umar. Islam would probably gas earlier and harder than the Nurmigemdovs.

 

[Meathead Jock]

Khabib wouldn't allow him to back pedal him. Anyone that can't avoid back pedaling from him will eventually gas to some extent though.

 

[NoSmilez]

Islam gets tired. Khabib will get tired too if he wasn’t the hammer.

 

[GreatSaintGuillotine]

I'd lean towards no. They're all predominantly grapplers who dictate the pace and thrive on hyper aggressive opponents. Umar and Usman are well rounded but the weaker grapplers of the 4

 

[Dr. Rose]

No. Khabib has the ability to take you down and keep you there. There's no time when Khabib shot 20+ times for a takedown let alone 49 times as Merab did against Yan.

That is fair. I was more thinking about seemingly never tired.