UFC 79 ** No Spoilers **

[FatTony]

I wouldn't necessarily say that neither Silva or Liddell can win the Light Heavyweight title off Jackson.
I seen JAcksons last fight against silva, Silva destroyed Jackson, absolutely destorey him, and looked a different fighter stylistically that the Silva we seen in UFC 79.
Liddell will always have a punchers chance, his long storng arms will always find their targets, I would find the rematch hard to call personally, despite Jackson having two wins against Liddell.
I would like to see more of Machida, he did look good though, but I don't think he will be Light Heavyweight champion anytime soon.
That was the best G.S.P. I have ever seen, focused is absolutely the correct word. The chap has it all.

Both of Jacksons wins over Liddell have been so one sided that I really can't see Chuck winning. Every connection that Jackson seemed to make had Chuck stumbling. Chuck is mentally scarred and it'll take a lot for him to get Jackson "superiority" out of his head. Until he believes he can win it, he won't have a chance.

GSP

[chadrtc]

I wouldn't necessarily say that neither Silva or Liddell can win the Light Heavyweight title off Jackson.
I seen JAcksons last fight against silva, Silva destroyed Jackson, absolutely destorey him, and looked a different fighter stylistically that the Silva we seen in UFC 79.
Liddell will always have a punchers chance, his long storng arms will always find their targets, I would find the rematch hard to call personally, despite Jackson having two wins against Liddell.
I would like to see more of Machida, he did look good though, but I don't think he will be Light Heavyweight champion anytime soon.
That was the best G.S.P. I have ever seen, focused is absolutely the correct word. The chap has it all.

Don't discount the Steroid factor in Silva's wins over Rampage! It's been widely accepted for sometime that Wanderlai was juicing in his time with Pride (you could see he looked a fair bit smaller than usual against chuck). I think that the steroid factor is a major reason why all the big pride stars have struggled in the UFC. Pride had no doping policy and juicing was going on all over their roster where as the UFC are under the watchfull eye of the athletics comissions.

For me pride was closer to professional wrestling than sport (which the worked matches on some of their earlier cards backs up), i still found it hugely entertaining though!

[FatTony]

Don't discount the Steroid factor in Silva's wins over Rampage! It's been widely accepted for sometime that Wanderlai was juicing in his time with Pride (you could see he looked a fair bit smaller than usual against chuck). I think that the steroid factor is a major reason why all the big pride stars have struggled in the UFC. Pride had no doping policy and juicing was going on all over their roster where as the UFC are under the watchfull eye of the athletics comissions.

For me pride was closer to professional wrestling than sport (which the worked matches on some of their earlier cards backs up), i still found it hugely entertaining though!

Good point. All the Pride fighters (other than Jackson) have struggled. A combination of the drugs and the different rules I think.

[Nicey]

No spoilers ehh ??

[spud_gun]

No spoilers ehh ??

There were none when the topic was originally opened.

Blame Bazza. He can't keep his mouth shut about anything.

[chadrtc]

Good point. All the Pride fighters (other than Jackson) have struggled. A combination of the drugs and the different rules I think.

And the size of the cage in comparisson to the traditional ring.

[Karl]

Good point. All the Pride fighters (other than Jackson) have struggled. A combination of the drugs and the different rules I think.

There was a key moment in the Liddell- Silva match where Silva had Chuck on the floor on his knees - in Pride that would have been game over - Silva would have just kicked Chuck in the head and it would have been adios for the Iceman.

I suspect the rule and environment have played a big part in Pride fighters failure in UFC (plus steroids). Wuld have loved to have seen this match under Pride rules - still, just glad we got to see it at all.

GSP is probably the best pound for pound fighter there is right now. Anderson Silva is right up there, it just seem that GSP is very good in everything where as Anderson Silva still has a few rough edges. One day these two will meet and it could well be the greatest fight we will have ever seen.

[bazza76]

No spoilers ehh ??

Sorry Nicey, am used to you watching the UFC events before us, whch a replayed nearly a day later over here.
My appologies.

[bazza76]

Both of Jacksons wins over Liddell have been so one sided that I really can't see Chuck winning. Every connection that Jackson seemed to make had Chuck stumbling. Chuck is mentally scarred and it'll take a lot for him to get Jackson "superiority" out of his head. Until he believes he can win it, he won't have a chance.

GSP

Sorry mate, I beg to differ, I am sorry if I am coming across pig headded or stubburn, but if Chuck was to fight Rampage again, he would have a chance, I have seen Chuck knock out countless people in devestatingly quick fashion, sure he got knocked out by Rampage in his last fight, and stopped by him some time before that too. But chuck has got soe of the most devestating standup in all of MMA, I still believe his standup striking is better than Jacksons. If they go toe to toe again I think it is reasonable to think chuck could stop him, of couurse he needs to avoid getting knocked out himself. But MMA is the spot of upsets, everyone has a punchers chance, especially one of the most devestating strikers in MMA.
The best way to beat Chuck is to go at him with leg kicks first. Silva didn't do that enough.

[bazza76]

Don't discount the Steroid factor in Silva's wins over Rampage! It's been widely accepted for sometime that Wanderlai was juicing in his time with Pride (you could see he looked a fair bit smaller than usual against chuck). I think that the steroid factor is a major reason why all the big pride stars have struggled in the UFC. Pride had no doping policy and juicing was going on all over their roster where as the UFC are under the watchfull eye of the athletics comissions.

For me pride was closer to professional wrestling than sport (which the worked matches on some of their earlier cards backs up), i still found it hugely entertaining though!

Well that is the first I have heard about steroids in Pride, to be honest, I have not read up on the politics of any wins, but if they were all at it, doesnt that mean Rampage was too?.
To be honest, I was just thinking Wanderlei was just fitter than usual after training harder than ever before for this fight, having his own team dedicated to him, for the first time ever in his career in the build up to the Liddell fight.
To me he looks like he should be fighting at Middle weight anyway. Which is where the vast majority of his success came in Pride which includes his win against Jackson.

[bazza76]

There were none when the topic was originally opened.

Blame Bazza. He can't keep his mouth shut about anything.

[homer1]

I think Silva will beat the crap out of most of his opponents in the UFC and can't wait to see him fighting again, excellent conditioning and technique - delighted to see Chuck back to himself again as if he had lost I don't believe we'd have seen him in the ring again. GSP was awesome - he is getting better and better every time I see him and looks incredibly focussed. Was never a fan of Hughes but thought he was graceful and honest in defeat

An excellent couple of main fights, just what the UFC needed after too many duds of late

[chadrtc]

Well that is the first I have heard about steroids in Pride, to be honest, I have not read up on the politics of any wins, but if they were all at it, doesnt that mean Rampage was too?.
To be honest, I was just thinking Wanderlei was just fitter than usual after training harder than ever before for this fight, having his own team dedicated to him, for the first time ever in his career in the build up to the Liddell fight.
To me he looks like he should be fighting at Middle weight anyway. Which is where the vast majority of his success came in Pride which includes his win against Jackson.

I didn't say that they were all at it. Juanito would never let Rampage anywhere near steroids, the Jackson camp are one of the most vocal about the issue of steroids in Pride, with the Chutebox (Wand/Shogun), the Hammerhouse (Coleman/Randleman/Kerr) camps and Josh Barnett (who was stripped of the UFC Heavyweight title for failing a drugs test), being the fighters that gained most from their usage.

As for Wandy at middleweight? I think he would struggle to make the 185lb weight limit as he cuts weight at the moment, he weighed 224lbs for his last fight in Japan against Cro-Cop in the openweight G.P! Pride's middleweight division was 205, the same as the UFC's light heavyweight division which is why Henderson, the Pride middleweight champ fought Rampage in a title unification bout.

If you're interested in the background of the sport in both the east and west, and some of the controversial goings on in the past; such as worked fights, i would reccomend having a read of "No Holds Barred" by Clive Gentry. It's an excellent book that offers a great deal of insight into the history of MMA.

Happy New Year!!

[FatTony]

Sorry mate, I beg to differ, I am sorry if I am coming across pig headded or stubburn, but if Chuck was to fight Rampage again, he would have a chance, I have seen Chuck knock out countless people in devestatingly quick fashion, sure he got knocked out by Rampage in his last fight, and stopped by him some time before that too. But chuck has got soe of the most devestating standup in all of MMA, I still believe his standup striking is better than Jacksons. If they go toe to toe again I think it is reasonable to think chuck could stop him, of couurse he needs to avoid getting knocked out himself. But MMA is the spot of upsets, everyone has a punchers chance, especially one of the most devestating strikers in MMA.
The best way to beat Chuck is to go at him with leg kicks first. Silva didn't do that enough.

I don't disagree that Chuck would have a chance, as you say a puncher always has a chance and the UFC this year has been full of surprises. The difference I see with Chuck and Jackson though is that this has now become a mental thing for Chuck. In both fights its looked very, very one side.

I like Chuck, just don't think he will ever take Jackson unless he makes a lucky connection.

[bazza76]

I didn't say that they were all at it. Juanito would never let Rampage anywhere near steroids, the Jackson camp are one of the most vocal about the issue of steroids in Pride, with the Chutebox (Wand/Shogun), the Hammerhouse (Coleman/Randleman/Kerr) camps and Josh Barnett (who was stripped of the UFC Heavyweight title for failing a drugs test), being the fighters that gained most from their usage.

As for Wandy at middleweight? I think he would struggle to make the 185lb weight limit as he cuts weight at the moment, he weighed 224lbs for his last fight in Japan against Cro-Cop in the openweight G.P! Pride's middleweight division was 205, the same as the UFC's light heavyweight division which is why Henderson, the Pride middleweight champ fought Rampage in a title unification bout.

If you're interested in the background of the sport in both the east and west, and some of the controversial goings on in the past; such as worked fights, i would reccomend having a read of "No Holds Barred" by Clive Gentry. It's an excellent book that offers a great deal of insight into the history of MMA.

Happy New Year!!

Happy new year too you too mate, I amy well take a look on amazon for the book sounds liek a good read.