r/FightLibrary

been arguing about this in the group chat since the scorecards got read and nobody agrees so throwing it out here.

so islam just went 49-46 49-46 48-47 over garry, a guy who is bigger, younger, and was legitimately competitive with him in the championship rounds. that’s after he already smashed JDM at 322 and broke his undefeated welterweight title reign in the process. before that it was volkanovski, twice, a guy who was pound for pound #1 for a lot of people and islam just shut his whole run down both times, finished him in the rematch with a head kick. and before THAT it was charles oliveira, a guy who was riding a massive finish streak and islam just wrestlefucked him for 5 rounds and then finished him in the rematch too. that’s 3 elite guys with real win streaks and islam ended every single one of them, plus poirier defended against. two weight classes now, hasn’t lost since 2015. genuinely think his ground game and cardio might be the best we’ve ever seen in this sport.

but people keep bringing up two things in the groupchat that i can’t really argue against. one, khabib’s chin was never actually tested because nobody could ever get him there to find out, while islam has literally been koed before (that martins fight early in his career, i know it’s old and he’s a totally different fighter now but it happened). two, khabib’s cardio in his prime looked like it never dipped even against guys who were pushing a real pace, dude just got scarier as fights went on.

khabib’s resume is still absurd too. 29-0, never lost a round that i remember. RDA when he was one of the scariest wrestlers in the division, edson barboza who nobody could take down before that, gaethje in his last fight who was a walking problem for everybody, mcgregor, dustin. erased everybody he touched and retired perfect without really being tested on the cards.

so real talk does the chin/cardio edge actually swing it for khabib or does islam’s improved striking and technical edge make up for it. not trying to disrespect either legend just want to hear it from people who watch tape closer than me cause my group chat is split down the middle rn

Edson Barbosa Highlights