Fans React to Khabib Nurmagomedov Siding With Joe Rogan’s MMA Hot Take: “Merab Would Never Lose”

Removing the rounds will make the UFC better? At least, the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov wants to see such changes.

Fans React to Khabib Nurmagomedov Siding With Joe Rogan’s MMA Hot Take: “Merab Would Never Lose”

Khabib Nurmagomedov suggests rule change like Joe Rogan (Image via Yardbarker/Forbes)

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Rules and regulations are necessary in MMA to avoid serious injuries and promote fairness. However, certain rules put into place like making soccer kicks illegal has never pleased MMA fans and certain pundits. Joe Rogan has a list of things that the sport of MMA should implement like no round system, fighting in a basketball court, giving advantage to the grapplers if a round ends on the ground.

Not many agree with Rogan’s ‘hot takes’ on MMA, but a legendary fighter has recently advocated for the commentator’s vision. ‘The Eagle’ Khabib Nurmagomedov recently spoke about the need for some changes needed for UFC’s round system. He wanted the fights to take ideas from the PRIDE Fighting Championship.

Regular fight, 15 minutes. Title fight, 25 minutes. Get rid of rounds. No rounds at all. They just step in and that’s it. What’s the point of rounds?

Khabib Nurmagomedov via Hustle Show

PRIDE FC matches typically consist of three rounds. The first round is 10 minutes long, while the second and third rounds are 5 minutes. This was the foremost MMA promotion in the early 2000s that didn’t follow the five-minute round system. The 10-minute first round makes it much more difficult to maintain cardio. It might make fighters with more cardio dominate to say the least.

A break in between a fight largely takes away the momentum. This is one of the reasons why Nurmagomedov and Rogan advocated for new measures. So many times in the UFC, there are moments a fighter catches a lucky break despite being on the verge of getting finished. The end of a round usually saves them. This is one such advantage of a ‘no round’ system.

However, there are many disadvantages to this system. If at all a fight goes the whole 15 minutes, or 25 minutes in a championship fight, then the scoring becomes difficult. Already, the current system faces huge criticism for multiple robberies or controversial decisions.

If there are no rounds, this issue will still remain if the fight goes the distance. The matter has gone viral on the internet as well, with fans giving their two cents on the matter.

Fans react to the ‘hot take’ from Khabib Nurmagomedov supporting Joe Rogan’s vision

Khabib Nurmagomedov calling for no rounds in an MMA bout didn’t receive an overwhelmingly positive reaction. There were those who agreed with the notion. Recently, Dustin Poirier dropped Max Holloway in their BMF title fight at UFC 318, but couldn’t get the finish because it was at the end of the round. Holloway did his best to survive, but one can wonder what would happen if there were no rounds.

Joe Rogan talks about about Khabib Nurmagomedov's beliefs
Joe Rogan and Khabib Nurmagomedov (via Imago)

In such cases, the no round system certainly benefits the sport. Meanwhile, others felt that the ‘no round’ system would not result in a better system. They cited how the fights would benefit the grapplers, and take away the striking exchanges that happens in the beginning of every round. Check out some of the reactions.

Some fans felt that Nurmagomedov had this ‘hot take’ to preserve his grueling wrestling style that the fighters from Dagestan excels in. One fan in particular felt that Rogan and Nurmagomedov had the worst takes regarding MMA.

Meanwhile, one fan felt that Merab Dvalishvili would never lose a fight in this ruleset due to his cardio. The Athletic Commissions in the US would likely never sanction such bouts. Not too long ago, Dustin Poirier admitted that his idea for a one night BMF tournament was rejected because no athletic commission would have sanctioned it. As such, this idea from ‘The Eagle’ might never see the light of day.

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