Cage Fighting/MMA

[Peekay]

Heh, Dana has responded. Awesome as always, the man doesn't mix his words

Exactly what MMA needs - for the head of the biggest promotion to describe fighters in offensive, disrespectful language. How old are you? You actually think it's "awesome" for a grown man to use language like this?

He shouldn't be considered the best pound for pound anything any more. Unless he can prove he can beat the best why should he?

I wouldn't dare to question your superior knowledge of MMA - after all, you watch most major PPVs. Yeah, Fedor is a terrible fighter because he's not in the UFC. Let's forget about him.

Also, if Strikeforce have been stupid enough to promise him $5 million or whatever stupid sum he has asked for, they deserve to go the way of EliteXC and Affliction

I think you might actually be Dana White. God forbid a company would dare to compete in an open market. Incidentally, Strikeforce is a well-run company which doesn't incur costs it can't afford, so it's not going anywhere.

And your favourite fighter is Griffin? Do you drink Carling and listen to Oasis too?

[Peekay]

I've always rated Fedor really highly as a fighter but always complain when boxers swerve the best to take an easier path and maintain their records so will do so with him. He's bottled it and not impressed.

I don't think he's avoided them because he's afraid of the level of competition, but he's shown he's not arsed about facing the best if it doesn't tally exactly with his business/financial goals. To be fair, it seems like the UFC were much more flexible about the contract they offered this time round. There are probably issues we'll never hear about which influenced his decision.

[merf]

of course as a fighter/businerssman he makes the decisions he feels best and we can take a different view as fans based solely on our desire to see the best in any given field matched up to settle the arguments we all have.

I'm just disappointed that for whatever reason he didn't join the highest profile stable and give us, as fans, a couple of years of top heavyweight action.

He seems a pretty chilled out chap so I suspect he won't spend his years of retirement living in his home town lamenting the fact he never took on Brock Lesnar.

For what its worth I really like Dana White, of course he oversteps the sanitised mark that is deemed appropriate in most sports but that's what I love, fed up with sportsmen and administrators sticking to a party line and all coming across like Jamie Redknapp.

[cutmymilk]

No I am not a lout who drinks Carling and listens to Oasis. I am actually a very sensible type - a high school teacher. MMA is entertainment so guys like Dana White are whats needed. Thats how I look at it - as a sport, yes, but more as a form of entertainment. Dana White has a lot of Vince McMahon's qualities in him. He wears his heart on his sleeve and for me that's worth a lot. He is also arguable the biggest celebrity/personality the UFC has produced. Him being the face of UFC (and therefore MMA) has disadvantages when you look at the legitimacy of the sport but his entertainment value is priceless. This is a company that does not have rankings and just throw fights together that fans want (Lesnar getting a title shot with a 2-1 record in UFC because its good for business). It's all very pro wrestling and coincidentally I am fan of that too.

Forrest Griffin is my favourite fighter, yes. He has heart and cuts brilliant promos. While we are at it Tom Lawler does too, which is why I like him. Oh, and Rampage Jackson and the biggest heel in MMA history - Brock Lesnar, of course.

Fact is that Fedor is swerving opposition and his record is going to be tarnished for that. There is no way he will make as much money in strikeforce. It's all about this stupid co-promotion stuff which wouldn't benefit UFC in the slightest. Dana White hit the nail on the head with his comments and why shouldn't he. The sport is just as much entertainment as it is sport, like I said.

[Kungfu]

BJ Penn "I gotta get back in the octagon and I gotta kick somebody's ass"- nice.

Silva-Griffin is the main event but I have a feeling the BJ Penn fight could be the fight of the night.

On the Fedor situation, I'l always be a big fan and look forward to any of his upcoming matchups bu I'm just disappointed tbh that for whatever reasons we won't see Fedor in UFC. A damn shame, would of been HUGE to seem if up against Brock but alas probably never gonna happen.

I'll give you Oasis but Peekay whats wrong with Carling?

[cutmymilk]

It's the thugs drink of choice in a ridiculously general way. He is good at generalising.

[Kit]

Silva could be the best in the UFC and he's moving up to take on my personal favourite fighter Forrest Griffin. I have put a ?10 bet on Forrest winning this, but know it's a very dodgy bet. I won a pretty penny when he 'upset' (I use that loosly as for me there's no such thing as a Forrest upset) Rampage so believe he can do it again. Last 2 Silva fights have been criticised as guys haven't engaged with him, but I don't think Forrest will play it this safe. He will win or get knocked out, I think. Can't wait.

While we?re picking.

Anderson Silva in the second round (Forrest is too much of a brawler) and Penn to win via sub in the championship rounds; obvious picks, but I can?t see Florian or Forrest causing an upset.

"Fedor is a f---ing joke," UFC President Dana White responded Monday after learning that Emelianenko had signed with Strikeforce. ?He turns down a huge deal and the opportunity to face the best in the world to fight nobodies for no money!"

Not a fan of Danas fighter bashing but it?s almost impossible to defend Fedor?s decision. He?s 32, at the peak of his abilities, yet instead of fighting on the world stage he?s going to a promotion that can?t even get their fighters to defend their belts regularly. I?m not even sure why he signed a 4 fight deal seeing as they only have Rogers and Overeem.

All this because M-1 (who have a total of two fighters to their name) made ridiculous demands on Fedors behalf.

[cutmymilk]

Many MMA reporters believe that he wants no part of Brock. It's very difficult to defend him. If it ever happens now Fedor will be older and Brock will be better. Padded record, indeed. He will end his career having never really lost because he swerved the best, simple as that.

[Kit]

Interesting, even his brother Aleks has sided with the UFC, placing the blame squarely on M-1:

Aleks: ?You can deal with UFC, I know that they have flexible contract system. All these talks about ?strict? contract terms with signing with UFC, come ONLY from Vadim Finkelstein, who wants to push his owns business projects through Fedor?s fights.?

He will end his career having never really lost because he swerved the best, simple as that.

Fedor thought the best competition in Pride, but continuing to do so while outside the UFC is going to be tough. Looking at the top 10, the UFC have 7 of the top 10 heavyweights and the other 3 (Arlovski (sp?), Overeem, and Rogers) rank 7 to 10.

[cutmymilk]

He would have earned $30million over 6 fights. That's insane money. He was also allowed to advertise M-1 as much as he wanted on his clothes but they didn't want to put the events under the M-1 banner, which is an absolutely ludicrous demand anyway. It's all a big excuse and crap by the looks of it - he just doesn't want any part of the competition there.

[merf]

wow Silva Griffin, don't think I've ever seen somebody so contemptuous of a top ranked opponent in the style they dismissed them with, that was plain embarassing for Forest hence his running out the ring.

good to Silva back after a couple of stinkers

good effort by BJ Penn as well

I found the undercard a little dull though, probably open myself up to pleb accusations in the same way you call a 0-0 in footy or 10 rounds of jabbing in boxing but I found the first few 'decision' fights a bit dull (that 30s ko excepted)

I wonder if UFC is spreading itself a bit thin with the frequency of events

[Big Seany]

Turns out a lad I went to school with is an MMA fighter now. Pedro Wrobel. Anyone seen him fight?

[Kit]

wow Silva Griffin, don't think I've ever seen somebody so contemptuous of a top ranked opponent in the style they dismissed them with, that was plain embarassing for Forest hence his running out the ring.

Yep, embarrassed’s the word. Think it was expected for Anderson to win but he made Forrest look so bad in the process; he even dropped his hands and gave Forrest a free shot.

Raises the question who Anderson should fight next; more 205lbs guys like Rampage, Rashad and (a fight I’d love to see) Ortiz or throw him back in there with Hendo?

I read at the post fight press conference Dana and Anderson were in disagreement about a possible match-up with Machida (as they often train together), so I guess that's out the window.

It's starting to look like he’d rather blitz through his contract and fight Roy Jones in boxing, which he’d obviously lose and it’s not like Jones would return the favour and fight MMA.

I wonder if UFC is spreading itself a bit thin with the frequency of events

I think we’re just feeling the after effects of UFC 100. 102 and onwards look far more solid.

[cutmymilk]

I think the events look solid enough. They have many fighters under contract.

Yes, it was embarassing to see Forrest look so bad. I suppose thats what Silva does and Forrest tried but couldn't crack him. It's not just the case of being aggressive to beat him, then! Machida would be a brilliant fight for him as he looks invincible at the moment as well. Will go watch the press conference now.

[merf]

oddly I think Machida Silva wouldn't be a great fight, especially over 5 rounds.

they'd both sit back and wait for the others lead, which wouldn't come that often. 2 counter-punchers rarely makes for a great fight.

the reason that the Griffin fight was quite exciting whilst it lasted was he just waded in swinging like a total idiot and somebody of Silva's defensive skills found his wild lunges easy to avoid and counter.