11/21/24
January 22, 2007
The State of Mixed Martial Arts in 2007:
The Top 10 pound-for-pound Mixed Martial Arts Fighters...
Ali biographer Thomas Hauser on Boxing versus MMA
I hadn't seen the UFC68 card. Couture is already coming out of retirement? Kinda weak. I realize they wouldn't give Cro Cop a title shot out of the gate but isn't it just delaying the inevitable? Hopefully he can bring some excitement to the Heavyweights, I find them a snore. Seeing Franklin's return will be interesting. Hopefully he can make the climb back up to where Silva sits quickly.
posted by YukonGold at 06:41 PM on January 22, 2007
This list (and the assorted links) indicate to me that I need to be watching some PRIDE fighting. I really don't know where to get it.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 08:31 PM on January 22, 2007
Pride is tough to find. Fox Sports is showing more and more of it, but just a highlight style show. Other than that all I know of is the PPVs. They do have a lot of PPv shows, I have just never seen them hyped much. I only ever get them when I stumble across them in my channel guide.
posted by pivo at 08:34 PM on January 22, 2007
PRIDE is awesome. The shows that air in the US are edited. You're better off, if commentary doesn't bother you, getting the Japanese or Korean versions off the net. Plus if you search YouTube, Google Video etc... You'll find individual matches. Also some online DVD retailers sell bundles of PRIDE shows. PRIDE has had a few problems in recent times. The fact they're still going is a miracle to be quite honest, after the Yakuza scandal last year. But they have some amazing fights, and any of the Bushido shows would be a good place to start. It's funny, I LOVE PRIDE. K1... Largely indifferent, but I outright HATE UFC. No idea why, though the fact it's typically American is probably a big part of it. PRIDE is, of course, very Japanese. It just seems more noble somehow.
posted by Drood at 12:19 AM on January 23, 2007
Weedy, one of your ex-Queen's A&A buddies is obsessed with this stuff. I suggest you get it from him.
posted by fabulon7 at 07:28 AM on January 23, 2007
Must be Mike D. I will check with him, fabby.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 08:44 AM on January 23, 2007
Drood, while that may have been true a few years ago about PRIDE and UFC, as you say, I too am surprised it's still around. UFC is far from all Americans now with a great rise in the number of foreign born fighters due to the popularity of the UFC in general and the return of the lightweights. Two of the belts are on foreign born fighters (Brazil and French-Canadian) at the moment. Also, as the rumour mill and the recent/next few UFC cards show, a lot of PRIDE's best talent is coming to the UFC lately. Personally I don't love/hate any of the productions over another, but the influx of all these fighters to the UFC is good, in my opinion, as the UFC is most readily available to me.
posted by pivo at 10:06 AM on January 23, 2007
I'm pumped that Cro Cop is in the UFC now but he's going to have to wait until like May to get a title shot with Couture fighting Sylvia. Unless he could drop weight and get down to Lidell which would be a great fight, I think Cro Cop could strike with Lidell. How long is Lidell out with the mcl, anybody know? I like their top 10 list for the most part but I would put Emelianenko above Lidell.
posted by tron7 at 01:52 PM on January 23, 2007
I like their top 10 list for the most part but I would put Emelianenko above Lidell. No doubt. I have nothing but respect for what Chuck has done in the UFC. However, I think Rampage and Cro Cop are going to shake things up like never before in the UFC. Cro Cop could easily make weight for a 205 lb fight, and Rampage could easily bulk up for a heavyweight fight. Throw Randy back in the mix at either weight class, and this is going to be 1 hell of a year.
posted by louisville_slugger at 04:57 PM on January 23, 2007
I really don't know where to get it. Or netflix have all the dvd's if you roll with the 'flix. Throw Randy back in the mix at either weight class, and this is going to be 1 hell of a year. Do you really think so? I think Couture is great, but he got trashed the last times out and worry that he may go the way of Shamrock where he's just a draw and a draw alone. Maybe he can beat Sylvia, but Cro Cop? C'mon. At least Heavyweight is where he can make an attempt, 205 is done for him.
posted by YukonGold at 05:45 PM on January 23, 2007
I never said he could beat Cro cop. Chuck? Obviously not. Sylvia? I'll pay to see it. I think the heavyweight division (minus Cro Cop ) suits Randy better at this point of his carrer. Randy is just a wildcard in my book, but still adds a bit of excitement.
posted by louisville_slugger at 06:04 PM on January 23, 2007
Totally. I just hope he can be competitive, unlike Ken when he fought Ortiz all those times. Luckily I think Randy is 4 or 5 times the fighter Ken is.
posted by YukonGold at 06:08 PM on January 23, 2007
The loser in all this to me is probably Arlovski. he may be the best heavyweight in the world that CANT beat Sylvia.
posted by louisville_slugger at 06:16 PM on January 23, 2007
Weedy -- I was actually thinking of the Schuler Unit. He has a mountain of this stuff on tape. I think that's where Mike gets his stash.
posted by fabulon7 at 07:53 PM on January 23, 2007
I tried to include the links to the next two UFC events in the main link but it crapped out every time... UFC 67 Feb. 7 Middleweight Championship bout: Anderson Silva vs. Travis Lutter Heavyweight bout: Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovi? vs. Eddie Sanchez Light Heavyweight bout: Quinton Jackson vs. Marvin Eastman Middleweight bout: Patrick Côté vs. Scott Smith Light Heavyweight bout: Sam Hoger vs. Lyoto Machida Lightweight Bout: Frankie Edgar vs. Tyson Griffin UFC 68 March 3 Heavyweight Championship bout: Tim Sylvia vs. Randy Couture[1] Middleweight bout: Rich Franklin vs. Jason MacDonald[2] Light Heavyweight bout: Jason Lambert vs. Renato Sobral[3]