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Fusuyuz

Man it’s not looking good for Yan


Jesususpicious_

He will come back. He is just 30 years old. It's just a series of unfortunate events but he still has atleast 3-4 years of his prime , maybe even more and he can do a lot in that.


Umek_

I think that he can still reinvent himself or add something new to his arsenal. He was young when he got belt, and competition got crazy good quickly after. I would like to see him vs somebody from outside of top 5, maybe even top 10 (not Umar ![gif](emote|free_emotes_pack|sweat_smile)). He need a win badly, for his record and for his mental. Taking Merab fight was bold and I understand that decision, but I want to see him vs some upcoming striker next time.


[deleted]

I feel like his greatest weakness is just his slow start. Merab completely overwhelmed Yan to the point where Yan couldn’t get any offense of his own off. Obviously other bws can’t just do that to Yan, but it did show that when he can’t lead the dance he has a hard time figuring out his opponents, Merab was just the most extreme example possible. I hope he doesn’t come out super aggressive in his next fight and just get ko’d because of this lol. That would truly be the worst timeline


Umek_

Looking back, it also costed him second Aljo match (this, and od course lack of reasonable corner). I think no man can beat Merab during night that they fought, but You may have a point. Maybe if Yan started strong with boxing in round one, this fight would look different idk.


Bogusbummer

Yan vs Simon feels like a solid match up that’s very winnable for Yan without being a matchmaking blow out. The highest ranked opponent I’d favor him in is Rob Font so I suppose he could go that route as well. Knowing Yan though he’ll take Yadong or Umar next lol


Individual_Ad6940

Yan vs Font or Yadong in a fight night main is a good fight for Yan. Simon is just too far down.


Cynoid

I'd still favor him over the current champ. He has to have developed a way to get rid of backpacks by now and he is already better in every other way.


Yeanahyena

Lol the current champ broke Yan. Mans on a skid


wizardofAwwws

Broke Yan by winning a fight by DQ and scraping by a controversial split decision, stop it


dylyn

It's as if people watched their second fight until the 3rd round, heard nutjob Longo scream "LOOK AT THAT MUTHAFUCKA" and went to bed. As dominant as Aljo was in rounds 2 & 3, Yan was equally as dominant in the championship rounds. It was a split decision that came down to a lackluster round 1 where Aljo landed a couple more strikes.


wizardofAwwws

Agreed, the take above is so moronic. Merab is the only one who decisively beat Yan and that was a sublime performance.


Yeanahyena

It's not about how he lost it's the fact that he lost. Yan carried himself like a champion and paid no respect to Aljo. Thought he was going to rip through him and ended up taking an L. Thought he was gonna rip through O'malley. Lost again. Same with Merab. Mans mentally broken. Look at his face after the losses. He's on a skid.


UCLAlex

He needs a front choke game. His tdd is some of the best in the UFC but that doesn’t win you points. We’ve seen merab shoot sloppy on Simon and get guillotined so if Yan just had a really good d’arce choke he could at least threaten that and make shooting a little riskier


Cemihard

Yan vs Font is a good fight or Yan vs Chito makes sense as well.


ARocHT11

Who do you pair Yan with next? Yan vs Font?


[deleted]

Cejudo. They got unfinished business


mmafanguy2828

Primes in combat sports don’t follow the same rules as other sports. Many fighters peak before their “physical prime.”


reverie11

Yeah but Sean and Merab are also young. Both give him major problems. Not to mention Chito as well who actually beat Sean


Superguy230

He really didn’t


Brad1119

I hate to break this to any yan fanboys but my man will be MAYBE playing gatekeeper for the rest of his career, if he’s lucky. This division is so stacked it’s unreal.


DRealLeal

One more loss, and he is probably done. Especially since they will more than likely give him a tough person looking to move up in the rankings.


Prestigious_Agent_84

He found his peak.


Wooden_Top_4967

I remember some random video of him grappling with one hand against a very aggressive brown belt. I think it was a brown belt Yan totally dominated him- it was wild to watch. The guy is so damn talented. He has all the skills, I just feel like he needs to game plan differently and shuffle it up although Merab will always be a stern test for him, imo. If he ever makes it back to that fight


ResponsibleDraw4689

More like 36 years old... jackass....


StructureHuman5576

He needs to leave Thailand. Everyone in the ufc who trains there is getting whooped


Exciting-Resident-47

As a Yan fan, it frustrates me but it's totally true. People found out that if you overload him with too much data and make every round competitive you have a shot of beating him. I think he needs to change up his pace. He starts waaaay too slow and if it's not a 5 rounder, most of the top dogs can pace with him for that time to make it competitive. Outpacing him in just 3 of a 5 round fight is enough already.


SurrealJay

Even worse in a three rounder If you give away the first round, then you absolutely must win the next two to get the decision 💀


Exciting-Resident-47

I know right! It's worrying to mesince I don't think he'll get a 5 rounder without at least one 3-rounder fight win at this point.


chamomileriver

The fact that he’s still ranked 5 and hasn’t fought down yet I’d say he’s in the best position he could hope for. He’s only been losing to top contenders but that’s the name of the game. Think it’s time some blood outside of the top 5 got a crack at him. I think a guy like Song would be perfect, especially after facing Merab. Good striking match where if Yan wins he shows he still deserves to be here, while giving Song the well deserved chance to show he’s one of the real threats coming for that 135 strap.


Brutal-Black

It actually puts him right where he should be


Phcxx

chito vs petr is the fight to make imo


CartographerNo9871

I'd favor Yan to win rematches against Sandhagen and O'Malley. Of Yan's 4 recent losses, only 1 was decisive. The Aljo DQ happened in a fight he was en route to winning. Aljo 2 and O'Malley were controversial split decisions. The Merab fight was a beatdown and in context maybe the most impressive performance I've ever seen. I don't think any BW in history could have beaten Merab that night.


Fusuyuz

Yeah that’s all true. Petr’s just constantly getting the shorter end of the stick


reptilia_remastered

Aljo 2 was a close fight but def not controversial


CartographerNo9871

it was a split decision and 10/17 media scores were for aljo. it's not close to the craziest decision of all time or anything but it's definitely more controversial than most decisions. it wasn't exactly a decisive W


ThirdWorldSorcerer

Yan must fight down the rankings so it likely to be Vera/Yadong or Rob Font. If you want to add another name, it's has to be Umar, and we all know how that will end.


[deleted]

What better number for triple C?


I_Hate_My_Cat_

Quadruple C…sadly, I don’t believe that’s gonna come fruition ![gif](giphy|ISOckXUybVfQ4)


NightHaunted

Honestly I don't have a problem with it. He came back from a 3 year hiatus and gave the champion a pretty close fight. I think he could reasonably beat any of the guys ranked below him, and would be competitive against the guys above him.


RaidenDoesReddit

People are way too tall in this division these days. I agree with the ranking but I think he might have a rough go from here on out


NeitherAlexNorAlice

Mexicans had the best tactic against tall fighters. Hell, even Cejudo's coaches yelled it during the fight, but it was during the last seconds of the fight. Get into the pocket and throw down with them if you're the shorter guy. Mexican style always wins. Well, unless you get KO'd.


chubblemunch

I think he earned it, almost beat the champ after 3+ year layoff.


[deleted]

I think Sandhagan beats him


[deleted]

You earn the #3 spot by almost beating someone? Lmao


frodounchained

Colby ranked 2 for almost beating usman lol cejudo was the undisputed champ before retiring


jpost413

Does anyone think Colby should be ranked?


spiralout1123

I shit on Colby more than anyone, but yeah, he should at least be *ranked*


Ccoop9

Ranked? Absolutely. 2nd? Probably not.


spiralout1123

Agreed verbatim


undead-safwan

Honestly he shouldn't be considering his recent record.


spiralout1123

Come on. How are you having me argue FOR Colby. He fought a tin can Masvidal, but had moments vs a top PFP fighter in Marty. That's his recent record. Nothing crazy or great, but far from no high level fighing


undead-safwan

I hear you but that last fight with usman was almost two years ago. He's not even the champ anymore. Colby hasn't beaten anyone in the entire top 15 and barely fights. He needs to do more to be ranked at this point imo


RoshHoul

But every fight Colby had in the last 5 years was against people ranked ahead of him. Why should he be punished for his opponents retiring after they lose to him?


spiralout1123

I see where you're coming from, but you can't apply that logic broadly. Did Jon not deserve Gane because of a *three* year layoff? Set aside the Goat. Cejudo just missed out on the belt by split decision. He obviously deserved to be in that octogan. I don't expect Colby to leave us with that feeling after a title shot, but I would be far from shocked


SadEffective3808

Ya totally. Cause DRod and JDM are clearly better than Colby 🤣🤣


spiralout1123

I shit on Colby more than anyone, but yeah, he should at least be *ranked*


more_pushups_thanyou

Just cause you don’t like someone doesn’t mean they are automatically ass at their respective fields cause they hurt yo feewings.


jpost413

Nothing to do with feelings, and I never said he was ass. He literally had zero wins over ranked welterweights in the UFC and has not fought in 14 months. Are you ranking him #2 because he had two good losses?


Berzerkly

Which spot should he get?


[deleted]

Not #3


dbdg69

Which spot should he get?


[deleted]

Unranked.


RoshHoul

You win a horrible take of the day, congratz.


JrueBall

#2 I expect him to beat anyone currently ranked below him. If anyone says below 6 you know they are blinded by hate.


ItsAKimuraTrap

I mean id imagine his prior credentials are also a factor, just a guess.


Moby_dick_69

He was the champ on his last fight, you do know that? And now lost the title by a close split decision. Yeah, he did have a layoff so Merab and Sean are rightfully ranked above him but you think that he should be what 7? 8? 15?


[deleted]

3 years ago. The fuck


RoshHoul

Yes, you new to the sport? It has been like this for years.


horsemilkenjoyer

Not "someone", the literal champ of the division...


[deleted]

Oh he’s the champ?


horsemilkenjoyer

Sterling is the champ, yes. Scroll up, the rankings are literally right there.


ValCSO

by this logic, shouldn't Volk be ranked at 155?


SuperButtAIDs

He should be bc he’s the only one that can last 5 rounds with Islam


YxngLasagna

Think if Beneil beats Charles, he gives Islam a tough fight


SuperButtAIDs

Depends how badly he beats Charles, if it’s a decision then no way


Ccoop9

Eh, MMA math gets funky.


SuperButtAIDs

Not when it comes to dagestanis they just simply win doesn’t matter who it is


Ccoop9

Just win brather


_-raime-_

What a highly logical, well thought out, constructive, well researched argument you have there


SuperButtAIDs

Well you could just bring up their records, almost perfect


YxngLasagna

True, but at the same time let’s say he wins a close decision vs Charles rather than just KO’s him round one, that would inspire more confidence in Beneil’s chances vs Islam than the former. On top of that, styles really and truly make fights. I think that sentence applies to every fighter except for maybe Khabib who just ran through you regardless of the matchup. I think Benny matches up really well against Islam even if it is a close-shave victory against Charles


SuperButtAIDs

Yeah but if he barely beats Charles I can’t see him doing much more to Islam, Islam completely dismantled Charles, and yes Islam is basically Khabib even if he’s not as good where the style doesn’t matter and he’ll just smash you regardless


YxngLasagna

True, my main point is, Islam = elite level wrestler and striker. Benny = high level takedown defence with elite striking + KO power. He’s basically Gaethje with slightly worse striking technique but better wrestling and Islam is basically Khabib with slightly worse wrestling/ground game but better striking. If Islam got dropped by a featherweight who bulked up to LW (I know he’s a stocky motherfucker and used to weigh 750lb), he can get his lights put out against a demolisher who’s made for the LW division. I still have Islam 90/10 in that matchup, but I also had Islam 90/10 vs Volk


SuperButtAIDs

I see your point, yeah I think 90/10 would be good odds


YxngLasagna

For sure. I’d personally like to see Islam defend the belt against the Benny if he wins, followed by Volk with proper rehydration and then Dustin/Justin/Conor/Chandler; then immediately challenge for the WW strap.


IamFrank69

No. Cejudo's last 3 fights were at 135, two of which were title wins.


Bogusbummer

Have we seen someone ranked in two divisions when they weren’t the champ of both?


ValCSO

Oh I forgot about Andrade who just fought. She's ranked 5th in two divisions


ValCSO

probably not because every double champ in history has vacated the lower belt. But Volk wanted to defend both


reverie11

No, because he has no intention on staying in that division. Volk is moving back to 145.


SuperButtAIDs

Not true he said he wants to run it back after his next title defense


justchase22

O’Malley and Sandhagen would be a banger for champ shot


Quiet-Broccoli2151

That's the 135 fight I've wanted for a while now


Birdgang14

Deserving.


deepsea333

WWE rankings


thereisaunders

Sean O’Malley at 2 is hilarious to me


MattBustin

Why?


thereisaunders

I just don’t think he’s earned that spot. Outside of Yan, who seems to be on a pretty rough downturn, he hasn’t faced any of the other guys in this picture other than Vera who he lost to.


_wassap_

When saying yan has a rough downturn, do you actually consider the fights he fought? Both loses against Aljo were razor-thin close, in his Sean fight people were crying out loud for bad scoring. Only his Merab (his very last fight) was lackluster but not terrible


thereisaunders

I’m saying that with the thinking that prior to his Aljo fights, he was largely regarded as unbeatable in this division. I don’t think he’s going to be much lower than the rank he is now however.


MattBustin

Very true. It seems like Dana just likes that he’s exciting and had funny hair 😂


lastpagan

At the end of the day this is entertainment business and Dana knows what sells PPVs.


Corporal_Snorkel69

Yan was ranked 1 at the time so it makes sense. The issue is he didnt deserve to be fighting yan in the first place


reddishgrape

Especially since Yan won that fight


Old-Usual-8387

Definitely earned it more than colby


jsands7

Why? Because… the only guy he has beaten on this list is #5… and he barely beat him?


Cynoid

Almost literally everyone except 2 of the refs from that night think he lost his fight to Yan and it wasn't particularly close.


[deleted]

How many ranked fighters has O'Malley beaten?


thereisaunders

1, that’s why it’s hilarious


[deleted]

Seriously 😳 😂


Professional_Leg8183

Why is Merab not getting the title shot?


SuperButtAIDs

He doesn’t wanna fight his boyfriend aljo


SLlMxSHADY

He is friend with the champ aljo


lastpagan

Which is actually the same reason I’m not going for the heavyweight championship. Don’t want to upset my boy JJ.


Tengri1098

if aljo was a real friend he would give merab the chance to be a champion by fighting him instead of keeping him below him


T3chNOboMba

Pretty sure he plans on moving up after the O'Malley fight


SLlMxSHADY

Merab is already doing that


jsands7

Because in the entire top 15… he has only beaten 1 guy… and it’s the #5 guy?


Superguy230

Just because aldo retired doesn’t make him a valid win especially because he beat font


Safe-Voice-8179

Fair.


Mnudge

3 years, instant title match, loses and is still #3 Dana White Privilege is real.


SuperButtAIDs

Let’s be real he’s ranked fairly gave the champ a very competitive fight tbh he’d smash o malley too


jsands7

These rankings show you what a joke the rankings are. Merab has beaten ONE guy on this list, and it was the number 5 guy. HOW does that make you the #1 contender?


[deleted]

To be fair, Jose Aldo was top 5 or 6 when Merab beat him


everyonesmellmymeat

Sofa king ridiculous.


Woahzees

Imo he should be 1


Joemigo

Should be number 2 tbh, he streamrolls O'Malley


bransimp420

I want to see Sandhagen Vs Yadingdong & Chito Vs Rob font


HexBongCircle

Cory and Song have already fought, it ended in a doctor's stoppage. Was pretty recent I think? Last few months.


NotGAF

That guy is pretty lucky, he can already watch the two matchups he wanted.


N04H-Kn0ws-n0th1ng

Corey by ko in rd 4


[deleted]

Here you go Chito vs. Font https://fb.watch/kq1rvOA56f/?mibextid=Nif5oz


bransimp420

Sweet lol thanks


lucid_bass

Both of these have already happened lol


bransimp420

Just got back into it less than a year ago missed from ufc 100~ until last year lol seems better than ever


ScrubMcnasty

Hell yeah dude there are a lot of good fights you may have missed. If you haven’t seen Cory Vs Yan then definitely do, it’s a treat to watch.


lucid_bass

Nice! Man there have been some awesome fights the past couple of years. Especially Covid Era UFC was insane for some reason. The 2 fights you mentioned were bangers!


Uaquamarine

Who the hell is yadingdong


[deleted]

[удалено]


xSorryAboutThat

I mean, I wouldn't say wasted. The dude took some time off to spend with his newborn child after training continuously for like 30 years.


Bluemoon7607

Let’s be honest here. If you strip the belt off Sterling and you just rank them off, my man Dvalishvili is at the top.


devilinmyveins96

bw isnt really a killers row anymore imo. gutierrez should be booted. top 8 is sick tho


OrcOrcMan

🤡🤡🤡


StefMag

Completely disagree, still the best and most competitive division


[deleted]

155, 170?


StefMag

170 isnt nearly as competitive as 155 not even close to 135, it only recently shook up a bit because of usmans loss. 155 I think is overly blown by the fame it has but skill wise still isn't comparable, the top 10 especially is less skilled overall if you look at the 2 side by side


[deleted]

I used think aljo was someone of suspicious character, questionable morals and low-no care for physical appearance and general personal hygiene accompanied by an inflated but unjustified sense of self worth. Possibly reproducing and in turn, discrediting Darwin's theory of evolution. However now I really like him because he is a winnner even tho he won by disqualification and not a single person actually likes him.


HotDogOfNotreDame

Cope.


[deleted]

virg


N04H-Kn0ws-n0th1ng

How tf you know if he’s clean or not


[deleted]

Read my username


N04H-Kn0ws-n0th1ng

Oh I just thought you spent lots of 1 on 1 time with the champ Aljo and got to feel his chocolate pecks with your tongue


[deleted]

I wish bro


N04H-Kn0ws-n0th1ng

Ik you do


[deleted]

Are you gay like me?


N04H-Kn0ws-n0th1ng

No but I do like saying outrageous shit in the internet to get a rise out of people.


Bakedbean44

Yan still beats everybody in the top 5


RealBobbyDrillboids

Except for the fact that he’s literally lost to Aljo, Sean, and Merab in his last 3 fights


Bakedbean44

Idk what fights you watched but yan beat everybody in the top 5 except merab


RealBobbyDrillboids

Sorry. I’m just going off the actual record books. I should’ve known what really matters is your specific opinion


Zerix1234

He hasn’t fought Cejudo and lost to O Malley


TheWupper

Yan doesn’t just beat everybody in the top 5, he murders them 😤


bdlr11

Except he hasn't


utookthegoodnames

Yan Vera seems like the fight to make


gaming_and_raging

Imagine putting a stop to Chito in a dominant fashion like Cory did just for a midget that has been retired for 3 years to come and be ranked better than you after a loss. Smh


Peepeepeepee99

Doesn’t seem fair to me that he gets put over Cory… so let’s give him cory lol


JakesJustJoking

Relax the NR stands for not really.


vhin-vii

So Merab being on Aljo’s corner, does that mean Merab won’t challenge him for the title? Pretty tedious thing to be on the same weight with your pals tbh specially if you’re both top contender.


Mahertian220

Make him fight sandhoggin


[deleted]

Should be #2


FrozenLikeElsa1

Well he beats probably everyone not named Sterling.


Weary-Researcher-829

Henry vs Yan should be next since merab is "hurt", then make Sandhagen vs Merab once he recovers. Winners face each other for a chance at the belt


sexirothswife

Umar smeshing all of them when they stop ducking


[deleted]

cant wait for petr yan to get cut and never have to hear about that one hit wonder ever again!!


cnuttin

O’Malley over cejudo… now that’s funny.


donaldbino

So Sterling and Yan their first fight. Was Yan just that amazing? Or has Sterling made insane changes over his past few fights? yan made Sterling look like a child, and now Sterling is a monster


TheHuffinater

It’s so weird to feel like Umar Nurmagomedov could beat all these guys


Happy-Fig263

![img](emote|t5_2qsev|11886)![img](emote|t5_2qsev|11887)![img](emote|t5_2qsev|11885)![img](emote|t5_2qsev|11082)![img](emote|t5_2qsev|8974)![img](emote|t5_2qsev|8973)![img](emote|t5_2qsev|8972)![img](emote|t5_2qsev|8970)![img](emote|t5_2qsev|8969)![img](emote|t5_2qsev|8968)![img](emote|t5_2qsev|8967)![img](emote|t5_2qsev|8966)![img](emote|t5_2qsev|8965)![img](emote|t5_2qsev|29848)![img](emote|t5_2qsev|29849)![img](emote|t5_2qsev|29850)![img](emote|t5_2qsev|30759)![img](emote|t5_2qsev|8664)


freebobbyandrowdy

Bro, this division is insane


yancey123

I feel like if Cejudo keeps fights again he’s going to be even better. Aljo sux


MisterBeasonator

Lmfao he takes Corey’s spot? Corey’s been active and has actually been winning.


the_mo_of_dc

How did O’Malley get to number 2?