Yan must win. The Merab Meta Is Killing Bantamweight

[DotaDos]

Merab Haters are GSP haters all grown up

 

[Deceasedxo]

I don't get the Merab hate. He's a good, funny guy. His style I find entertaining to watch because he is so fucking active and he's beating the best. No Merab fight has been as boring as Khamzat or Islam's most recent wins.

 

[Mob69]

I find Merab dull - but he is no spring chicken so will surely lose in the next year or so.

 

[Skarsgard]

You ignored the actual examples I gave. Explain the Aldo fight. Merab went 0 for 16 on takedowns but won because he held him against the fence. That isn't solving a puzzle, that is weaponized stalling.

The forcefield you’re talking about is the threat of the chain wrestling. You can't just throw a kick when the punishment isn't taking damage, but getting wet-blanketed against the cage for 4 minutes. It forces opponents into pure defensive grappling mode. It’s effective, sure. But pretending that watching a guy spam 25+ takedowns to secure zero finishes is elite fighting rather than elite gaming of the system is delusional.

Aldo is in my top five favorite fighters of all time, but he was always too content to just rely on superior defense and coast out rounds. He had that loss coming.

Wouldn't that be on the striker for failing to time the takedowns and openings? Why are we faulting Merab for being better than his opponents? Even if you negate his takedowns from the scoring, his opponents aren't doing anything other than getting worked over.

 

[Gregoire1]

Islam and Chimaev (and Khabib in the past) are much more boring than Merab.

 

[Black0ut]

What’s the difference between landing 5 TDs and laying on a guy

Vs

Landing 20 TDs and also striking with a guy?

 

[flektarn]

Nah I want Merab to hit all time BW GOAT status. Set a standard that can't be topped.

 

[Conan the K-9]

Merabs takedown and cardio clinics are 100 times more entertaining than these lnp championship fights that we have lately got to enjoy by “dominant” grapplers.

It’s like Merab is toying with his opponents, let’s them get up, let’s the fight continue until he tosses them to the floor again. He is not holding for dear life and not to lose. On top of this all, he is a very active champion, others should watch and learn.
Seriously I don’t get the Merab hate.

 

[Söze Aldo]

The Merab hate is so forced. Imagine being pissed a champion wants to and will actually be defending his belt 4 times in one year?

Would you prefer they be like Khamzat, who gives you one boring fight once a year?

 

[RockyLockridge]

Corey gets stuck in defense mode every time he faces a grappler. It's kind of a shame because he defends really well against wrestlers for the most part but apparently that takes up all of his brain power lol.

not everyone can walk and chew bubble gum

 

[RockyLockridge]

Merabs takedown and cardio clinics are 100 times more entertaining than these lnp championship fights that we have lately got to enjoy by “dominant” grapplers.

It’s like Merab is toying with his opponents, let’s them get up, let’s the fight continue until he tosses them to the floor again. He is not holding for dear life and not to lose. On top of this all, he is a very active champion, others should watch and learn.
Seriously I don’t get the Merab hate.

I agree 100% i do not classify Merab as one of the "boring" champions. I think his fights are invariably more exciting than pantoja even

 

[Shay Brennan]

Wouldn't that be on the striker for failing to time the takedowns and openings? Why are we faulting Merab for being better than his opponents?

This. Umar, Yan, O'Malley, Corey all had 5 rounds to time his entries and put him away.

And even if that's like a chance per round, that's 5 chances in a fight. But it's way more than that since Merab doesn't have the best top control.

If Petr is gonna win this fight, he's gonna have to take chances and put Merab away which he is very capable of.
Considering Marlon Moraes wobbled Merab bad with punches, 1 well timed knee or uppercut while he's entering could finish him.

Petr also has the cardio to go with Merab full 5 rounds unlike some of his other opponents.

Hopefully it's a more competitive fight than the last, although big props to Merab for shooting 49 takedowns that fight.

 

[SuperNerd]

Merab stinks.

I would rather watch Islam struggle with someone's guard than watch Meravb build to another takedown

He does nothing at a furious pace

I cant build the effort to check his fights, but espn says he hasn't made a pass/advancement like 10+ fights. And that's easy to believe

I dont think everyone who is eager to defend this guy is paying that much attention to him. Hes just a cute nice guy in a division they dont care about

 

[Russie]

Merab I guess will just not get the respect from everyone. I get it to an extent. Sure he wins a lot by decision with a few submissions and a stray TKO. He is active enough in there for me and not just doing some lay and pray stuff. He has excellent cardio is constantly moving while going for a takedown. Not much after that but I have interest in seeing how opponents fight him. If they can't beat Merab The Machine that's not something I will to knock him for. I wasn't a fan but he's grown on me a lot inside and outside the cage.

 

[Conan the K-9]

I agree 100% i do not classify Merab as one of the "boring" champions. I think his fights are invariably more exciting than pantoja even.

The difference is Pantoja goes for the finish. His only “boring “ fight was the second fight against Royval. And he apologized for that and gave Brandon many compliments after that. He said that Brandon is such a good grappler that all he could do is just control him.
Whereas others who resort to lnp, call it domination, different level, opponent has no wrestling, etc. Never see their own part in the game.

But yeah, both Brazilian Alexs and both Georgian champions are currently the most entertaining in champions in the organization

 

[shunyata]

If Yan wants to win, he needs a stoppage. Judges don't like the guy.

It's kind of his fault for needing two rounds to get warmed up.

 

[RockyLockridge]

The difference is Pantoja goes for the finish. His only “boring “ fight was the second fight against Royval. And he apologized for that and gave Brandon many compliments after that. He said that Brandon is such a good grappler that all he could do is just control him.
Whereas others who resort to lnp, call it domination, different level, opponent has no wrestling, etc. Never see their own part in the game.

But yeah, both Brazilian Alexs and both Georgian champions are currently the most entertaining in champions in the organization

Meh

Merab finished sean in the rematch and honestly Could have gotten a tko against Sandhagen with different reffing.

 

[Luthien]

I don't know why. But I don't find Merab's fighting style boring at all

 

[Conan the K-9]

Meh

Merab finished sean in the rematch and honestly Could have gotten a tko against Sandhagen with different reffing.

Yes, and if he keeps defending and getting better like he does, he will get more finishes, I’m sure.

 

[AL-Tappo McSnappo]

Nah. I want merab to defend against Yan, then defend against Umar again. These guys haven't learned their lessons yet

If he beats them both again, he is the goat of the sport, no questions.