Comments on: Matchup of the Year http://www.mmaopinion.com/blog/2008/02/25/matchup-of-the-year/ MMA Opinion and Cheap MMA Gear Sat, 17 Mar 2012 15:45:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Brandt http://www.mmaopinion.com/blog/2008/02/25/matchup-of-the-year/comment-page-1/#comment-371 Brandt Sun, 02 Mar 2008 16:33:34 +0000 http://www.mmaopinion.com/2008/02/25/matchup-of-the-year/#comment-371 Crazy to hear that a guy who is so much smaller has all of that power. He showed it last night when he dominated Henderson on the ground in the second round. Crazy to hear that a guy who is so much smaller has all of that power. He showed it last night when he dominated Henderson on the ground in the second round.

]]> By: Vee http://www.mmaopinion.com/blog/2008/02/25/matchup-of-the-year/comment-page-1/#comment-369 Vee Sun, 02 Mar 2008 10:56:42 +0000 http://www.mmaopinion.com/2008/02/25/matchup-of-the-year/#comment-369 Hey MMAOpinion guys. You might enjoy this unconfirmed post from the Sherdog Forums . . . I'll paraphrase Anderson dominates Big Nog in sparring matches. Big Nog wears head gear, Anderson does not. Also his trainers say he dominates Big Nog on the ground, the student has become the master. Lyoto Machida and Wanderlei Silva* has reportedly said that no one hits harder than Anderson Silva. And lastly, this I know to be true . . . well I read this on many MMA blogs, Rich Franklin compared Silva's strength to Tim Sylvia. So now after the results, would anybody consider MMA-Math? I still don't. Anderson Silva > Dan Henderson > Wanderlei Silva > Quinton Jackson > Chuck Liddell > Randy Couture ??? It doesn't work because Dan Henderson > Ryo Chonan > Anderson Silva. Styles makes fights and fighters definitely change. *I would like to hear Wanderlei's comparison of Liddell's shots versus Anderson Silva's. Hey MMAOpinion guys. You might enjoy this unconfirmed post from the Sherdog Forums . . . I’ll paraphrase

Anderson dominates Big Nog in sparring matches. Big Nog wears head gear, Anderson does not. Also his trainers say he dominates Big Nog on the ground, the student has become the master. Lyoto Machida and Wanderlei Silva* has reportedly said that no one hits harder than Anderson Silva.
And lastly, this I know to be true . . . well I read this on many MMA blogs, Rich Franklin compared Silva’s strength to Tim Sylvia.

So now after the results, would anybody consider MMA-Math? I still don’t.
Anderson Silva > Dan Henderson > Wanderlei Silva > Quinton Jackson > Chuck Liddell > Randy Couture ???

It doesn’t work because Dan Henderson > Ryo Chonan > Anderson Silva. Styles makes fights and fighters definitely change.

*I would like to hear Wanderlei’s comparison of Liddell’s shots versus Anderson Silva’s.

]]> By: Josh Stein http://www.mmaopinion.com/blog/2008/02/25/matchup-of-the-year/comment-page-1/#comment-353 Josh Stein Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:48:09 +0000 http://www.mmaopinion.com/2008/02/25/matchup-of-the-year/#comment-353 Vee, I've heard about the training with Snake, and I think that snake is a good mimic for Anderson's style, but we'll see if anyone can mimic his viceral style of striking and submission game. He's also got an awesome camp, and I don't think he's going to stop training with those guys, so he'll be at least as good as ever. Pat, I feel your pain. Vee, I’ve heard about the training with Snake, and I think that snake is a good mimic for Anderson’s style, but we’ll see if anyone can mimic his viceral style of striking and submission game. He’s also got an awesome camp, and I don’t think he’s going to stop training with those guys, so he’ll be at least as good as ever.

Pat, I feel your pain.

]]> By: Patrick Guera http://www.mmaopinion.com/blog/2008/02/25/matchup-of-the-year/comment-page-1/#comment-348 Patrick Guera Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:55:25 +0000 http://www.mmaopinion.com/2008/02/25/matchup-of-the-year/#comment-348 This fight is driving me crazy! The anticipation has never been so high! Great article. I predict Anderson by submission (set up by great striking) or Dan by TKO. See, I can't take a stand! Very exciting fight. This fight is driving me crazy! The anticipation has never been so high! Great article. I predict Anderson by submission (set up by great striking) or Dan by TKO. See, I can’t take a stand! Very exciting fight.

]]> By: Vee http://www.mmaopinion.com/blog/2008/02/25/matchup-of-the-year/comment-page-1/#comment-346 Vee Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:44:36 +0000 http://www.mmaopinion.com/2008/02/25/matchup-of-the-year/#comment-346 Yeah, I'll agree, Henderson has faced tougher competition. Note, Henderson did KO'ed Ryo in 22 seconds while many MMA fans know what Ryo did to Anderson Silva. Also, Silva TKO'ed Carlos Newton while Henderson was only able drag out a victory by decision. Given the two fighters styles and past victories I do not think any of the above factors in. They're both great champions and the victory will go to the better man, THAT particular night. Saturday can not come quicker. ----- According to Ryo Chonan: "Dan's sparring partner for this match is my friend from France, Snake [Cyrille Diabate]. He fought in Deep and also in Pride against Shogun. I've sparred with Snake before. He's taller than Anderson Silva, has a long reach and only needs to lift his knee slightly to smash you in the face with it. This guy hits harder than Shogun, so I think he's the perfect sparring partner to help Dan prepare for his fight with Anderson Silva. " Source: http://www.sherdog.net/forums/showthread.php?t=737360 http://www.ryo-chonan.com/blog/ms.cgi?t=sketch&blogid=&ShowDiary_file=/nocategory/1204037811 Yeah, I’ll agree, Henderson has faced tougher competition. Note, Henderson did KO’ed Ryo in 22 seconds while many MMA fans know what Ryo did to Anderson Silva. Also, Silva TKO’ed Carlos Newton while Henderson was only able drag out a victory by decision. Given the two fighters styles and past victories I do not think any of the above factors in. They’re both great champions and the victory will go to the better man, THAT particular night.

Saturday can not come quicker.

—–
According to Ryo Chonan:
“Dan’s sparring partner for this match is my friend from France, Snake [Cyrille Diabate]. He fought in Deep and also in Pride against Shogun. I’ve sparred with Snake before. He’s taller than Anderson Silva, has a long reach and only needs to lift his knee slightly to smash you in the face with it. This guy hits harder than Shogun, so I think he’s the perfect sparring partner to help Dan prepare for his fight with Anderson Silva.
”
Source:
http://www.sherdog.net/forums/showthread.php?t=737360

http://www.ryo-chonan.com/blog/ms.cgi?t=sketch&blogid=&ShowDiary_file=/nocategory/1204037811

]]> By: Josh "The IronMan" Stein http://www.mmaopinion.com/blog/2008/02/25/matchup-of-the-year/comment-page-1/#comment-345 Josh "The IronMan" Stein Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:16:53 +0000 http://www.mmaopinion.com/2008/02/25/matchup-of-the-year/#comment-345 Thanks for the comments. Curt, I think that this fight has less to do with the fact that Dan did what Chuck didn't, because of the way that Chuck fights. Chuck is a counterpuncher, and Wanderlei didn't give him the opportunity to counterpunch. That's why he didn't get the knockout. It has nothing to do with his inability to finish him, at least in my mind. I agree with Brandt when he says that if Anderson wins, the division pretty much stays the same, whereas Hendo will shake things up, and I think that most of the division is rooting for Silva, because they want to be the guy to take Anderson, to kill the wreckingball. (good luck to them) Vee, I agree when you say that Anderson is strong, but there's a difference between taking punches from Jorge Rivera and taking them from Wanderlei Silva, and I think we can both agree about that. While I respect the guys that Anderson beat, I don't think they're as tough as the guys Dan has fought. I feel like that's simply objective assessment. Still, I make a point of mentioning in my analysis of Silva that the ways to beat him are unexplored. I agree that he's beatable, but it's not a theoretical fight, and I think that putting that theory into action is the hard part. Thanks for the comments.

Curt, I think that this fight has less to do with the fact that Dan did what Chuck didn’t, because of the way that Chuck fights. Chuck is a counterpuncher, and Wanderlei didn’t give him the opportunity to counterpunch. That’s why he didn’t get the knockout. It has nothing to do with his inability to finish him, at least in my mind.

I agree with Brandt when he says that if Anderson wins, the division pretty much stays the same, whereas Hendo will shake things up, and I think that most of the division is rooting for Silva, because they want to be the guy to take Anderson, to kill the wreckingball. (good luck to them)

Vee, I agree when you say that Anderson is strong, but there’s a difference between taking punches from Jorge Rivera and taking them from Wanderlei Silva, and I think we can both agree about that. While I respect the guys that Anderson beat, I don’t think they’re as tough as the guys Dan has fought. I feel like that’s simply objective assessment.

Still, I make a point of mentioning in my analysis of Silva that the ways to beat him are unexplored. I agree that he’s beatable, but it’s not a theoretical fight, and I think that putting that theory into action is the hard part.

]]> By: Brandt DeLorenzo http://www.mmaopinion.com/blog/2008/02/25/matchup-of-the-year/comment-page-1/#comment-344 Brandt DeLorenzo Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:36:38 +0000 http://www.mmaopinion.com/2008/02/25/matchup-of-the-year/#comment-344 Battle of the Clinches! I'm hoping for lots of dirty boxing and maybe some Frye/Takayama-type action! Battle of the Clinches! I’m hoping for lots of dirty boxing and maybe some Frye/Takayama-type action!

]]> By: Vee http://www.mmaopinion.com/blog/2008/02/25/matchup-of-the-year/comment-page-1/#comment-342 Vee Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:29:06 +0000 http://www.mmaopinion.com/2008/02/25/matchup-of-the-year/#comment-342 Anderson is beatable. He just hasn't been beat yet in the UFC. I agree, I don't think either fighter will definitely win this match. That makes this match-up so intriguing, a great selling point. Both combatants can win with different styles and from different positions. Henderson maybe freakishly strong with a iron chin, but that doesn't mean he will be stronger than Silva. Jorge Rivera told Travis Lutter that he hit Silva with clean shots and Silva kept coming unfazed. Remember Rich Franklin presumably stronger than the lanky Silva was being tossed around like a ragdoll in the clinch. So who's clinch will dominate, Silva's or Henderson's? Curtis, MMAMath just doesn't work or really factor into this fight. What Wanderlei did in 2 fights Dan Henderson could not accomplish in 5 rounds. Anderson is beatable. He just hasn’t been beat yet in the UFC. I agree, I don’t think either fighter will definitely win this match. That makes this match-up so intriguing, a great selling point. Both combatants can win with different styles and from different positions.

Henderson maybe freakishly strong with a iron chin, but that doesn’t mean he will be stronger than Silva. Jorge Rivera told Travis Lutter that he hit Silva with clean shots and Silva kept coming unfazed. Remember Rich Franklin presumably stronger than the lanky Silva was being tossed around like a ragdoll in the clinch. So who’s clinch will dominate, Silva’s or Henderson’s?

Curtis, MMAMath just doesn’t work or really factor into this fight. What Wanderlei did in 2 fights Dan Henderson could not accomplish in 5 rounds.

]]> By: Curtis Clontz http://www.mmaopinion.com/blog/2008/02/25/matchup-of-the-year/comment-page-1/#comment-341 Curtis Clontz Tue, 26 Feb 2008 11:46:45 +0000 http://www.mmaopinion.com/2008/02/25/matchup-of-the-year/#comment-341 Yea, if Silva wins I think he can have a Matt Hughes like run. Yea, if Silva wins I think he can have a Matt Hughes like run.

]]> By: Brandt http://www.mmaopinion.com/blog/2008/02/25/matchup-of-the-year/comment-page-1/#comment-339 Brandt Tue, 26 Feb 2008 03:25:30 +0000 http://www.mmaopinion.com/2008/02/25/matchup-of-the-year/#comment-339 It's one of the few fights where I can honestly say "I have no idea who I think would take this." It may come down to a split decision if both fighters can manage to neutralize for 25 minutes, but like many, I'm hoping for a much more exciting finish for either fighter. I'm kinda hoping Hendo wins so that there will be a shakeup in the UFC middleweight class. I can only imagine that Rich Franklin is hoping that Hendo wins this, haha. It’s one of the few fights where I can honestly say “I have no idea who I think would take this.” It may come down to a split decision if both fighters can manage to neutralize for 25 minutes, but like many, I’m hoping for a much more exciting finish for either fighter. I’m kinda hoping Hendo wins so that there will be a shakeup in the UFC middleweight class. I can only imagine that Rich Franklin is hoping that Hendo wins this, haha.

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