^ Yup totally agree . Lol... Those Russian bros from the mountains of Dagestan are a different breed. And tbh I'd like to see more of them come in and up the level in the UFC. Even the striking of the Dagestani guys who are strikers look way faster and hit way harder than the strikes if the UFC elite. Watch tapes of Umar and Usman Nurmagomedov.
For sure maybe their DNA was special and their striking-like Sharaputdin Magomedov was very fast his kicks were really lighting but for sure he doesn't have wrestling and his takedown defense was not that great but I guess in that fight he learned something from it and will return much stronger, and could surely adjust for his next fight
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Jailton Almeida is mostly a grappler. But as we have seen in a couple of Lewis' fights in the UFC, sometimes MMA grappling and wrestling doesn't work on him. And really all he needs is one clean shot to starch any opponent.
It could have happened if Jailton Almeda did not have the power to overcome Lewis, for sure those grappling and wrestling would not have worked against him, but if Jailton Almeda could prove that he has strength and can lift up Derrick Lewis then for me will go with the fighter that has most aces in his sleeve to take care of his opponent,
I think it's a combination of genetics and their environment. Living in the mountains of Dagestan has made sure that only the best and strongest genes survived. Like I said, watch Umar and Usman Nurmagomedov's kicks. It's just different because they're made different. So yeah... Be on the look out for those Dagestani bros moving up the rankings.
As for Lewis, Almeida should be fast in getting Lewis' back like he did vs Rozenstruik. Every second Almeida stands toe to toe vs Lewis are more chances Lewis starches Almeida.