The MMA Thread

[Badger]

UFC: Shogun Rua Next for Chuck Liddell?

It would be a interesting fight, a loss for either would be the nail in the coffin for their UFC careers.

 

[BAH HUMBBUG!]

Here are my opinions on a coupleof the fights.

A. I don't think Chuck Lidell's career is over because he is done. If his career is over, it's because he is over it. He looked scared and timid in his fight vs. Rampage, he didn't look like he knew he could knock Rampage out, he looked like he knew that Rampage could and would knock him out.

Entering this fight in the first round he was picking jardeen (sp) apart, nothing devstating but he was clearly in control. In the next two rounds he didn't look like he wanted it, especially after he was caught and went to the floor. Maybe he was just out of it from that punch, or he didn't want to get caught again. He is 37 and may just be over it and doesn't want it like he used to.

B. Could someone kick the crap out of Forrest Griffen, please? Don't get me wrong, I am not a Forrest hater. I liked the guy when he and Stephon Bonner (sp) went toe to toe and had one of the best ever in the season end of Ultimate Fighter 1. Now, I can't stand the guy. He should have destroyed shogun IMHO, once he saw how winded and tired he was. I mean the guy was 100% gased, and there were at least two occassions where they were on the ground Griffen got up turned and shogun was still trying to get up.

One where he easily could have just decked him right in the head or mounted him and put him in a rear naked and it was all over. BUT Griffen was so gased himself he either couldn't or wanted to finish him on his feet. IMHO he looked like he was to gased, which is pathetic, if the guy trains so hard and is in such great shape AND he trains with Randy Cotoure (sp) why the hell isn't his conditioning better?

Shogun was done, completely done, and he was still landing shots on his feet and Griffen wasn't landing anything. Then when he wins he acts like he is Rocky Balboa and just beat Ivan Drago. Give me a ****ing break, you beat shogun, who obviously is/was overhyped. Beat Lidell, or Rampage or Henderson or someone of quality then break down crying like you won the gold medal. I can't stand how this guy carries himself anymore and want someone to give him another beat down.

Overall I liked the fights and want to see the next couple of UFCs to see how these fights will affect future ones.

 

[Norman Osborn]

We've been talking about those fights in the UFC thread, Phil. Apparently Rua came into the fight completely out of shape and gassed out in the third round and that's pretty much what lost him the fight; he just had no conditioning and couldn't hang, so Forrest pretty much just wore him down til he was too tired to fight back. Even then, I guess Rua almost got him. (I didn't watch the fights, either). As for Liddell, I've been saying he's overrated for years. Looks like Jardine finally showed the world.

jag

Could you throw me up a link to the UFC thread.....I've tried search with no luck

 

[jaguarr]

Could you throw me up a link to the UFC thread.....I've tried search with no luck

Here ya go.

jag

 

[Norman Osborn]

Here ya go.

jag

much obliged

 

[BAH HUMBBUG!]

Randy Cotoure to retire again?

 

[Johnny Blaze]

Randy Cotoure to retire again?

Dude, you've got to post links when you break news. Everybody knows that.

 

[Johnny Blaze]

Okay, let's get them all in at once...

Fedor to Spurn UFC, Sign with K-1

Randy Couture to Retire

Dana White Issues Statement on Couture's "Retirement"

 

[zanos]

Shouldn't Rua prove himself on Ultimate Fighter first before they start giving him all these fights in the UFC?

 

[Johnny Blaze]

Shouldn't Rua prove himself on Ultimate Fighter first before they start giving him all these fights in the UFC?

No. He's already proven himself against major competition.

 

[BAH HUMBBUG!]

Dude, you've got to post links when you break news. Everybody knows that.

No I don't, I didn't know that. That's why I was asking. I only heard it.

 

[CrypticOne]

That sucks. I wanted to see more of Couture, he was in top form in his last two fights and it sucks to see him go. But I agree with him when he says the only thing left to do was fight Fedor. I hope to see him again, but I doubt we will.

 

[zanos]

No. He's already proven himself against major competition.

A major opponent in Pride would at best be a washout in the UFC.

 

[Johnny Blaze]

A major opponent in Pride would at best be a washout in the UFC.

Ok, that's a pretty ignorant comment. Nicely done.

 

[Johnny Blaze]

That sucks. I wanted to see more of Couture, he was in top form in his last two fights and it sucks to see him go. But I agree with him when he says the only thing left to do was fight Fedor. I hope to see him again, but I doubt we will.

The Fedor thing only seems to be the half of it, and the smaller half at that. Seems it was the money situation that got Randy angry. And who can blame him? He's their biggest draw since Liddell got knocked down a peg, and he's seeing other fighters supposedly make more then he does.
Him being the champ, I can see why he'd be upset at White and Zuffa.

Still, by mid year 08 we could finally see that dream match between Couture and Emelianenko. From what I've read he'd have to wait nine months before being able to sign with another org, such as K-1.

Just sucks he won't be fighting in the UFC. Now the only HW I'll be cheering for is Big Nog.

 

[jaguarr]

Can't say I blame Couture. He's in it for the pure sport of pitting himself against worthy challengers and the only one left for him to go after is Fedor. If White isn't going to bring Fedor into UFC, then Randy will have to go hunting for him on his own. And getting screwed on the pay scale didn't help matters, either. I wish him all the luck in the world and, personally, I'd love to see him take down Fedor. If anyone can it's him. Couture is like the Batman of MMA; with enough prep time he can beat anyone. And I bet he'll be doing nothing for the next nine months but training his ass off and reviewing every bit of Fedor footage he can get his hands on over and over and over again, putting together his strategy.

jag

 

[jaguarr]

A major opponent in Pride would at best be a washout in the UFC.

Do you even WATCH any MMA outside of UFC?

jag

 

[BAH HUMBBUG!]

Can't say I blame Couture. He's in it for the pure sport of pitting himself against worthy challengers and the only one left for him to go after is Fedor. If White isn't going to bring Fedor into UFC, then Randy will have to go hunting for him on his own. And getting screwed on the pay scale didn't help matters, either. I wish him all the luck in the world and, personally, I'd love to see him take down Fedor. If anyone can it's him. Couture is like the Batman of MMA; with enough prep time he can beat anyone. And I bet he'll be doing nothing for the next nine months but training his ass off and reviewing every bit of Fedor footage he can get his hands on over and over and over again, putting together his strategy.

jag

Well looks like I have a new signature.

 

[BAH HUMBBUG!]

Do you even WATCH any MMA outside of UFC?

jag

Seriously.

 

[Johnny Blaze]

Can't say I blame Couture. He's in it for the pure sport of pitting himself against worthy challengers and the only one left for him to go after is Fedor. If White isn't going to bring Fedor into UFC, then Randy will have to go hunting for him on his own. And getting screwed on the pay scale didn't help matters, either. I wish him all the luck in the world and, personally, I'd love to see him take down Fedor. If anyone can it's him. Couture is like the Batman of MMA; with enough prep time he can beat anyone. And I bet he'll be doing nothing for the next nine months but training his ass off and reviewing every bit of Fedor footage he can get his hands on over and over and over again, putting together his strategy.

jag

I definitely agree with the bolded statement. If anyone can beat the Russian Machine, it's Randy. He's just so smart in the cage, is able to change his in ring strategy on the fly, and, as you say, is like MMA's Batman with his prepwork.

Still, Fedor's just as good at gameplanning and making quick changes in the middle of a fight. Look at his fight with Cro Cop. Coming into it, Fedor was a slight underdog, even though he was the champ. Mirko was on a high streak and nobody could seem to stop him. Then Fedor and his camp came up with the perfect gameplan to beat him and he shocked the MMA world with that fight.
Since then others like Gonzaga and Kongo have copied that same Fedor strategy to successful victories against Mirko.

I'd really hope this match happens next year in K-1. It'd be such a freakin' chess match in the ring as both men really listen to the corner during a fight.
I really hope, if it does happen, that there is no KO, submission, or stoppage. I want this fight to go the distance and be the ultimate war it should be.

 

[jaguarr]

Well looks like I have a new signature.

The beauty of saying that is if he ever DOES lose I can just say that he didn't have enough prep time.

I definitely agree with the bolded statement. If anyone can beat the Russian Machine, it's Randy. He's just so smart in the cage, is able to change his in ring strategy on the fly, and, as you say, is like MMA's Batman with his prepwork.

Still, Fedor's just as good at gameplanning and making quick changes in the middle of a fight. Look at his fight with Cro Cop. Coming into it, Fedor was a slight underdog, even though he was the champ. Mirko was on a high streak and nobody could seem to stop him. Then Fedor and his camp came up with the perfect gameplan to beat him and he shocked the MMA world with that fight.
Since then others like Gonzaga and Kongo have copied that same Fedor strategy to successful victories against Mirko.

I'd really hope this match happens next year in K-1. It'd be such a freakin' chess match in the ring as both men really listen to the corner during a fight.
I really hope, if it does happen, that there is no KO, submission, or stoppage. I want this fight to go the distance and be the ultimate war it should be.

Yes, both Fedor and Couture are great at adapting their game and trying to figure out the best way to work with and against their opponent's styles. They're both incredibly smart fighters. I think Randy knows this, no doubt, and wants the challenge of trying to take down an adaptive fighter who changes things on the fly just like he does. It's more of a challenge for him, which is what he's really after.

jag

 

[Johnny Blaze]

The beauty of saying that is if he ever DOES lose I can just say that he didn't have enough prep time.



Yes, both Fedor and Couture are great at adapting their game and trying to figure out the best way to work with and against their opponent's styles. They're both incredibly smart fighters. I think Randy knows this, no doubt, and wants the challenge of trying to take down an adaptive fighter who changes things on the fly just like he does. It's more of a challenge for him, which is what he's really after.

jag

The more it gets talked about, the more I want to see this fight.

Damn you, Dana White! You had it right there in front of you, but you're stupid stubborn ass had to let it slip away.

 

[zanos]

Do you even WATCH any MMA outside of UFC?

jag

Yes I watched 3 UFC washouts dominate top contenders in pride. Now pride fighters are coming to the UFC and getting their asses kicked here by lower competition!

 

[Badger]

There's two champions in the UFC that were from Pride.

Both of them beat the **** out of the UFC poster boys, 1st Round TKO's.

 

[Johnny Blaze]

There's two champions in the UFC that were from Pride.

Both of them beat the **** out of the UFC poster boys, 1st Round TKO's.

And unless Franklin changes his gameplan completely from last time, he'll be tasting the canvas again next weekend.