about 1 month ago
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Based on this weekends PPV's is there any doubt that Fedor and "The Spider" are the two most dominant fighters in the world? I was among the doubters of "The Last Emperor", but it wasn't because I had not seen him fight, it was based on his level of compitition since he win against Cro Cop back in 2005. I will be the first to say that I was dead wrong. Tim Sylvia while not a great fighter by any means was tough compition just based on the size difference. Sylvia, as I have stated before clearly has faced tougher compition over the past three years. None of that mattered once the bell rang that was one of the most dominant wins I have seen in a while. While I have learned not to doubt Randy Couture in anything he puts his mind to, I don't think he needs to get into the right with Fedor. The guy is an assasin in the ring. Put him in the cage it won't make a difference. I don't care if they fought in a parking lot I think Fedor would go right through Couture easily. Barnett and Arlovski had impressive showings, too, but I don't think they would really last all that much longer than Sylvia did. I was of the school of thought that if Fedor had a weakness it would be his standup game against Sylvia. He had Sylvia down by strikes in what 15 or 20 seconds? Wow just impressive.
Anderson Silva made a leap in class to Light Heavy and showed no signs at that weight that he would be any less dominant that he was at Middleweight. That punch he landed on Irvin once he caught that kick had him in lala land. He needs to change his name to "The Surgeon" because I don't think his power is any greater than someone like Rich Franklin, but his precision is like that of a surgeon with a patient on the table. WoW. So we saw probably the two best fighters on the planet go at it for a grand total of 1:37 glad I didn't pay $50.00 for that. I wouldn't have been too damn happy. Affliction though has without a doubt the best group of heavies in the MMA world. Looking at UFC in particular the only weight class that does not have a truely dominant champ is Light Heavy and Heavy weight.
UFC is finally going to have some real compitition if Affliction came close to or turned any kind of profit this weekend. Let's be real when people think of fighters they think of big guys and Affliction was really smart when it signed its fighters by getting most of the best heavies in the world on their roster. Building the company from the highest profile weight class down will end up paying big dividends if they can generate money from their cards. Plus unlike UFC who sign their fighters to exclusive contract Affliction guys can fight who ever they want. UFC would be smart to maybe explore the waters with this a little bit and maybe co-promote a fight or two with some big name guys. Don't do a full card of co-promotion but maybe have a card where say its all UFC up until the main event of say Fedor vs. Randy, and see how it works out that way MMA doesn't become like boxing. I used to love boxing but I go so tired of seeing that there was 4 or 5 champs per weight class and no organization recognized other organizations champs in their rankings which is just crazy to me. There can be only one champ there is only one best fighter at a weight in the world not 5 best like in boxing.
Will it ever come to pass that we will see UFC co-promote with other brands? The answer is probably not. I think Dana White's ultimate goal is to take UFC and make them what the WWE was after they bought up all the compitition and leave no doubt who the kind of the mountain is. Which in the long run while would be great as far as the fights we see on TV or PPV it would suck financially as then with no comp the prices of PPV's would probably soar through the roof. So on one hand you like seeing the UFC get some stiff comp so it will keep PPV prices down on the other hand you would like to see every great fighter in one organization that way there is no limit to great fights we get to see. How will it all shake out? Who knows as long as I get to see Fedor and all the other champs with stiff compitition I will be happy
Comments (10)
Nice work.
I like 'The Surgeon' nickname. Totally fits. Silva shows that you don't have to be heavily muscled to compete at the top level. Skill and precision trump pure power. I think he looked great at 205. He put the weight on very evenly and he stayed lanky.
YODA | 07/23/08, 01:21 AM
Report Offensive CommentHow about Vera?
Were you as disappointed in that lackluster performance as I was. What a yawner. Those announcers were **** me off in the first two rounds when they kept talking about how Vera will be such a natural at 205. He looked slow, tired, and weak.
YODA | 07/23/08, 01:22 AM
Report Offensive CommentWell I think the weight loss had a little to do with it, but I think as he competes more at that weight it will get easier to make the weight and his strength will return, but it will take at least 4 or 5 matches to make that happen. You can't walk around at 225 or 230 cut down to 205 quickly and expect your speed, strength and stamina to follow you at first. Didn't like the match, but I think if he doesn't put on much weight between matches he may be ok there.
wildbill21475 | 07/23/08, 03:25 AM
Report Offensive CommentI seriously doubt Vera will EVER be good. I mean, is he gonna go in there and beat Forrest? Chuck? Rampage? Or even Anderson Silva if he decides to go to 205 permanently? Nope.
Great read though.
But I'll have to disagree with you on the Barnett/Arlovski vs Fedor. Barnett might not last that long with Fedor because, to me, he didn't look all that good against Rizzo. Yeah, he KO'ed him, but Rizzo is a shadow of what he used to be. Arlovski on the other hand would have a shot. These two have "fought" in the Sambo World Championship before...Fedor narrowly beating Arlovski for Gold. True, Sambo isn't MMA, but I think that would make Arlovski/Fedor great to watch.
RobertMenn-MerlinsMiracles.com | 07/23/08, 11:14 AM
Report Offensive CommentAlso, I wouldn't bet against Couture. I'm not saying he'd win, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if he did. Though Randy didn't defeat Sylvia in 36secs, he totally dominated Sylvia just the same. I think it would be a fight, though it would be best for Couture if it was in a cage.
RobertMenn-MerlinsMiracles.com | 07/23/08, 11:16 AM
Report Offensive CommentI wouldn't bet against Couture, he is one of my all-time favorites. I have enjoyed his matches the whole time he has been fighting, but I really started liking him after he spanked Tito Ortiz when they fought.
I'm not sold on a Arlovski vs. Fedor match though simply because Fedor is such a good striker, and while I don't know a much about Sambo. I think it's a grappling sport so that would mean that Arlovski would have to take him off his feet just to get in the position to grapple and I don't know if he could do that. I have been wrong before though so we shall see.
wildbill21475 | 07/23/08, 10:08 PM
Report Offensive CommentI would bet against Couture. I would VERY surprised if he could win. And the longer we have to wait for the match to happen, the harder it will be for him to pull off the upset. Obviously I'd love to see the fight though. And I do think he'd make it a very respectable match.
YODA | 07/24/08, 06:28 AM
Report Offensive CommentAs long as it Isn't a contest of fat boys.....I agree. One thing I can't stand is seeing a bunch of "Sumo's" slapping bellies.
DEVO (SPECTRE) | 07/24/08, 06:44 AM
Report Offensive CommentGreat reading.
Fedor hasn't got a crisp striking technique, but he does definitely have very very very heavy hands.
The only thing that's going to get Fedor is the same that's going to get Anderson Silva. It's age and/or lack of motivation.
Hyped78 | 07/24/08, 05:01 PM
Report Offensive CommentWell I think anyone with power has a punchers chance look at GSP and Serra's first fight. That being said though it would have to be quick within the first two to three minutes to knock either of the two out. Silva made a nice counter punch to Irvin's kick and that was it. I think someone that may could have a decent fight with Silva wouild be Robby Lawler. He has some pretty heavy hands that could do it, but it hasn't been done yet. So there is no reason to think it will anytime soon. I think boredom is going to get the best of them before the compitition does.
wildbill21475 | 07/25/08, 01:34 AM
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