Official UFC Thread

[12 Bladez]

After watching that ridiculous EliteXC last night, I have to say...

I Gina Carano

Never really noticed her before but my God she is beautiful. Too bad that Cyborg chick will probably maul her (from what I hear). Can't wait to see that!

I feel bad for Kimbo. I was never a fan nor hater but everyone's got bills to pay. Wonder what he'll do next?

Yeah hope some of you guys can make it out there to see Couture/Lesnar too. I know Lesnar will be the dog so I think I might just have to bet him...

[brainchild81]

Gina is beautiful. Her vs Cyborg will be an awesome fight. I can't pick a winner yet. Cyborg looks like UFC interm champ Nogeuira. She ever use steroids?

Originally Posted by CrypticOne

This was a classic Kimbo fight. I mean, it ended in 14 seconds. I don't know how people can say that this was set up. Kimbo got caught. He's still a baby in this sport. Just like Lesnar.

Ditto. I like both of them & they get way too much hate. I'm glad Kimbo lost though. Especially after seeing this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkYC8TBzmmQ I don't like the EliteXC bosses anymore

[Kargo Warrior]

Diego Sanchez is out against Thiago.

His replacement....Josh Koscheck.

[CrypticOne]

Originally Posted by Kargo Warrior

Diego Sanchez is out against Thiago.

His replacement....Josh Koscheck.

Still going to be a good fight. Hope Alves gets him.

[12 Bladez]

Originally Posted by brainchild81

Gina is beautiful. Her vs Cyborg will be an awesome fight. I can't pick a winner yet. Cyborg looks like UFC interm champ Nogeuira. She ever use steroids? Ditto. I like both of them & they get way too much hate. I'm glad Kimbo lost though. Especially after seeing this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkYC8TBzmmQ I don't like the EliteXC bosses anymore

Unless she's paid to dive (wouldn't surprise me at all), Cyborg > Gina. Easy.

Originally Posted by Kargo Warrior

Diego Sanchez is out against Thiago.

His replacement....Josh Koscheck.

Definitely takin the underdog in this one! Alves > Sanchez for sure but Koscheck is tough and I don't see Alves stuffin his takedowns so Kos > Alves by G&P (split dec). So long as Kos doesn't try and stand with Alves... ching ching

Couture-Lesnar card = Might just ebay my tickets and watch & play poker at Bellagio instead.

[Bcather]

*sadface* not to go off topic but I still can't believe anderson silva is going to retire.

[12 Bladez]

“If GSP beats BJ then you’ll see Silva v GSP — possibly at a catch weight. But if Penn beats GSP there’s no way I’d let him move up to 185lbs, no way. He’ll f***ing fight, argue and cry about it but there’s no way – it ain’t gonna happen, I can tell you that right now – it ain’t gonna happen.”
- Dana White

So if GSP > BJ again, we may see GSP v. Silva (@ catch weight) sometime mid-late next year!!! Though I honestly believe BJ would pose a greater threat to Silva if/when the fight goes to the ground than GSP, who in the right mind wouldn't want to see best welterweight v. best middleweight square-off? And I see two dream matches before Silva calls it a day:

Silva v. GSP @ 170-185 lbs.
Silva v. Fedor @ 205-220 lbs.

Now I wait...

P.S. Anyone see Cote > Silva? Cause I'm high as mf rite now and I still don't see it.

[CrypticOne]

Yeah, I don't see Cote winning, but who knows? Anything can happen in this sport, but it's doubtful anyone can beat Anderson in this sport. So....

[0neDisturbedSOB]

I got $200 on Cote even though I think Silva is going to destroy him. Better safe than sorry.

Anyone hear about EliteXC's bankruptcy? It's officially over for them. All the fighters are free agents now. I totally see Kimbo going to Japan and being the next Bob Sapp.

[Dr. Evil]

Nick Shields has expressed interest in the UFC, and that is where he's probably going to end up.

It will be interesting to see where Gina Carano ends up.

[0neDisturbedSOB]

I work for an MMA company, and we work a lot with the UFC, Tapout, EliteXC (not anymore), etc. In doing so we get to work with a lot of the fighters on their projects in and outside of the cage (clothing lines, DVDs, etc). Anyway, I'm doing an interview with Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida this coming week and I've been doing a lot of research to come up with some decent questions for them. I thought I'd post what I came up with and see what you guys had to say.

Here's the questions for Silva:

BV: Curitiba is the capital city of Parana, and has the largest population (1.8 million) and economy in all of southern Brazil. Having grown up in such a large city, what were some of your dreams and aspirations at an early age. Did you ever want to have a more conventional career path such as being a doctor, lawyer, etc?


BV: At what age did you start your Muay Thai training, and how long after did you decide to make the jump into MMA?


BV: During your time in PRIDE you suffered two submission losses against Ryo Chonan and Daiju Takase who were both considered to be huge underdogs going into their fights with you. Since those fights (with the exception of the DQ against Okami) you have been on a winning streak. Since joining the UFC in 2006 8 of your last 10 wins have come either via KO or TKO, and none of them have made it past the second round. In your opinion what has made you such a dominant fighter? Was it more of a maturation process or an evolution in your fight game?


BV: A lot of MMA fans consider you and Fedor Emelianenko to be the best pound for pound fighters in the world with many of those fans ranking you as #1. How do you respond to this?


BV: Where did the name "The Spider" come from? I've heard some people say it's because of your long frame, and I've heard others say it's simply because you love the character of Spider-Man so much. Can you clear this up?


BV: Who are some of your favorite fighters to watch in and out of the UFC? Can you elaborate a bit on why you like watching these particular fighters?


BV: Who would your dream fight be with and why?


BV: Many people are comparing you to a young Mike Tyson in terms of being seemingly unstoppable at this point in your career. How do you react to this?


BV: You were recently featured on the most recent season of "The Ultimate Fighter" as a guest coach for Team Nogueira. How was this experience for you, and would you ever consider being a coach on an upcoming season?


BV: Your relationship with fellow UFC fighters Antonio Nogueira and Lyoto Machida has been well documented as members of the Black House team. Can you describe what your sparring sessions are like, especially with Machida since your styles are so different?


BV: There has been a lot of talk about matching you up against current UFC Welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre some time in 2009 for a "super fight." Is this something you're interested in, and if it were to happen would you be comfortable dropping to 170lbs or would St. Pierre have to move up to 185lbs to face you?


BV: When most MMA fans that hear the name Anderson Silva they think of the man that hasn't had a fight go past the second round in 4 years, and is seemingly unstoppable at this point, however most fans don't know the Anderson Silva outside of the UFC. Recently I've heard you say that your a big fan of comics and video games, is there anything that you'd like to share that casual fans might not know about you? (for instance: family life, hobbies outside of fighting/training, etc)


BV: In July 2008 you made your UFC Light Heavyweight debut in a match against James "The Sandman" Irvin. 1:01 into the first round you had KO'd Irvin and made your presence known in the LHW division. Is going after the UFC 205lb crown (and possibly becoming the second man in MMA history to hold two belts in two different weight classes) something you're considering, or were you just looking to challenge yourself with a new weight class and a new opponent?


BV: Leading up to a fight, most fighters do the usual "trash talking" back and forth, however in your pre-fight interviews you always seem very respectful and complimentary about your opponents. Has there ever been an opponent that you've faced that you have genuinely disliked? If so who was this person, and what did they do to warrant your distain?


BV: Who has been your toughest opponent to date, and why?


BV: The MMA community is buzzing right now with the talks of your possible retirement sometime in 2009 (or when your current UFC contract expires), however the reason for this possible retirement is unknown. Some people are speculating that you feel that there is nothing left for you to accomplish in MMA, while others feel that your decision is based more on your age. Recently I read an interview where you stated that it has always been your goal to retire at age 35 (which you are 18 months away from). Can you clarify for our readers what the real reasoning is? And if it has been your goal to retire at age 35, what (if anything) could keep you in MMA past that age?

and here are the questions for Machida:

BV: You've faced some big name opponents such as Tito Ortiz, Rich Franklin, and BJ Penn yet you've managed to keep your undefeated streak alive. In all of your 13 fights who has been your toughest opponent and why?


BV: You are well known for using a variety of Shotokan Karate in your fights. Can you tell us a bit more about your traditional martial arts background?


BV: In your last fight against Tito Ortiz you got caught in a triangle during the last minutes of the 3rd round. At one point it looked as if Tito had it locked in tight and was close to submitting you. You managed to escape and win the fight, but later in your post fight interview you said that you wouldn't have tapped no matter what. Was this in reference to Tito's triangle, or were you talking about all submissions you might find yourself in, in your next fights?


BV: Who would be your dream fight in or outside of the UFC and why?


BV: It's been reported that you began training sumo at the age of 12. How have you adapted that discipline into MMA, and how do you feel it gives you an advantage (if any) in your fights?


BV: You were the first person to defeat Rich Franklin (via TKO). Now that Rich has come back to 205lbs and developed more as a fighter, would you be willing to give him a rematch, and if so how would you approach this fight differently from your last encounter?


BV: How do you feel you match up against the more aggressive fighters in the Light Heavyweight division such as (current UFC champion) Forrest Griffin, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, Thiago Silva (who you were scheduled to fight at UFC 89) or even (former PRIDE champion) Wanderlei Silva?


BV: On the countdown to UFC 84: Ill Will viewers got a brief glimpse into your personal life, and were introduced to your wife FabÃola. Can you share with our readers what you are like outside of the cage and the gym? What are some of your hobbies and interests?


BV: When you graduated college, you received your degree in Physical Education. At the same time you met and began training with (Japanese professional wrestler) Antonio Inoki. Do you credit your time in Tokyo with Inoki as the main influence in your decision to pursue MMA rather than a career in Physical Education?


BV: Some people have criticized your style as being "elusive" or "slow", however traditional martial arts (where your style originates from), for the most part is designed to teach people how to escape an encounter without getting hurt, which is exactly what you've managed to do in 13 fights. How do you respond to this criticism?


BV: You were originally scheduled to fight fellow Brazilian and fellow undefeated fighter Thiago Silva (13-0) at UFC 89: Bisping vs. Leben, however Silva had to bow out due to an injury (it's been rumored that the fight is being scheduled for UFC 93 on January 31st in Dublin, Ireland) After Silva had to back out were you offered another opponent, and if so why did you decide to wait 8 months for Silva to heal?


BV: Recently you've been featured in advertisements for both Lugz and Bad Boy. How do you think this type of mainstream exposure will help your career as a fighter?


BV: In July 2008, your teammate (and current UFC Middleweight champion) Anderson Silva made his 205lb debut in a match that ended in 1:01 of the first round. Following the fight Silva went on record as saying he has no desire to challenge for the 205lb belt (currently held by Forrest Griffin) because the title "belongs to you." Hearing this, does it put more pressure on you to win your next fight(s) to get a title shot, and eventually capture the title?

What do you guys think?

[Dr. Evil]

Originally Posted by 0neDisturbedSOB

I work for an MMA company, and we work a lot with the UFC, Tapout, EliteXC (not anymore), etc. In doing so we get to work with a lot of the fighters on their projects in and outside of the cage (clothing lines, DVDs, etc). Anyway, I'm doing an interview with Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida this coming week and I've been doing a lot of research to come up with some decent questions for them. I thought I'd post what I came up with and see what you guys had to say.

Here's the questions for Silva:

BV: Curitiba is the capital city of Parana, and has the largest population (1.8 million) and economy in all of southern Brazil. Having grown up in such a large city, what were some of your dreams and aspirations at an early age. Did you ever want to have a more conventional career path such as being a doctor, lawyer, etc?


BV: At what age did you start your Muay Thai training, and how long after did you decide to make the jump into MMA?


BV: During your time in PRIDE you suffered two submission losses against Ryo Chonan and Daiju Takase who were both considered to be huge underdogs going into their fights with you. Since those fights (with the exception of the DQ against Okami) you have been on a winning streak. Since joining the UFC in 2006 8 of your last 10 wins have come either via KO or TKO, and none of them have made it past the second round. In your opinion what has made you such a dominant fighter? Was it more of a maturation process or an evolution in your fight game?


BV: A lot of MMA fans consider you and Fedor Emelianenko to be the best pound for pound fighters in the world with many of those fans ranking you as #1. How do you respond to this?


BV: Where did the name "The Spider" come from? I've heard some people say it's because of your long frame, and I've heard others say it's simply because you love the character of Spider-Man so much. Can you clear this up?


BV: Who are some of your favorite fighters to watch in and out of the UFC? Can you elaborate a bit on why you like watching these particular fighters?


BV: Who would your dream fight be with and why?


BV: Many people are comparing you to a young Mike Tyson in terms of being seemingly unstoppable at this point in your career. How do you react to this?


BV: You were recently featured on the most recent season of "The Ultimate Fighter" as a guest coach for Team Nogueira. How was this experience for you, and would you ever consider being a coach on an upcoming season?


BV: Your relationship with fellow UFC fighters Antonio Nogueira and Lyoto Machida has been well documented as members of the Black House team. Can you describe what your sparring sessions are like, especially with Machida since your styles are so different?


BV: There has been a lot of talk about matching you up against current UFC Welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre some time in 2009 for a "super fight." Is this something you're interested in, and if it were to happen would you be comfortable dropping to 170lbs or would St. Pierre have to move up to 185lbs to face you?


BV: When most MMA fans that hear the name Anderson Silva they think of the man that hasn't had a fight go past the second round in 4 years, and is seemingly unstoppable at this point, however most fans don't know the Anderson Silva outside of the UFC. Recently I've heard you say that your a big fan of comics and video games, is there anything that you'd like to share that casual fans might not know about you? (for instance: family life, hobbies outside of fighting/training, etc)


BV: In July 2008 you made your UFC Light Heavyweight debut in a match against James "The Sandman" Irvin. 1:01 into the first round you had KO'd Irvin and made your presence known in the LHW division. Is going after the UFC 205lb crown (and possibly becoming the second man in MMA history to hold two belts in two different weight classes) something you're considering, or were you just looking to challenge yourself with a new weight class and a new opponent?


BV: Leading up to a fight, most fighters do the usual "trash talking" back and forth, however in your pre-fight interviews you always seem very respectful and complimentary about your opponents. Has there ever been an opponent that you've faced that you have genuinely disliked? If so who was this person, and what did they do to warrant your distain?


BV: Who has been your toughest opponent to date, and why?


BV: The MMA community is buzzing right now with the talks of your possible retirement sometime in 2009 (or when your current UFC contract expires), however the reason for this possible retirement is unknown. Some people are speculating that you feel that there is nothing left for you to accomplish in MMA, while others feel that your decision is based more on your age. Recently I read an interview where you stated that it has always been your goal to retire at age 35 (which you are 18 months away from). Can you clarify for our readers what the real reasoning is? And if it has been your goal to retire at age 35, what (if anything) could keep you in MMA past that age?

and here are the questions for Machida:

BV: You've faced some big name opponents such as Tito Ortiz, Rich Franklin, and BJ Penn yet you've managed to keep your undefeated streak alive. In all of your 13 fights who has been your toughest opponent and why?


BV: You are well known for using a variety of Shotokan Karate in your fights. Can you tell us a bit more about your traditional martial arts background?


BV: In your last fight against Tito Ortiz you got caught in a triangle during the last minutes of the 3rd round. At one point it looked as if Tito had it locked in tight and was close to submitting you. You managed to escape and win the fight, but later in your post fight interview you said that you wouldn't have tapped no matter what. Was this in reference to Tito's triangle, or were you talking about all submissions you might find yourself in, in your next fights?


BV: Who would be your dream fight in or outside of the UFC and why?


BV: It's been reported that you began training sumo at the age of 12. How have you adapted that discipline into MMA, and how do you feel it gives you an advantage (if any) in your fights?


BV: You were the first person to defeat Rich Franklin (via TKO). Now that Rich has come back to 205lbs and developed more as a fighter, would you be willing to give him a rematch, and if so how would you approach this fight differently from your last encounter?


BV: How do you feel you match up against the more aggressive fighters in the Light Heavyweight division such as (current UFC champion) Forrest Griffin, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, Thiago Silva (who you were scheduled to fight at UFC 89) or even (former PRIDE champion) Wanderlei Silva?


BV: On the countdown to UFC 84: Ill Will viewers got a brief glimpse into your personal life, and were introduced to your wife FabÃola. Can you share with our readers what you are like outside of the cage and the gym? What are some of your hobbies and interests?


BV: When you graduated college, you received your degree in Physical Education. At the same time you met and began training with (Japanese professional wrestler) Antonio Inoki. Do you credit your time in Tokyo with Inoki as the main influence in your decision to pursue MMA rather than a career in Physical Education?


BV: Some people have criticized your style as being "elusive" or "slow", however traditional martial arts (where your style originates from), for the most part is designed to teach people how to escape an encounter without getting hurt, which is exactly what you've managed to do in 13 fights. How do you respond to this criticism?


BV: You were originally scheduled to fight fellow Brazilian and fellow undefeated fighter Thiago Silva (13-0) at UFC 89: Bisping vs. Leben, however Silva had to bow out due to an injury (it's been rumored that the fight is being scheduled for UFC 93 on January 31st in Dublin, Ireland) After Silva had to back out were you offered another opponent, and if so why did you decide to wait 8 months for Silva to heal?


BV: Recently you've been featured in advertisements for both Lugz and Bad Boy. How do you think this type of mainstream exposure will help your career as a fighter?


BV: In July 2008, your teammate (and current UFC Middleweight champion) Anderson Silva made his 205lb debut in a match that ended in 1:01 of the first round. Following the fight Silva went on record as saying he has no desire to challenge for the 205lb belt (currently held by Forrest Griffin) because the title "belongs to you." Hearing this, does it put more pressure on you to win your next fight(s) to get a title shot, and eventually capture the title?

What do you guys think?

Great questions to ask, although you may have to have a translator to interview them both. I have not heard Machida speak, so I don't know how good his English is. I have heard Silva speak and he spoke in Portuguese.

[0neDisturbedSOB]

Yeah, I spoke with Ed Soares (who manages both of them) and his assistant, and he said that they would have a translator on the line so there were no problems with the language barrier. I just wasn't sure if they were really relevant questions to ask. Some of them are more filler than anything.

I am curious to see what Silva has to say about his rumored retirement.

[12 Bladez]

Originally Posted by 0neDisturbedSOB

I got $200 on Cote even though I think Silva is going to destroy him. Better safe than sorry.

Anyone hear about EliteXC's bankruptcy? It's officially over for them. All the fighters are free agents now. I totally see Kimbo going to Japan and being the next Bob Sapp.

Might as well flush that 200 down the toilet; Silva-Cote won't be GSP-Serra I promise u. My money's on Kos > Alves. Safer bet.

I heard "Affliction + EliteXC"? Only thing left to see w/ XC was Gina v. Cyborg anyways.

[0neDisturbedSOB]

Sorry but if I bet $200 and win I walk with $1300....that's a bet I'm willing to take.

I think Anderson Silva is going to win too, but my bet is a just in case scenario.

[CrypticOne]

What's your guys' predictions for tonight?

I have Anderson winning against Cote by KO in the first.

I have Thiago winning against Koscheck by TKO in the second.

I have Werdum winning by decision.

Sherk winning by decision.

And Maynard winning by TKO.

[Kargo Warrior]

I'm so pumped up for tonight...

I'm a huge Cote fan since his fight with Tito,so i can't predict anything but a huge upset

I'm also a big fan of The Pitbull but i'm leaning towards Kos,by (T)KO.

Tyson Griffin by decision/TKO.

Werdum by sub

Rich Clementi by a little upset via submission.

[12 Bladez]

Originally Posted by 0neDisturbedSOB

Sorry but if I bet $200 and win I walk with $1300....that's a bet I'm willing to take.

I think Anderson Silva is going to win too, but my bet is a just in case scenario.

Good luck 2 u. I'll be happy w/ $400 from Kos > Alves. My preds:

Silva > Cote via KO
Kos > Alves via Dec
Werdum and Sherk winout too.

[Johnny Blaze]

Originally Posted by CrypticOne

What's your guys' predictions for tonight?

I have Anderson winning against Cote by KO in the first.

I have Thiago winning against Koscheck by TKO in the second.

I have Werdum winning by decision.

Sherk winning by decision.

And Maynard winning by TKO.

With you on them all, save Koscheck fight. I've got Kos winning a split decision.

[Kargo Warrior]

That was tremendeously dissapointing...finally a fighter who can take Silva's best strikes and go forward and this happens...at least Cote made me a proud fan tonight.

And a great display of striking+takedown defence by Thiago...he dominated Kos who showed a lot of heart.

[CrypticOne]

Man, Cote sure did shock the world. I did not expect that. Good fight though. So, was the Thiago/Kos fight. Nice performances from Tyson and Sherk. Great KO by Dos Santos.

[thedeadite]

Seriously, I feel bad for Cote, he was doing well. I had Silva ahead (round 1 and 2) but with Cote, one clean right could end a fight. He had a chance, I hope he heals soon and gets a rematch.

[CrypticOne]

Originally Posted by thedeadite

Seriously, I feel bad for Cote, he was doing well. I had Silva ahead (round 1 and 2) but with Cote, one clean right could end a fight. He had a chance, I hope he heals soon and gets a rematch.

What he needs to do his go get his knee fixed. That'll be his downfall everytime if he doesn't get that taken care of. I hate to see fighters go out like that.

[DBella]

Originally Posted by CrypticOne

Man, Cote sure did shock the world. I did not expect that. Good fight though. So, was the Thiago/Kos fight. Nice performances from Tyson and Sherk. Great KO by Dos Santos.

Do you really think it's a good fight? I guess I expect more from the fight because... it's Anderson Silva. The first round got on my nerves. Did he really have to take that long to size Cote up? He was dancing around too much, imo. However, when he did decide to fight, he was good. I had to laugh out loud when Cote was down and Silva offered him a helping hand to get up. WTH?! Aren't you suppose to tear the guy down?!

Anyway, I gotta give props to Cote. He was a good challenger. It sucks the accident happened. I didn't think he'd win the fight but I believe he'd put up a great fight and it would've been a very entertaining bout to watch. I hope he gets well soon and we'll get to see a re-match between the two and when that happens, Silva will decide to samba less and fight more.

[Colossal Spoons]

Can't wait for Sat. Let's go Brock!