Haven’t done this series for a month so I decided to bring it back. I only had merab and Tom left but if you want this series to keep going where I put the champ vs the top 15 I’ll keep doing it and add khamzat to the list. Here’s Merab tho. #1 Sean O’Malley We’ve seen this twice, it was merab dominance. Sean just can’t beat merab, merab is too strong, too smart and just has that cardio and wrestling style to beat Sean. I think merab makes it look easy again and finds a finish again. Result: Merab round 4 TKO. #2 Umar Nurmagomedov Umar and Merab are undoubtedly the 2 best bantamweights in the world. Merab won the first one and I think he wins again. It isn’t anything that umar has bad cardio because he hasn’t it’s just Merabs pace that’s insane. Merabs striking has evolved and we haven’t seen umar since so we don’t know how he looks. Merab wins this. Result: Merab (UD) 48-47X3 #3 Petr yan We’ve seen this once and it was merab domination. Despite many saying the next fight could be closer I don’t agree with that. Petr is known to be a slow starter and turn it up later and that’s horrible vs someone like merab, merab only loses early rounds if he loses any rounds and against Petr he’ll win the early and Peter won’t even be able to get going and he’ll be defending the entire fight just like the first one. Result: Merab (UD) 50-45X3 #4 Cory Sandhagen So this is the next title fight coming up. Ufc320 merab is a big favourite and rightfully so. I think merab will be able to pressure Cory like he always does get him down and it’ll look easy, Cory might threaten with leg locks and reversals making it hard for merab to go for a finish fully. Merab by decision. Result: Merab (UD) 50-45X2, 49-46 #5 song Yadong Interesting fight. Song has elite striking, boxing and kicks, insane speed. The TDD has improved but I think he’ll have to defend the whole fight he’ll have a hard time to get going and I think eventually a super tired song fades and gets finished. Result: Merab round 4 sub #6 deiveson Figueiredo Figgy is old now. He’s very well rounded, hard hitter with good BJJ and high level striking. I would pick figgy to survive if this was a year ago but I can’t see a 37 year old figgy actually survive. His gas tank at 37 is worse and against Merab it’ll be bad. Merab finds a late finish after winning clearly but figgy defending well. Result: Merab round 5 tko #7 Marlon Vera Chito is a slow starter and dynamic striker with decent grappling. Same as yan i think his habit of starting slow costs him, he’ll just be in survival mode. Maybe have a round where he can defend and do well on the feet. Ultimately its a merab fest. Result: Merab (UD) 49-46X2, 50-45 #8 mario Bautista Bautista is underrated, crisp boxning, fast and got power. Good fight iq, decent freestyle wrestling and very good cardio. He’ll defo get tired but not as much as the others, he might have a round or 2 where he defends most takedowns and makes it ugly on the feet. Fun scrap but Merab is to much. result: Merab (UD) 48-47X2, 49-46 #9 Rob font Merab runs through font, even tho his TDD and anti grappling has gotten better he doesn’t stand a chance with merab. It’s an easy fight and I think Rob eventually ”quits” Result: Merab by round 3 sub. #10 Aiemann zahabi Zahabi is a dawg and at 37 his cardio is decent. He’s very awkward but that might make his odds a bit better. I think merab runs through him but the BJJ skills of zahabi can make it tricky for Merab to find a finish. Result: Merab (UD) 50-45X2, 49-46 #11 Henry Cejudo Crazy to see Henry ranked this low. Anyways they’ve fought before, Henry did pretty decent despite clearly losing and being a bit embarrassed. It’s a fun matchup and despite being even older now I think Henry gives us a fun wrestling fight with lots of scrambles and a good fight almost like Merab Umar. Result: Merab (UD) 49-46, 48-47X2 #12 Vinicius Oliveira An absolute dawg and a real threat at 135. Crazy power and an unorthodox style, Lokdog is scary. However his cardio isn’t that good. I do however think he makes Merab hesitate and he’ll hurt him and drop him but Merabs pace will be to much. Result: merab (UD) 48-47X3 #13 Marcus McGhee Proved vs Yan he can hang with the best but against merab it’s a wrestler. The stocky style of McGhee might cost him, his poor ability of not trying to escape the clinch could cost him here. He’ll hang tough and throw big when on the feet but merab outclassed him. Result: merab (UD) 50-45, 50-44X2 #14 kyler Phillips Merab runs through kyler, he’ll get him down he’ll work him he’ll beat him on the feet. Kyler will just try and survive. Result: Merab (UD) 50-44X2, 50-45 #15 Montel Jackson Who many consider to be the dark horse at 135. Montel is a well rounded guy with good striking. However Merab does run through him despite Montel being skilled. Merab wears him out and eventually finds a finish. Result: Merab round 4 tko