This is still fucking nuts to me.

Ofc the retarted stat makers didn’t count it as a knockdown

Convinced Merab didn’t KO him There cos he just wanted to fight for another 3 rounds.

It would have been so peak to drop on Merab haters if he got the finish here.

If Merab spent a year in Ilia’s camp, he’d be unbeatable. 😭

Merab gave Sandhagen zero room to breathe and set up his offense. Being a great wrestler is about more than taking your opponent down; you can put pressure on them.

Idk how Sandhagen survived this, heart of a lion!

Merab fights like such a dumbass just hookspamming and it works like a charm

Almost got colded by Merab, wouldve been the craziest moment of all year if it happened

It was frustrating to sit and watch Corey constantly throw naked knees trying to clock Merab shooting, when front kicks are and have shown to be the way better choice. The only situation I see it being okay to try and time a clean knee naked is after you’ve clearly hurt someone.

WE were so close to getting the perfect timeline of "wake up kid, Merab just slimed you out with an overhand"

Merab getting a knockdown was wild, but him also not knowing how to finish a fight with striking is so on brand that it completely neutralizes it for me

We were literally seconds away from seeing Merab KO Cory. I was literally out my seat FLABBERGASTED 😭💔

Only way to beat merab is to wait for him to get old.

Man I wish merab finished it here would’ve been fire

If that was Ankalaev they would’ve stopped it 3 seconds into that exchange

not folding here is nothing short of a miracle

Some refs would’ve called that, they made the right call tho.

It’s more nuts that he survived and made it a 5 round fight. Nothing but love to Merab, but Cory put forth a good effort. Let’s see Merab and Topuria!!!!

are we all just gonna ignore that merab is clearly doping? he just happens to have achieved a level of cardio no other mma fighter has even remotely approached? his blood must be thick as molasses with all the EPO he’s shooting.

nah @BedtimeMMA said that shit best. Imagine your coach wakes you up and he has to tells that you got starched out by merab

Ref had the over

Thank god I peed right before this

Watching this in a crowded bar was simply incredible

This fight was so good

his striking is legit (every bantamweight on earth is cooked.)

Merab had like 20 takedowns in this fight right? but the real question is in how many of them he had at least 5 seconds of good control time or/and damage.. that's the problem. GSP was different. He lands 1 takedown per round and no one is getting up.

and they call him boring 😂😂😂

@KennyCrowe15 On the other side, Cory got up so many times and except in the 2nd didn't surrender position.

Corey did too much talking and came in too confident.

Would have loved to have seen Merab move up and fight Topuria at 145

@ManaMMA_ @THOMAStheTANK57

That shot behind the ear will always be lethal asf

Why he’s like that lol

they are 135 pounder's that means their shots don't have as much power and they recover much quicker