They're 1-1, and both fights were hyper competitive, and both fights featured good forms of themselves.
The whole "Dustin >>> Justin" thing is weird. They're basically equals.
Don't think Garry is *that* durable, he's just fine, but gotta give him credit, he's pretty tough to lay a clean glove on these days. Has built a game around that goal. But, going off of that, I think he's done so to cover for his lack of dynamism/discomfort in long exchanges.
@takalotreadless where I'm at with it is basically:
Past a certain age/number, I view it as a symptom of not really having the maturity to put long term stability before short term gratification. And that's childish to me.
@takalotreadless@travispickler Genuinely, just leaning on his jab might be enough to give him a serious chance. Khabib can't wrestle him without clean entries, I think we saw that pretty clearly when he did try, and if it goes long, it's a damage race.
@takalotreadless@travispickler I...might pick him? Khabib's entries, the ones that worked at least, came off baiting out Gaethje's low kicks on the back foot, and Justin totally shelved those against Ilia. Plus, Khabib would get jabbed up really badly. It's narrow, because takedown threat matters, but still
@takalotreadless@travispickler If you took Ilia-form Gaethje's brain and put him into a 31 year old Gaethje's body, I think he's tough for Dustin, but yeah, he's physically declined a bit too much now.
@takalotreadless@sinbadplays Depends if RDA gets discouraged from pressuring after the wrestling exchanges. At his peak, I doubt it, but I'm less sure than you are.
@takalotreadless@sinbadplays Yan guy here, obviously, but Petr does fit that description kinda to a T. Enormous clinch advantage too.
And I think the Bautista fight was okay-ish, but the Fig fight solidified to me that he's actively hamstrung his own development.
@takalotreadless@sinbadplays Islam's funny mentally, because I don't think he has Khabib's psychotic composure, but he keeps a lid on the panic really well even when it does show.
@takalotreadless@sinbadplays Prime RDA would've been interesting for Islam, actually. Could've matched him in the clinch, and still a better wrestler than Dustin. Islam prob wins, but I wish it could've happened.
@takalotreadless@sinbadplays Umar was probably winning round 5 against Merab till he got clipped, so I don't think he's incapable of pulling fights back either. In fairness, Merab is physically draining, but not remotely damaging, so that feat probably doesn't hold up against somebody who can hurt him.
@takalotreadless@sinbadplays Islam also hurt him multiple times, which makes it even nuttier. Think that was the last we ever saw of Prime Volk. Incredible fight to end your best years on, though.
@takalotreadless@sinbadplays Islam can kinda punch in combination when you're shelling up, too. Helped him win minutes against Dustin. Umar's game really does rely on the wrestling threat keeping you honest, because he really can't scare most people with his hands.
@takalotreadless@sinbadplays Hence why Islam was able to keep himself largely in command of the first Volk fight, while Umar just couldn't against a far lesser transitional threat in Merab (and why I think he's bound to get carved up by Yan)
@takalotreadless@sinbadplays Takes different shapes, though. Khabib, Islam, and Umar all exist on a pretty clear spectrum:
1. Khabib is nominally a pressure fighter
2. Islam largely wants neutral space
3. Umar at least thinks of himself as a slick mover.
All in descending order of coherence.
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