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UFC 311

🕑 Added 2025-01-19 09:49:22 +0000 UTC

Comments

Kyle McLachlan

I appreciate the essay! Keep ‘em comin’! And obviously I’ve covered the scoring criteria more than once in my ‘right or robbery’ series. I think round 3 was close regardless, and I think my overall assessment that Merab was a worthy winner completely aligns with yours.

Michael Walsh

Hey Kyle, love the episode. Apologies for the short essay, but I feel like this needs addressing. As far as the scoring of the Merab fight, I really disagree with the sentiment that Umar maybe should have won, or even that it was particularly close. I’ve heard that idea echoed by the boys on Heavy Hands, as well as by other analysts. I think people are getting really hung up on some language in the new judging criteria whilst ignoring other language. Yes, the criteria says that impactful striking/grappling takes priority. Yes, there’s language specifically about grappling and how takedowns should not be weighed as heavily when they do not lead to some kind of offense or control that has the potential to end the match. A lot of people misleadingly suggest that damage is the top criteria, and that, outside of “damaging” grappling like slams and throws, striking will always take priority over grappling, save for when the grappling nearly brings about the end of the fight, like with a nearly sunk in submission. As a result, there’s a lot of “who really won?” debate that focuses on splitting hairs over who landed more jabs and whose jabs were more damaging, whilst ignoring any grappling that happened. This is all misguided, because the criteria do not say “damage” is that top priority; they say “impact” or “impact/effectiveness” are. There is a section that defines impact, and this is a quote from it, “Impact includes visible evidence such as swelling and lacerations. Impact shall also be assessed when a fighter’s actions, using striking and/or grappling, lead to a diminishing of their opponents’ energy, confidence, abilities and spirit. All of these come as a direct result of impact. When a fighter is impacted with strikes, by lack of control and/or ability, this can create defining moments in the round and shall be assessed with great value.” Note the language “diminishing of their opponents’ energy, confidence, abilities and spirit” and “lack of control and/or ability.” Clearly, the criteria would view Merab’s work in rounds 3-5 was much more impactful than Umar’s. Yes, Umar landed the cleaner shots here and there, and yes, most of Merab’s takedowns didn’t lead to potentially fight-finishing sequences. But all of Merab’s activity, from his striking, to his grappling, to his aggressiveness, had a profound impact on Umar, whereas Umar’s clean shots did not have anything like the same impact on Merab. Towards the end of the round 5, Merab looked like he was on top of the world, and Umar looked like a defeated broken man. The criteria clearly give weight to that sort of thing, as do all of us intuitively, which is why you’re fine with the decision even though you thought Umar maybe technically should have won.

Kyle McLachlan

I get that too but he’s also fighting some really skilled and durable opponents. Jot the easiest to finish. And he doesn’t really appear to be all that hard a puncher either. Still, he’s often aggressive, and that makes it up for me. Though of course, I totally get what you’re saying and it’s great we all like different types of fighters.

Christopher Kowalchuk

I think it’s a totally valid feeling. I don’t find Merab boring, but I think it’s frustrating. I generally don’t enjoy watching fighters whose game plans don’t include finishing opponents. Again, it’s perfectly fine to acknowledge skills and admire performances while still not being satisfied as a fight fan. It’s the same reason I don’t find boxers like Mayweather or Shakur Stevenson interesting: they’re looking to win on points. For example, I thought Merab hurt Umar to the body in … Round 4? And in Round 5 he kept up the same game plan of overwhelming and tiring out Umar … but not with the intention of finishing. It works, and Merab is an entertaining personality, but I don’t find his fights “fun”. I’ll always be rooting against him BUT I still have mad respect for his achievements and performances.

Kyle McLachlan

That’s fair enough! I loved it, seeing Merab break Umar down the stretch was what made it so satisfying. A fight of two halves, and a great one imo!

Micheál

Great show mate, but I completely disagree with you on the co main event. I think it was very predictable from halfway through the 3rd round. It was very clear that Umar couldn't keep up with the relentless pace and pressure of Merab. I really enjoyed the first 2 rounds and parts of the remainder of the fight, but I don't think it was a great fight at all. Good, definitely not great. I respectfully disagree.

Kyle McLachlan

Yeah, Aldo aside I don’t find him all that boring. Volk set the template for Aldo lol it’s the best you can hope for unless you are huge/can overwhelm him like McGregor/Max. Only Yan has got past the ‘keep Aldo on the fence for 15 minutes’ gameplan since. But back to Merab I think given the different fighters they’ve thrown at him he is built to fight basically anyone, so he’s impossible not to like, at least for me.

Salvador Dardy

I wanted Merab to lose cos of his utterly boring performances stifling great fighters like Aldo and Yan, but I really have to give it to him here, he fought his ass off, wasn't afraid to stand, and broke Umar.